Antique Brass is the darker of the two: a deep, aged brass. Brushed Brass is lighter and more golden. Both have a brushed texture that hides marks, both come on every tap and fitting we sell, and both carry the same warranty. Our Antique Brass doesn’t tarnish.
Both are warm and both are brushed, so the difference is easy to miss on a screen. Here they are side by side, with what each one is like to live with.
Updated 20 October 2026 · Written by Ella James, InVogue Mirrors & Bathware
Why Trust InVogue Mirrors & Bathware? InVogue is a mirror and bathware brand trusted in over 20,000 homes, specialising in LED bathroom mirrors, mirror cabinets and tapware across every major finish. The guidance in this article reflects genuine design and maintenance considerations, not finish trends.
Antique Brass vs Brushed Brass at a Glance
Antique Brass
Brushed BrassThe same tap, our Vienna Short, in both finishes. Real product photos; your screen will shift the colour a little.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column →
| Antique Brass | Brushed Brass | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Deeper, darker, aged brass | Lighter, soft gold |
| Warmth | The warmest of our six finishes | Warm |
| Surface | Brushed | Brushed |
| Hides marks | Well | Well |
| Suits | Traditional, organic modern, luxury | Hamptons, organic modern, luxury |
| Works with | Warm timber, natural stone | White stone, travertine, warm timber |
| Tarnish | Doesn’t tarnish | Covered by the 3-year finish warranty |
| Collection | Shop Antique Brass | Shop Brushed Brass |
Is Antique Brass Darker Than Brushed Brass?
Yes. Antique Brass is the deeper, darker one, with an aged look that suits a room meant to feel lived-in. Brushed Brass is lighter and brighter, closer to soft gold, and reads as fresher and more modern. Neither is shiny: both have a fine brushed texture, which is why both hide fingerprints and water marks better than chrome.
How Lighting Changes Both
Warm light makes both richer; cool light flattens them. Under a warm white around 3000 K, Brushed Brass looks golden. Under cool white around 6500 K it looks cooler and flatter, and Antique Brass loses some of its warmth too. Our LED mirrors switch between warm and cool white, from 2700 to 6500 K, so you can see both finishes under the light you’ll actually use. Look at a photo of each in your own bathroom before you decide.
Which One Suits Your Bathroom?
This is our styling view, not a rule:
- Antique Brass for traditional and heritage rooms, raw timber and natural stone, or anywhere you want the room to feel established rather than brand new.
- Brushed Brass for white or pale stone, travertine and light timber, and for Hamptons and organic modern rooms that want warmth with a lighter look.
- In a small or dark room, Brushed Brass is the lighter of the two, so it stands out less against pale walls.
Does Antique Brass Tarnish? Does Brushed Brass?
Our Antique Brass doesn’t tarnish. Both finishes are covered for 3 years under our finish warranty, along with 15 years on the body, 7 years on cartridges, valves and moving parts, and 2 years on washers, seals and O-rings. The full terms are on our tapware warranty page.
Care is the same for both: warm soapy water and a soft cloth, then dry it. No acid, chlorine or abrasive cleaners, which also fall outside the warranty conditions. How to Clean and Care for Tapware Finishes has the details.
Can You Mix Antique Brass and Brushed Brass?
You can, but it’s riskier than sticking to one. Two brasses that are close but not the same can look like a mistake rather than a choice. If you do mix them, keep it deliberate: one finish for everything you touch at the basin and shower, and the other as a single accent somewhere else in the room.
Matching the Rest of the Room
Pick one, then use it on every metal piece you can see. All 24 of our tapware, shower, waste, accessory and hardware models come in both brasses, so the waste, towel rail and shower screen hinges can match the tap. Colour can vary slightly between brass taps and stainless steel hardware.
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| Room | In both finishes |
|---|---|
| Basin | Vienna Short, Vienna Tall, Milano wall spout and mixer |
| Shower | Cannes, Milano Wall Mixer, Corsica, Bordeaux, Lyon, Versailles |
| Wastes | Lisbon, Firenze, Granada |
| Walls and doors | Provence towel rail, Lille roll holder, Copenhagen robe hook, Santorini handle, Prague lock, Venezia hinge |
| Shower screen | Rennes and Geneva hinges, Rhodes clamp, Corfu knobs |
| Kitchen | Como, Porto |
Over the basin, the framed Capri (round) and Valencia (pill) LED mirrors come with an Antique Brass or a Brushed Brass frame, among others. Matching your mirror frame to your tapware shows the pairings.
Shop by brass
Every tap, shower, waste, accessory and hardware piece in that finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is antique brass darker than brushed brass?
Yes. Antique Brass is the deeper, darker of our two brasses; Brushed Brass is lighter and more golden. Both have a brushed texture.
What color is antique brass?
A deep, warm, aged brass: the warmest of our six finishes and darker than Brushed Brass. How it reads depends on your lighting, so judge it in your own room.
Is aged brass the same as antique brass?
Brands use both names for a darker, aged brass look. Ours is called Antique Brass, and on our New Zealand site you’ll also see it grouped as aged brass.
What taps don’t tarnish?
Our Antique Brass doesn’t tarnish, and every one of our finishes is covered for 3 years under the finish warranty. Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
Is brushed brass easy to clean?
Yes. The brushed texture hides fingerprints and water marks better than a polished finish. Wipe with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, then dry it. Avoid acid, chlorine and abrasive cleaners.
What colors go well with brushed brass?
White and pale stone, travertine and warm timber. It suits Hamptons, organic modern and luxury bathrooms.
What color looks good with antique brass?
Warm timber and natural stone. It suits traditional, organic modern and luxury bathrooms.
Is antique brass going out of style?
We don’t think so, but no finish is trend-proof. Choose it because it suits your room and you’ll still like it in ten years. That’s our opinion.
Designer's Cheat Sheet
Designer's Cheat Sheet
- ✔ Darker, aged look → Antique Brass
- ✔ Lighter, golden look → Brushed Brass
- ✔ Both → brushed texture, hides marks
- ✔ Tarnish → Antique Brass doesn’t
- ✔ Warranty → same for both, 3 years on the finish
- ✔ Mixing → one finish for everything you touch
Where To Next?
- All six finishes compared: What’s the Best Tapware Colour?
- Changing the taps you have: How to Replace a Mixer Tap or Shower Taps
- Lead-free taps: WELS, WaterMark and Lead-Free Tapware Explained
- The mirror above it: Matching Your Mirror Frame to Your Tapware
- Shop: Antique Brass or Brushed Brass
Need help? Ask us with a photo.
Send a photo of your basin, wall or plans and we’ll tell you what fits. Email info@invoguemirrors.co.nz.
