Interior Inspiration: Decorating Beyond Traditional Black and Chrome

Posted: September 15, 2026 Category: Handrails blogs Author: Zaid Faiz

Whether you're planning your own project or helping a customer choose a handrail that works with their interior, we've put together some inspiration to show what's possible beyond traditional black and chrome.

Interior Inspiration: Decorating Beyond Traditional Black and Chrome

Choosing the right finish can make a big difference to the overall look of a staircase. Whether you're planning your own project or helping a customer choose a handrail that works with their interior, we've put together some inspiration to show what's possible beyond traditional black and chrome when considering alternative metal finishes for interiors.

Millennial grey was a design style that dominated the early 2010's, largely because it offered a safe, neutral base that could work with almost any accent colour. This made it an easy and versatile choice for first-time homeowners decorating their space.

The shift from grey to creative colour is also showing in the finer details and finishing touches. There are now so many more homeowners leaning towards unique finishes with colour that pop. In this blog, we're here to give you some hallway and handrail decorating inspiration ideas that go beyond the traditional black and chrome hardware options. Let's go!

Why are black and chrome the go-to hardware finishes?

Just to be clear, we still love the classic black and chrome hardware interior choices in a hallway. They are versatile and timeless finishes that are super easy to pair with any interior space. Especially grey. While grey, black, and chrome have ruled the interior design industry for the past decades, we wanted to share a light on some of the other hardware finishes that we think deserve the spotlight too.

Don't be afraid of colour

When it comes to your handrail finish, why not go for a colour that really stands out against your walls? Sambourne Antique Copper is a great example because the finish brings a warming charm to your stairway. Another great pick is Montford Soft White Marble. If you're looking to add some refined elegance to your handrail, the white marble is an ideal choice.

2026 Interior Trend: Biophilic Interiors

In 2026, biophilic interiors have become very popular in interior design. Biophilic interior is a design term that refers to reshaping the way we lay out our living space based on outside influences. Basically, bringing the outside inside with plants, wooden textures, exposed brickwork, and more.

At Handrails Direct, you can bring the biophilic trend to life on your staircase with our range of wood-effect handrails. Wood-effect handrails use a steel core with a realistic timber-inspired decorative finish. We have multiple wood-effect handrails available on our website, including:

Want to find out more about our wood-effect range? Read our recent blog, Metal Wooden Effect For Modern Interiors, for further details.

Add some texture

Another way to move beyond traditional black and chrome staircase hardware is by introducing textured finishes. A textured finish can give a staircase more depth and personality, working particularly well if your living space has an industrial or contemporary feel to it. You can do this in a variety of ways: textured wallpaper, rugs, stair runners, doors, and handrails.

That's right, at Handrails Direct, our textured collection is the perfect way to bring texture into your space. We have 3 options that literally bring a different feel to your handrail.

Interested in knowing more about why you should incorporate textured handrails into your space? Read through our recent blog on A New Option For Modern Interiors.

Consider your entire hallway space

Look at flooring, wall colour, furniture and lighting before choosing a handrail finish. The handrail should work with the existing scheme rather than being considered in isolation. If your current hardware décor is lighter, why not go for Edstone Matt White handrail finish? Or if darker interiors seem to be your thing, Loxley Antique Brass could be the perfect pick.

You want to refrain from clashing finishes; this can make a space look very loud and busy, plus... you'll just notice the mismatched finishes every time you walk into your house.

Conclusion

Of course, if you still love the classics, Kineton Matt Black and Radway Chrome are both gorgeous (and popular) finishes to incorporate into your space! But if you're looking to lean into the current and upcoming interior trends, we really suggest going for a finish with a bit of colour. Want to completely customise your handrails and make it truly your own? Our build your own section is great for letting you fully personalise your handrail just as you want it. Take a look now.

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