| A glass bathroom shelf is a great choice to | | | | A little less common than polished chrome, nickel |
| brighten up your bathroom. However, there are | | | | plated fixtures are still being made. This may also |
| many different options to choose from when it | | | | be called brushed nickel, due to its dull appearance |
| comes to finish. The glass itself is just glass, but | | | | - much like brushed steel and aluminum, but less |
| the metal that supports your shelf can come in | | | | blue in tone. It's coated in lacquer to protect it. |
| many different colors and looks. When we were | | | | Polished Nickel |
| redoing the shelves for our bathroom, we took a | | | | The polished version of the nickel finish, this kind |
| look at all these different finishes to find the one | | | | of fixture is brighter and shinier than a satin nickel |
| that would work best for us. There were so | | | | fixture. It may or may not be coated to protect |
| many to choose from! Here's some information | | | | it, and is an excellent period look for pre-1930s |
| on all the ones we looked at. | | | | style bathrooms. It's softer than chrome and |
| Oil Rubbed Bronze | | | | scratches more easily, but has warmer |
| A finish in oil rubbed bronze has a surface that's | | | | undertones that may be more appealing. A dull |
| been darkened by chemical means, and simulates | | | | tarnish may appear in humid rooms, but a soft |
| the look of aged bronze. This finish can be | | | | cloth and ammonia remove it easily. |
| anywhere from chocolate brown to deep gray, | | | | Antique Brass |
| and has undertones of copper. Hardware | | | | Another coating which has been chemically |
| manufacturers interpret this finish in many | | | | darkened, antique brass looks like an old brass |
| different ways, so if you want to match existing | | | | fixture. This is usually medium brown, and may |
| oil rubbed bronze, you may have to stick with the | | | | have gold undertones. Just like oil rubbed bronze, it |
| same manufacturer. This finish is fairly durable and | | | | can vary a lot from one product to the next, so |
| should have a lacquer coating. To maintain it, avoid | | | | be sure to compare carefully. This kind of fixture |
| cleaners and detergents. Simply wipe with a soft | | | | might feature brushing, and has a glossy finish |
| dampened cloth, instead. | | | | that can be further protected with wax. To |
| Polished Chrome | | | | maintain, wipe clean, and avoid harsh cleaners. |
| Chrome plating on brass and steel are fairly | | | | Polished Brass |
| common for fixtures. Chrome has a cooler silver | | | | Bright and sunny, polished brass is a great choice |
| tone than nickel and does not tarnish, so is rarely | | | | for anyone who wants natural brass hardware in |
| lacquered. This has been the primary decorative | | | | their home. To keep the finish bright, it's |
| plating for many fixtures since the 1930s, since it's | | | | protected with a lacquer coating that keeps it |
| hard and scratch resistant. If you want to match | | | | from tarnishing and looking old. It's one of the |
| an art deco bathroom, this is definitely the right | | | | best common finishes for glass bathroom shelf |
| choice. There's no protective coating, but you can | | | | hardware. However, it can be easily scratched, so |
| wax it. To get stains out, use a mild ammonia | | | | you have to take care of it, and older coatings |
| solution. Otherwise, just wipe clean with a damp | | | | may have trouble with hard water. Fortunately, |
| cloth. | | | | we found that most of the newer epoxy bases |
| Satin Nickel | | | | are impervious to it. |