What Is Brass? The Metal That Gets Better With Age

Written by Megan Paterson, Principal Designer and Founder

Brass shows up everywhere in a well-designed home. Cabinet pulls, faucet fixtures, lighting, stair rails, even the legs on a favorite side table. It has a warmth that other metals don’t quite replicate, and it only gets better with time. If you’ve ever wondered what brass actually is, what it’s made of, or how to keep it looking its best, here’s everything you need to know.

What Is Brass Made Of?

Brass is an alloy, which means it’s made by combining two or more metals. In this case, copper and zinc. The exact ratio of copper to zinc determines the color and character of the finished piece. More copper gives brass a warmer, redder tone. More zinc pushes it toward a cooler, paler gold. 

That range is part of what makes brass such a flexible material for design. You can find a shade that reads warm and traditional or one that leans modern and understated, all within the same family of metal, which is part of why it turns up so often in statement lighting and hardware alike.

Because brass contains copper, it reacts to air and moisture over time. This is where patina comes in. Patina is the natural surface change that happens as brass ages, and it’s not a flaw. It’s the metal doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. Unlacquered brass will develop this patina steadily, picking up soft variations in tone and a gentle darkening in the areas that get touched most, like a door handle or a faucet lever. Lacquered brass has a protective coating that slows this process down, keeping the surface bright and consistent for longer.

Does brass tarnish? Yes, and that’s a good thing. Tarnish and patina are really the same story: a living finish that shifts and settles into something with more depth than it started with. A lot of our clients come to love this quality once they understand it, in the same way many come to appreciate marble etching as a mark of a material actually being used rather than something to prevent. 

How to Clean Brass

How you clean brass depends on what kind of brass you have, so it’s worth checking with your fixture manufacturer or design team before you reach for anything abrasive.

For lacquered brass:

• A soft, dry or slightly damp cloth is usually all it needs
• Skip harsh chemical cleaners, since they can wear down the protective coating faster than normal use would

For unlacquered brass:

• Warm water and a mild dish soap will handle everyday dust and fingerprints
• Dry it with a soft cloth afterward so water spots don’t set in
• A light coat of a food-safe mineral oil or a brass-specific wax can help slow the patina process in certain spots, though many homeowners choose to let the finish develop naturally and simply enjoy the way it changes

One thing we always tell clients: resist the urge to polish unlacquered brass back to a mirror shine. That bright, uniform look is beautiful in its first season, but the whole appeal of unlacquered brass is the story it builds over time. Polishing it away means starting the clock over on something that was just getting interesting, the same way over-restoring crown molding or millwork can strip a room of the character that made it feel finished in the first place.

Bringing Brass Into Your Home

Brass pairs beautifully with almost any material, from natural stone to matte black to warm wood tones, which is part of why it remains such a staple in our design work. If you’re building a space with real staying power, brass is a smart, timeless choice. (For more on designing rooms that hold up over the years rather than chasing a passing trend, take a look at our guide on how to create a timeless interior design that never goes out of style.)

Brass also shows up often in the modern European interior design aesthetic, where its warmth softens cleaner, more architectural lines, and it plays just as well with a bold wallpaper moment as it does with a quiet palette. Wherever it appears in your home, brass is one of those materials that rewards patience. Let it age. Let it develop character. It’s doing exactly what good design does: getting better with time.

About the Author

Megan Paterson is the Principal Designer and Founder of Megan Paterson Interiors, an Atlanta-based studio specializing in interior design, full-service renovations, and new builds. Since founding the studio, she has led projects across North Atlanta’s Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Milton, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, and Buckhead communities, and has been featured in Shoutout Atlanta. She works across a range of interior design styles with all of her projects built around each client’s taste and how they actually live.