Choosing brushed nickel handrail brackets – what styles are available and what factors should I consider?

A handrail is one of the most important yet elegant features of a staircase’s design. Not only does it provide safety, but it also brings a neat aesthetic to your staircase. If you are looking for a handrail, it is essential that you choose the right handrail brackets to complete the feature. Wall-mounted handrail brackets are designed to attach either standard ungrooved handrails or mopstick handrails securely to a wall. These handrail brackets are available in multiple styles and materials in order for you to achieve the unique look you want for your staircase. Amongst these materials are the nickel handrail brackets. A brushed nickel bracket brings a refreshingly modern aesthetic to your interior design, and the industrial style look is bound to attract immediate attention from guests.

Here, we provide a detailed comparison of nickel handrail brackets with other available materials, discussing your style and design options. We also explain everything you need to consider when purchasing your brushed nickel handrail bracket.

Why choose nickel handrail brackets?

There are several reasons why nickel handrail brackets are a must-buy option. Among these main reasons are:

• They offer a modern look – nickel handrail brackets bring a fresh and innovative look that compliments modern home designs very well. The sophisticated design can give any home an expertly contemporary feel.
• A large range of designs – you are sure to find the perfect handrail bracket to fit your home with the wide range of nickel handrail brackets available. Go for something bold, or something with subtle flair – check Jackson Woodturners’ Nickel Handrail Brackets for inspiration.
• They provide a unique, industrial-style – countless homeowners are seeking a more modern industrial style for their homes, and nickel handrail brackets achieve this perfectly. Their brushed, raw finish will really bring out an industrial aesthetic for your staircase.
• Great alongside warm hues of timber – the elegant finish of a nickel handrail bracket will effortlessly complement the warm hues of a timber handrail, creating interior features that work harmoniously together. Jackson Woodturners’ Oak & Brushed Nickel Handrail set is a perfect example.

On top of these benefits, nickel also provides a warm and earthy appearance – the stunning finish of nickel handrail brackets can flood your home with warm, earthy colours, that contribute towards the heart of a home’s character.

Additionally, nickel handrail brackets are perfect for hiding fingerprint smudges or marks, so your home will remain in pristine condition. Nickel brackets can be a perfect choice for those with kids.

What are the different designs available for nickel handrail brackets?

When choosing a nickel handrail bracket, the design of the bracket itself can also significantly change the overall aesthetic. You may want to opt for either a simple design or a more decorative design, depending on the style you want to achieve:

Simple designs

A simple nickel handrail bracket design is something that produces subtle elegance. These designs are a much more affordable option and are perfect for homes that have a more simplistic design. These brackets will blend seamlessly with the walls, leaving the staircase as the main attraction feature. Jackson Woodturners’ Forge Wall Mounted Mopstick Handrail Bracket is a key example of this.

• This handrail bracket is part of the Forge range of modern and contemporary stair parts and accessories.
• This brushed nickel wall mounted handrail brackets, attaches a handrail onto a wall.
• This handrail bracket is designed to be used with a 54mm diameter mopstick handrail. Screws are provided with the bracket.
• The Forge range of brushed nickel products, come with a matt finish.

Shop now

Decorative designs

Decorative designs are a much bolder, unique option for handrail brackets. These designs are perfect for traditional or modern homes, where you might want every aspect of the staircase and handrail to really draw the eye. These brackets are pricier, but the sophisticated and detailed looks they bring to your home are highly worth the expense. The Brushed Nickel Octagon Wall Bracket at Jackson Woodturners is a clear display of this design and would look perfect in a modern home.

• These wall brackets are part of the accessories range of modern and contemporary stair parts.
• These brackets are used to attach a handrail onto a wall.
• Matching end cap also available.
• 1 bracket per pack.

Shop now

What to consider when choosing a nickel bracket

When choosing your nickel handrail bracket, the following are some important things to consider:

• Aesthetic fit – you want to make sure that your chosen bracket will not clash with your current staircase design, and in fact complement or revitalise the overall aesthetic.
• Price – different brackets will have different prices, such as a simpler design costing less than a decorative design, so be aware of your budget and expectations when choosing your bracket.
• Style – have you designed your home in a more modern or traditional style? This will determine whether you buy a more subtle bracket to complement a traditional home, or potentially a more creative bracket to fit well with a modern aesthetic.
• Accompanying wood – different bracket materials work better with different woods. Nickel is perfect for all timber hues, particularly oak, so be aware that these types of wooden handrails are likely to produce a more complete, harmonious look. Certain stair handrail finishes may in fact clash with nickel.
• Do you want to add a decorative touch to your staircase? You may be in possession of a more simplistic staircase design and want something that will give it a creative edge. The best way to do this would be to purchase a more decoratively designed nickel handrail bracket – such as this one from Jackson Woodturners – and you’ll see how your staircase design is refreshingly touched with a bit of artistic creativity.

What are the other handrail bracket materials?

There are several other handrail bracket materials available, and each one provides different features compared to the nickel brackets:

• Brass – brass handrail brackets provide a darker look than nickel, and therefore work better with a brighter balance of wood shades. These brackets are great for more traditional home designs and give off a sense of luxury, making them a similar price to nickel. Read our full guide to choosing brass handrail brackets for more information.
• Chrome – chrome brackets are a much more dazzling option compared to other brackets. Their finish makes them bold and refined, which is perfect for more modern stairways. Chrome finishes, although excellent, have become much more common in homes recently, and as a result, the brackets are cheaper than the others. Read more about the benefits of chrome handrail brackets here.
• Black metal – black coated metal brackets are ideal for homes seeking a more sleek, modern design. The brackets work well with a more sophisticated aesthetic, but despite the bold colour, they can also work well with more neutral tones such as pale or dark wood.

Shop our full range of handrail brackets to view your options.

Choosing end caps

Every handrail can be further improved with the right end caps. End caps can help complete your overall staircase aesthetic. If you are going for a traditional look, you may want a slimmer end cap that has a simple design so it blends naturally with the staircase – such as this nickel medium end cap. For more modern homes, you can choose an end cap that is more creative and luxurious as to draw attention – such as this nickel octagonal end cap.

Are you looking for the right end cap for your handrail? Shop our full selection here.

Caring for your nickel handrail brackets

There are various products you can buy to help maintain your nickel handrail bracket and keep it in pristine condition. We suggest using disposable dusting or microfibre or satin cloth to safely dust the metal brackets. Smudges and fingerprint marks can be easily removed with a mixture of cleaning solution and warm water as to not damage the metal with strong chemicals.

What types of wood should you pair with nickel handrail brackets?

Nickel is a very versatile metal and works well with any type of wood. However, the unique finish of nickel is most optimal with warm hues of timber, specifically oak, or things like pine and walnut. These warmer hues will work collectively with the nickel brackets to produce an elegant, warm, and earthy aesthetic for your home’s design.

Related content

Choosing brass handrail brackets

The benefits of chrome handrail brackets