Black, gold or silver hardware: how to match it to your bathroom

Hardware is a small part of a shower enclosure, but it has a big effect on how the bathroom looks. Hinges, the handle and the brackets are details the eye notices immediately. For all our enclosures you can choose between three hardware colours: black, gold and silver. Here is how to choose the one that suits your space best.

Well chosen hardware ties the enclosure to the taps, furniture and lighting, so the bathroom feels like a whole.

Black hardware: modern and striking

Black hardware gives the enclosure a clear, graphic outline. It looks especially good with light tiles, marble and dark green or terracotta tones, because it creates a contrast that makes the bathroom feel more modern.

• pairs well with black taps, a black shower head and a dark framed mirror
• works with clear, frosted and black glass
• looks best when black is repeated on at least one other detail

If your taps are chrome, black hardware can still look good, but then it helps if black appears somewhere else in the bathroom, for example on the mirror frame, a towel rail or the lighting.

Gold hardware: warmth and a luxurious feel

Gold hardware brings warmth and gives the bathroom a slightly luxurious, hotel like feel. It goes best with beige, cream and marble tiles, as well as with wooden elements.

Gold hardware is not only for classic bathrooms. With green or dark tiles it makes a modern, bold combination.

If you choose gold, try to keep the taps, cabinet handles or mirror frame in a warm tone too. Gold hardware next to cool chrome taps often looks like an accidental choice.

Gold hardware really comes into its own with clear glass, because nothing stands between the eye and the warm sheen of the metal. With tinted glass it creates a festive, striking combination that suits more spacious bathrooms.

Silver hardware: a classic that goes with everything

Silver hardware is the safest choice when you want the enclosure to blend in rather than draw attention. It goes with chrome taps, white sanitaryware and almost any tile colour.

With clear glass it creates a light, almost invisible look, which makes it a particularly good choice for smaller bathrooms where you want a sense of space.

Silver hardware is also a good choice if you plan to refresh the bathroom over time with new tiles or details. A neutral colour fits almost any change, so the enclosure will not look dated.

Common mistakes when choosing hardware

• mixing three different metal colours in the same bathroom
• choosing a colour from a photo alone, without looking at the taps and tiles
• forgetting small details such as waste fittings, brackets and furniture handles

Two metal colours in one bathroom can look good if one is clearly dominant. Three start to feel restless. Every hardware colour is cared for the same way: a mild cleaner and a soft cloth, never abrasive pads.

How to match the hardware with the rest of the bathroom

The simplest rule is to match the hardware to the colour of the taps and the shower mixer. When those details agree, the bathroom looks as if it was planned as a whole.

• check the colour of the taps, shower head and waste fittings
• take the colour and texture of the tiles into account
• think about the type of glass: black glass with black hardware makes a very bold combination, while clear glass shows off any hardware colour

If you are still undecided, choose the colour that already dominates among the metal details in your bathroom. That almost always gives a harmonious result.

You can see different combinations in real bathrooms in our gallery, and all models in the shower enclosure collection. You choose the hardware colour for every model, and the 2 year warranty covers the hardware as well as the glass and installation.

Choose a model, enter your measurements in the calculator and you will see the price straight away, with or without installation. If you are not sure which hardware colour is right, book a free measurement and we will advise you on site.