Satin nickel? Antique copper? Rustic wrought iron? There is much more to selecting a faucet finish than deciding between brass and chrome.

These newer finishes are all the rage, as consumers look for that special hue or texture that will evoke their sense of style. What's available beyond the traditional polished brass and chrome finishes?

Try satin nickel. It has a warmer tone than chrome and won’t pit or tarnish as easily as brass. It's a matte finish, so it goes nicely with muted colors and natural stones.

Mixing and Matching

Antique nickel? Red powder coat? Just when you’ve begun to decipher all the finishes, the selections seem to multiply. Try these:

• Brass and porcelain
• Black nickel and brass
• Chrome and brass

The benefit? By mixing and matching materials, you’ve just expanded your options. It also allows you to easily blend a new faucet finish into an existing bathroom. Want to add black nickel without having to replace the brass toilet lever, shower door trim and towel bars? Think about a black nickel faucet with brass accents.

There are no hard and fast rules here. The key is to blend the faucet with the rest of the bathroom decor. Or, if you prefer -- strike your own style with a bright red faucet that just says it all.

Style. Style.Style.

Among the current styles are:

• Rectangular or cylindrical shaped spouts that point straight out from the base
• Arcs that extend upward from the base
• Curved faucets with lots of traditional detailing.
• In styles that include two handles, the handles often have a square, cross or round shape.

A contemporary style will have a lot of smooth, clean lines and often have a higher arced spout. Traditional styles have a Victorian feel, with a crooked, gooseneck spout or cross handles with “hot” and “cold” designations.

The Cost

What does all this style cost? Try $250 to $500 for a polished brass faucet with rope detailing and two porcelain handles to $1,100 for a 24-karat gold faucet with crystal handles. If you simply want function, add a single handle chrome faucet for $50 to $100.

Levers or handles?

Many people choose handle styles because of their design, but some look for convenience. Levers can be easier to use than handles. This can be helpful for people with physical impairments or for children who may have difficulty turning a cross shaped handle.