Shopping online for faucets and shower fixtures can be tricky. Relying on images only can make it hard to get a sense of what a finish actually looks like in person. Delta's exclusive Polished Nickel finish is perhaps one of the most unique and difficult to describe finishes. When choosing a finish for your home's kitchen and bathroom faucets, you should make sure to pick something that is not only stylish, but something that will last through any future design changes. With its traditional high shine silver base, the Delta Polished Nickel finish is perfectly suited for any traditional, contemporary, or modern kitchen or bathroom style! The accompanying warm undertones of pale gold add one-of-a-kind sophistication and luxury, without looking gaudy.
In this guide we will discuss the origins of Delta's Polished Nickel finish, answer many FAQ's about Polished Nickel, compare Polished Nickel to similar finishes, and explain how different room and lighting conditions can affect the appearance of a Polished Nickel finished faucet. We'll also show you some stunning images of Polished Nickel fixtures installed throughout the home! Polished Nickel is not to be confused with Chrome, Brushed Nickel, or Stainless Steel finishes. It is a finish all its own! In this article we will do our best to describe the differences which can sometimes be hard to see in images. Use this complete guide to Delta Polished Nickel to help you select the best finish for your next kitchen or bathroom renovation!
Polished Nickel finish is created by plating nickel over the base material of the fixture. The nickel plating is then polished to a high shine. The Delta Faucet company's unique take on Polished Nickel, with its silver and pale gold color profile, is a finish exclusive to their brand.
Nickel does not tarnish. Therefore, with proper care and cleaning, a Polished Nickel finished fixture should last generations. All Delta fixtures purchased from an authorized Delta retailer like FaucetList.com, include their Lifetime Warranty which applies to both function and finish! Delta Faucets purchased from authorized Delta sellers are warranted to the original consumer purchaser to be free from defects in material and workmanship for as long as the original consumer purchaser owns the home in which the faucet was first installed!
Polished Nickel and Brushed Nickel differ in that Brushed Nickel has more of a textured, brushed over appearance whereas Polished Nickel has a smooth, high shine appearance. Delta's Polished Nickel also has warm undertones of pale gold, whereas Brushed Nickel has cooler silver tones throughout. Delta's Stainless Steel finish is equivalent to what other manufacturers sometimes call Brushed Nickel.
Vinegar is an acid based cleaner, but it is safe to use on Polished Nickel finished fixtures when properly diluted. It is recommended to use a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. See the "Care of Polished Nickel Fixtures" section below.
Delta's Polished Nickel finish is highly durable and easy to maintain. As a high shine finish, Polished Nickel cleans easily, and is somewhat spot resistant.
Delta's Polished Nickel is timeless. With its bright silver base and signature pale gold undertones, Polished Nickel is perfectly suited for any modern home design style.
Polished Nickel is best cleaned with soap and warm water. You may also use a commercial polish like Flitz's metal polish periodically. See our "Care of Polished Nickel Finishes" section below for more cleaning tips.
The Polished Nickel finish is the Delta Faucet Company's pride and joy! As an exclusive finish, no version from other manufacturers can compare. Delta introduced their take on Polished Nickel finish in the early 2000's as a way to bridge the gap between the outdated brass styles and the up and coming gold designs. As a high gloss finish with warm gold undertones, Polished Nickel shines like gold, but with the traditional and timeless feel of Chrome. Polished Nickel was designed to bring delicate elegance to any room, without looking gaudy like some of the outdated Brass designs. As a Brilliance Finish, Polished Nickel truly stands out among its peers as the leader in both appearance and durability! Delta's Brilliance Finishes are literally embedded into the fixture, rather than simply coated on top like other finishes. These finishes are highly durable and long lasting, and are guaranteed not to tarnish, corrode, or discolor. Brilliance Finishes are also scratch resistant. When purchased from an authorized Delta retailer like FaucetList.com, your Polished Nickel fixture also includes the Delta Lifetime Warranty, which covers the finish and function of the fixture for life! With its industry leading durability and multi-faceted tone design, Polished Nickel truly is the ideal choice for any home design!
Delta finishes are hands down some of the most exquisite and sophisticated finishes on the market. In this section we are going to discuss the differences between Delta's top Silver based finishes: Polished Nickel, Stainless Steel, and Chrome. Like Chrome, Polished Nickel is a high shine finish that brings a traditional feel, but with a signature pale gold undertone. In this grouping, Stainless Steel stands out as the only brushed finish, and should be easily distinguished from the others. Here you will also see how different lighting conditions change the appearance of Polished Nickel. We will compare the exact same Polished Nickel fixture in different lighting conditions and settings to see just how unique this finish is!
In the images below you will see the same Delta shower faucet fixture in several finishes. There are 2 Polished Nickel finish images, 1 Chrome finish image, and 1 Stainless Steel Finish image. Side by side you can really see just how different the 2 Polished Nickel images make the fixtures appear. Polished Nickel finish can look quite different depending on the lighting conditions and the setting in which it is installed. These side by side comparisons also illustrate how Polished Nickel differs from Chrome or Stainless Steel.
Polished Nickel Finish Image 1: In this white background image, you can see that Delta's Polished Nickel Finish offers a warmer take on a traditional Chrome. With a slight pale gold undertone and a high gloss, Polished Nickel falls somewhere between silver and gold. Polished Nickel appears more gold or silver depending on the lighting and surrounding colors. With the same shiny timeless appeal of Chrome, Polished Nickel Finish provides all the same opulence without feeling gaudy or outdated.
Polished Nickel Finish Image 2: In this image, the same fixture is installed on off-white tile in an actual bathroom. Here you can begin to understand the chameleon nature of the Polished Nickel Finish. In certain lighting, when paired with warmer colors, Polished Nickel appears much more gold. This finish is sometimes even mistaken for Delta's Champagne Bronze because of its natural warm undertones. This adaptability makes Polished Nickel one of the most versatile and attractive finishes on the market!
Stainless Steel Finish: Like Polished Nickel, Delta's Stainless Steel Finish also has a slightly warm undertone. However, if you look closely you will see that Stainless Steel is much more of a brushed and matte silver finish than its high gloss Polished Nickel counterpart. In fact, Delta consolidated its Brushed Nickel finish into the sub-category of Stainless Steel because of the lack of distinction between the two. Check out our Guide to Delta's Stainless Steel Finish.
Chrome Finish: In images online, Polished Nickel often closely resembles Delta's traditional Chrome finish. Like Polished Nickel, Chrome is a highly polished and shiny finish, with a timeless and classic feel. Where these two finishes differ is their undertones. Polished Nickel boasts a warm pale gold hue, while Chrome shines with a cooler silver blue tone. While these two finishes have their shininess in common, the warmer hues of Polished Nickel are not found in Delta's Chrome. Check out our Guide to Chrome finishes!
Polished Nickel is somewhat of a chameleon finish. Different lighting conditions and surrounding colors at the time the photos were taken can have a big impact on the appearance of the Polished Nickel finish in the images. Below we will compare two images of a the almost identical Delta Cassidy Polished Nickel Roman Tub Faucet with Side Spray and the exact same Delta Cassidy Polished Nickel Shower Only Faucet. Seeing the side-by-side images will highlight just how unalike the Polished Nickel finish can appear because of different lighting conditions at the time the photos were taken. It is important to understand this difference, and take it into consideration when trying to determine how a Polished Nickel finish fixture will really look in your kitchen or bathroom. Regardless of how dissimilar the Polished Nickel finish may look in the images, in reality all Polished Nickel fixtures made by Delta will match each other perfectly!
Both images above are of a Delta Cassidy Collection Roman Tub Filler Faucet with Hand Sprayer in Polished Nickel finish. The item itself only differs in that one of these tub filler faucets has cross handles and the other has lever handles. The difference you see in the color is due to lighting conditions at the time the photos were taken. Although the finish itself is the same, it looks different in the images. This is a perfect example of how certain lighting can make Polished Nickel appear more silver or gold. In the first image on the left, you can really see the pale gold undertones that are signature to Delta's Polished Nickel finish. If you look closely at this image, you can see the traditional silver shining through around the edges. In the second image on the right, you can better see the highly polished silver tones that mimic traditional Chrome, but with the classic pale gold undertones of Polished Nickel throughout the fixture. Depending on the lighting in your bathroom and the color of your tiles etc., the Polished Nickel finish will appear a little different. We think it looks beautiful and luxurious either way!
This is perhaps one of the best examples of the effects of lighting and surroundings on the appearance of Polished Nickel finished fixtures. In the first image on the left, we see a Delta Cassidy Collection Polished Nickel Shower Only Faucet on a white backdrop. This image is very true to finish, with the classic highly polished silver base with a warm pale gold undertone. The second image on the right features a sandy tan tiled shower wall and dimmer lighting, giving the fixtures more of a yellow gold appearance. If we look at this shower only faucet from another angle, with brighter lighting, it would appear more silver like the first image. Polished Nickel is one of the most difficult finishes to describe because of this unique chameleon-like trait, but this also makes Polished Nickel one of the most versatile and functional finishes on the market!
Delta's Polished Nickel finish is one of the most elegant and opulent finishes on the market. This bathroom design perfectly showcases the illuminating pale gold undertones that are signature to Polished Nickel. The Delta Dryden Collection exhibits a bold geometric shape, with sharp lines and an angular profile. The contrast of the small hexagonal wall tiles really emphasizes the unique shape of this Dryden Polished Nickel Single Hole Bathroom Faucet, while providing a neutral backdrop for the striking warm tones of Polished Nickel. Like Chrome, Polished Nickel is a high shine finish, naturally bringing a traditional feel to the space. Unlike Chrome's cool tones, Polished Nickel offers a warmer golden hue on a silver finish, emphasizing the sophisticated complexity of this unique color. In a room of neutral whites and grays, this Polished Nickel lavatory faucet shines as a luxurious centerpiece.
The signature pale gold undertones of Delta's Polished Nickel Finish really stand out in this bathroom! Depending on the surrounding light, Polished Nickel can appear more silver or gold. In the dimmer, more natural light of this space, the Delta Cassidy Collection Polished Nickel Widespread Lavatory Faucet presents more like a traditional Champagne Bronze finish. But unlike Delta's Champagne Bronze, Polished Nickel's gold undertones have a shinier look, making it easily distinguishable from other gold finishes. This Delta Cassidy Collection bathroom faucet really sparkles against the muted tones of the marble countertop and white tiled backsplash. Polished Nickel is an excellent choice for bathrooms with a dark and cooler toned color scheme. Its highly polished silver base complements these cool blue touches throughout the space, while the warmer golden hues add an eye catching contrast. Polished Nickel truly stands out as a refined and luxurious choice for any home design.
There's just something special about the way natural light shines off a Polished Nickel finished faucet. The warm golden undertones really shine through in the sunlight. This bathroom features a large double vanity with two Delta Dryden Collection Polished Nickel Bathroom Faucets with Touch20 Technology. This innovative technology allows the user to simply tap anywhere on the faucet to turn the water flow on and off! Delta also built in an automatic shut off function after about 4 minutes of water flow to conserve water. Pairing one-of-a-kind technology with a striking finish like Polished Nickel really sets Delta apart as innovators. With a corresponding Dryden Collection Polished Nickel Wall Mounted Hand Towel Ring and compatible cabinet hardware, this small bathroom was easily transformed into a contemporary minimalist dream space!
With its high shine and warm undertones of gold, Delta's Polished Nickel finish is a clear choice for modern and sophisticated spaces. Yet somehow, this stunning finish does not outshine the other eye catching fixtures and finished within this unique and luxurious master bathroom suite! Here we see a one-of-a-kind floating vanity with a large vessel sink. There is no better choice for this sophisticated design than a Delta Pivotal Polished Nickel Modern Wall Mounted Bathroom Sink Faucet. The long faucet neck hangs at a sharp 90 degree angle over the large rectangular sink, balancing the geometric design. Mounted against the warm finished wood backdrop, the warm hues of the Polished Nickel finished faucet really stand out. This luxurious bathroom also features a large open shower stall, complete with a custom Delta Pivotal Polished Nickel Shower System with Hand Shower and Body Sprays. This Polished Nickel shower system has separate Shower Controls which allow you to set the water pressure and temperature. It also features a Polished Nickel diverter to send the water to the different spray outlets (hand shower, showerhead, and body sprays). With the contrasting white shower tile, gray floor tile, warm wood, and the striking Polished Nickel fixtures, this master bathroom truly is a home oasis!
Delta's Polished Nickel finish is perfectly suited for a home master bathroom spa! It's easy to see just how elegant this high shine finish is when paired with dark mahogany wood cabinets and tub surround trim. This large master bathroom features a dual vanity with uniquely shaped Cassidy Collection Polished Nickel Wall Mount Bathroom Faucets mounted over large rectangular porcelain vessel sinks. The long curved neck of these faucets really highlights the highly polished look of the finish. Mirroring that exclusive shape is the Delta Cassidy Polished Nickel Roman Tub Filler, standing tall over the large soaking tub. Here we really see the warmness of the signature pale gold undertones of Polished Nickel. As if this room wasn't luxurious enough, we also see a large glass enclosed shower stall featuring a Cassidy Polished Nickel Shower Only Faucet. With the natural tan and yellow tones throughout the space, we can really see the different warm tones that are exclusive to Delta's Polished Nickel. This is a perfect example of just how sophisticated and opulent Polished Nickel can be!
Delta's Polished Nickel finish is sort of a nebulous finish that falls somewhere between silver and gold. Officially, Delta describes this unique finish as, "A warmer take on traditional chrome, Polished Nickel brings warm silver hues into your space." Although Polished Nickel may be difficult to describe, the impact it has on the room is immediately obvious! This large master bathroom features a Delta Cassidy Collection Freestanding Tub Filler in Polished Nickel finish. The hazy sunlight coming through the large picture window emphasizes the pale golden undertones of this Delta tub filler, while the off white wall color perfectly complements the warm tones throughout the space. This Cassidy tub filler also features a large hand shower for additional functionality, making this focus fixture highly practical and stylish! For a refined and sophisticated space, Polished Nickel is a clear choice!
Delta's Polished Nickel easily adds opulence and richness to any space. A large soaking tub is a timeless staple in any bathroom. The large Delta Cassidy Collection Polished Nickel Roman Tub Faucet instantly gives a luxurious and classically sophisticated feel to the space. With a muted color scheme, this master bathroom is the ideal neutral backdrop for the luxurious high shine of Polished Nickel. This is a beautiful example of just how shiny this high gloss finish can be. The signature high arc of the Cassidy Collection really catches the overhead lighting, highlighting the pale gold undertones of the finish. Polished Nickel offers a subtle warmth that pairs easily with the earth tones found in this bathroom suite. This finish is also highly versatile, making it the ideal choice for updated room styles and a mixed metals design. Delta finishes are all designed with high durability and extended life span in mind. Faucets and fixtures purchased from an authorized Delta retailer like FaucetList.com include Delta's Lifetime Warranty, which covers both the function and the finish of the fixture for the duration of its life! No other manufacturer provides this exceptional service and coverage. A Delta Polished Nickel faucet for your next home renovation is an obvious choice!
A large free standing soaking tub is a beautiful center piece in a master bathroom suite. Choosing the right free standing tub filler is important for such an eye catching and luxurious focal point. The Delta Zura Collection Polished Nickel Free Standing Tub Filler is the perfect choice for a classically contemporary bathroom like this! The tall neck towers over the lip of the tub, while the side sprayer offers additional functionality and design. The most appealing aspect of this free standing tub filler, however, is the finish! Delta's Polished Nickel finish stands out among its peers as the ultimate choice for sophistication and richness. When placed in front of a large picture window like this, we can easily see the high shine and sparkle of this ultra-polished finish. The warm golden tones reflect the sunlight throughout the room, complementing the Polished Nickel towel bar, Polished Nickel towel ring, and golden accent towels. This bathroom design perfectly showcases Polished Nickel's ability to add opulence and luxury to a space without looking gaudy or overpowering.
A large soaking tub is eye catching enough on its own, but add in a Delta Dryden Collection Polished Nickel Roman Tub faucet and you have the perfect center piece for your master bathroom suite! In this design, the sunlight through the large picture window and cream wall color seamlessly complements the warm golden undertones of Delta's Polished Nickel finish. A high shine tub faucet finish, such as Polished Nickel, is the perfect choice for mounting near a window for a warm feeling throughout the space as sunlight is reflected. The Dryden collection's signature square shape and angular edges pair well with the sharp lines of the lip around the tub. A standard deck mounted roman tub filler is a fantastic faucet choice to pair with a large soaker tub for creating a home spa feeling. The Polished Nickel finish easily adds enhanced luxury to the space, while also keeping with the classically modern touches of black and cream. Polished Nickel truly thrives in any bathroom design!
In most homes, the kitchen is the center of all activity. Choosing fixtures that are both durable and stylish is essential for one of the most used spaces of the household. This Delta Cassidy Collection Centerset Kitchen Sink Faucet with Side Spray in Delta's Polished Nickel is an ideal finish for a high use faucet! The high gloss finish easily hides fingerprints, while the side sprayer offers additional functionality. This image is a perfect example of how lighting conditions may affect the appearance of Polished Nickel. The faucet is catching the warm sunlight coming in through the above sink window, highlighting the golden tones that are unique to Polished Nickel. When mounted on a gray quartz countertop, against a gray tile back splash, this Polished Nickel kitchen faucet really sparkles as a centerpiece. The Delta Cassidy Collection is perfectly suited for both a contemporary or traditional home design style, while the Polished Nickel finish is equally suited for changing home trends. Choosing Polished Nickel for your next home renovation is a no-brainer!
The Delta Pivotal Collection boasts a unique geometric design that stands out as a statement piece in this modern kitchen. This Pivotal Polished Nickel Kitchen Faucet offers a one-of-a-kind rectangular pull-out sprayer and a compact single handle design for additional functionality and performance. Polished Nickel has a traditional energy and timeless look of Chrome, but with a uniquely warmer undertone. Paired with the uncommon design of the Delta Pivotal Collection, and you have a statement piece! This faucet also features a single handle design, allowing you to control both the water pressure and temperature in one easy-to-use handle. This compact design also saves much needed kitchen counter space! For an all-around bold and sophisticated look with ultra-functionality, that will shine in both a modern or contemporary home, choose a Polished Nickel Pivotal kitchen faucet for your next kitchen renovation!
A kitchen faucet should be both stylish and functional. A Delta Cassidy Polished Nickel Pull Out Kitchen Faucet is just that! This faucet boasts a large neck that doubles as a pull-out sprayer for extra operation, Delta's Diamond Seal Technology keeps this faucet running like new for the duration of its life! Their patented Diamond Seal design reduces leak points and ensures a leak-free operation lasting twice as long as the industry standard. Diamond Seal faucets are engineered to last longer, never leak, and are less hassle to install. Everything you need for installation comes in one convenient box, including the integrated supply lines! With this innovative technology, and a compact single handle design, this faucet is highly functional and unique! When mounted near a picture window, Polished Nickel exhibits a warm undertone of pale gold that shines throughout the space. There's no denying, a Delta's Polished Nickel kitchen faucet stands out as a leader among its peers!
The addition of a bar faucet instantly adds a feeling of sophistication to any home. Choosing a uniquely designed bar faucet like the Delta Pivotal Polished Nickel Single Handle Bar Sink Faucet only increases the luxury! This design perfectly showcases Polished Nickel's ability to mix well with many different materials. The natural silver base color of the finish allows this Polished Nickel bar faucet to seamlessly match the small stainless steel bar sink, while the subtle gold undertones keep the faucet standing out as a center piece. The high polished shine of the faucet catches any light throughout the room, giving off a natural sparkle. With a tall spout neck, this bar faucet allows ample room for large glasses and jugs to be used easily within the low sink. Delta's Pivotal Collection offers a bold geometric design that makes a statement in any contemporary or modern home design. For easy sophistication and additional functionality, choose a Delta Polished Nickel bar faucet!
As we've mentioned a few times throughout this article, Delta's Polished Nickel finish is a chameleon of sorts. In this section, we will be discussing how different lighting conditions and surrounding materials can affect the appearance of Polished Nickel. You will see some Polished Nickel fixtures that appear to be more golden in natural light. In darker lighting, these same fixtures may appear more silver. These variations make Polished Nickel one of the most tricky finishes to shop for online. We recommend taking all materials and lighting within the space into consideration when choosing any finish. Polished Nickel has a unique ability to tie multiple colors together. We often see Polished Nickel featured in mixed metals designs for this reason! These are just a few of our favorite examples highlighting the variations in the way Polished Nickel can appear based on the setting. They illustrate just how unique this finish can be!
Delta's Polished Nickel finish is often mistaken for gold or Champagne Bronze. Natural lighting conditions really exaggerate the golden undertones in Polished Nickel, especially the light offered by the sun when mounted near a large window. As first glance of the image above, this Delta Cassidy Collection Polished Nickel Traditional Style Wall Mounted Bathroom Sink Faucet can easily be mistaken for Delta's exclusive Champagne Bronze finish. The natural lighting and abundance of white throughout the space amplifies these warm gold undertones. But if you look closer, you can see cool silver base that gives this highly polished faucet a modern look. The goal of this design was to highlight Polished Nickel's more golden attributes by using lighter base colors and gold and yellow accents. If you are using this finish with the hopes of highlighting its more silver attributes, we recommend designing the space with cooler tones and even incorporating mixed metals such as Stainless Steel finish to off-set the warm gold undertones. Whichever way you design it, Polished Nickel will add easy luxury and sophistication to any space!
We love to see conventional home fixtures used in an unconventional way! The very creative designer of this space chose to use Delta Dryden Collection Polished Nickel finish robe hooks as unique hangers for children's costumes. We included this image in this Polished Nickel designs section because, as you can see, the Dryden Polished Nickel robe hooks have a distinct gold hue rather than the more silver shine often highlighted in Delta's Polished Nickel finish. As previously mentioned, Polished Nickel has a warm undertone that can sometimes appear gold with specific lighting conditions. This versatility is what makes Delta's Polished Nickel finish difficult to describe, but also extremely unique and sophisticated! When used in a contemporary family setting such as this, Polished Nickel really shines as the opulent eye catcher it is!
Polished Nickel is a high shine finish that is also very easy to care for. We recommend wiping your faucet or shower fixture after each use to prevent mineral and oil buildup. Here are some of our favorite Polished Nickel cleaning tips:
With a warmer take on a traditional Chrome, Polished Nickel brings glowing silver and gold hues into your space! The highly polished shine of Polished Nickel offers opulence without feeling gaudy, and is perfect for both a contemporary and modern home design. Polished Nickel finished fixtures are spot resistant, and incredibly easy to care for. These sophisticated fixtures are highly adaptable for any space, and will last a lifetime! Try Polished Nickel for your next home renovation, and be sure to share a picture of how you incorporated this uniquely classic fixture into your home!
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Co-founder, FaucetList.com, Plumbing Industry Experience: 25+ years
Nick Kuzmin has been working with or around plumbing products for over 25 years. This lifetime of experience has given him a large amount of useful and practical knowledge on almost all plumbing related topics which he freely writes about and shares online. Nick co-founded FaucetList.com with his father Jim in 2011.
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