Window treatment's hardware incorporates newer metals for a modern look

Stainless steel still reigns as the top choice among home decorators for their kitchen appliances, but softer finishes in metal fixtures has also emerged as a recent design trend.

In addition to looking sleek and contemporary, hardware in warmer metal tones is diverse enough to go with both modern and traditional decorating styles. Bathroom fixtures and door handles in burnished brass, soft gold and pewter are gaining steadily as favorites among homeowners.

Those metals can also be used in hardware for window treatments, such as curtain rods and finials or added as decorative pulls on roman shades or fabric roller shades. The window coverings may change season to season, but the hardware is universal enough to go with a variety of colors and fabrics.

Refinishing older furniture can also include a way to incorporate the new metals into a room. "Mirror frames, old lamps and lighting fixtures painted with metallic paint will add a feeling of luxury and add contrast," writes Barbara McLean for Inland Home and Garden. "Furniture can be painted or stained as well. Consider new, brushed metal hardware to give it a modern feel."