Design Trend: Gold Is Back

Investment banker Gerald Loeb once famously said, “The desire for gold is the most universal and deeply rooted commercial instinct of the human race.” Though he wasn’t referring to gold as it pertains to remodeling and interior finishes, the message resonates all the same.

“Gold is being used across the board—on stained finishes, painted finishes, light, dark, all over,” says Shylo Preston, who works with the Dallas-based remodeling firm The Kitchen Source. “It was creeping into the picture for a while and then it exploded. Gold is definitely here.” 

The trend is nothing new to the remodeling industry—people have favored gold-look hardware in the past, but it feels fresh today, especially after a decade of oil-rubbed bronze and brushed nickel. 

 “I especially like a satin brass finish because it’s transitional and can complement a number of styles,” writes Maryland-based designer Elizabeth Lawson, in an article published on Houzz. “It also looks amazing against almost any color of the rainbow.
I think we’ll continue to see rooms with [gold-hued] satin brass for quite some time.”

Also in the mix is rose gold, a color made mainstream in 2015 by the Apple iPhone 6s.
This warmer cousin of traditional gold imparts a similar feeling of opulence and is now appearing everywhere from headphones to handbags to home design.

The gold trend, as Preston understands it, is being lead by Millennial tastes. Yet adoption of gold hardware is being seen across the generational spectrum. “Older clients are more hesitant to embrace gold. They’ve lived through the days of brass, and most have just converted their homes to nickel,” she says. “But once we start putting the color palettes together, they usually get onboard.” 

While the current trend’s longevity remains to be seen, one thing is clear: Gold is not going anywhere anytime soon—after all, it’s appeal is instinctive.