Brass, stainless steel or aluminium: which finish for your switches?
A switch is the part of the wall you touch most often. The choice of finish matters as much as the mechanism: it is seen, it is felt under the hand, it converses with paint, wood and marble. Here is how to navigate the Empereur finishes.
The five finishes of the Classic series
All are solid metal, hand-polished.
- Mirror-polished stainless steel
- a sharp reflection that picks up the room and fades away. Ideal on a light wall or in a contemporary interior.
- Brushed stainless steel
- a soft, matt grey with no reflection: the choice of minimalism and calm rooms.
- Mirror-polished brass
- a bright, frank yellow that warms and asserts. For interiors that embrace gold.
- Brushed brass
- a more discreet, matt brass that goes with wood, linen and light walls.
- Aged brass
- a patinated, darker brass, for an old interior or a workshop spirit.
According to the style of the interior
A few pairings that work most of the time.
- Haussmannian, parquet, mouldings
- polished or brushed brass, which extends gilding and door handles.
- Loft, workshop, concrete
- aged brass or brushed stainless steel, for a material that ages well.
- Contemporary, minimalist
- mirror-polished or brushed stainless steel, consistent with greys and whites.
- Hotel, restaurant
- aged or brushed brass, which give the place an identity without excessive shine.
The other finishes (Thin, Small)
The Thin series also comes in white aluminium and black aluminium, for switches that disappear on a wall of the same colour, or that contrast boldly.
A simple rule: one finish per room
The safest approach is to keep a single finish per room, and echo it in another element (door handle, light fixture, taps). The configurator lets you compare finishes on the same plate before choosing.
Products in this article
The simplest way to compare finishes: same model, five finishes.
The two-way switch in the same finishes.
The Small format, to see the finish in a smaller diameter.
The Thin format, also in white aluminium and black aluminium.
Ready-to-order configurations
Frequently asked questions
- Which finish for a contemporary interior?
- Mirror-polished or brushed stainless steel go with greys, whites and simple volumes.
- Is aged brass very different from brushed brass?
- Yes: aged brass is patinated and darker, brushed brass is lighter and more matt.
- Can I mix several finishes in the same house?
- Yes, but it is better to keep one finish per room, repeated across several elements.
A project to equip?
Compose your plates in the configurator, or tell us about your project: we help you choose mechanisms and finishes.
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