Decor We Adore: 15 Reasons We're Crazy for Copper

Fiery, glowing and gorgeous, it's easy to understand copper's charm. But, this oh-so-trendy metal isn't new to the design game, from cookware to cupolas, copper is one metal that stands the test of time.

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January 18, 2018

By: H. Camille Smith

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Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

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Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

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Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

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Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

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Move Over, Moscow Mules

You're no longer the only copper game in town. Altho still popular as barware, the rosy-hued metal has gone mainstream with copper accents popping up in every space both inside and outside the home.

From: H. Camille Smith

Chef-Quality Stunner

Kitchen Cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri pulled out all the stops in this small kitchen where black Shaker-style cabinets are beautifully contrasted by the kitchen's showstopper: a custom copper range hood.

From: Anthony Carrino

Light It Up

But range hoods aren't the only way to introduce a bit of copper's fiery glam to the kitchen as is seen in this farmhouse-style stunner by Fixer Upper's Chip and Jo where a pair of copper lanterns is an eye-catching way to illuminate, and visually anchor, the island.

Patina: More Beautiful With Age

This hose pot is a great example of how copper patinates over time. Just as iron and steel rust, copper also shows the effect of the elements' chemical reaction with the metal. When exposed to water and oxygen, a gorgeous blue-green patina called verdigris forms on the copper's surface. The more the exposure, the faster the patination till all the copper color has vanished under a layer of minty green.

Bathing Beauty

An excellent heat conductor, copper has long been used as both plumbing for bathtubs and the tub itself. Not only beautiful, copper's heat-retaining properties ensure warm water stays toasty so you can sink in for a nice long soak.

Pretty Privacy

Sliding barn-door-style panels are a stunning stand-in for standard walls in this freestanding tiny home bathroom. Designer Kim Lewis had copper sheets laser cut to create the intricately patterned panels that add both architectural interest and privacy. See more photos of this 375-square foot tiny home.

From: Kim Lewis Designs

Create a Show-Stopping Centerpiece

Handcrafted of solid copper, this pretty pail turns fresh-cut flowers or a bunch of branches into an eye-catching arrangement. To keep it's new-penny shine, the copper will need to be frequently polished — or exposure to water and oxygen will cause the metal to take on a rich patina over time.

From: H. Camille Smith

Metal of the Moment

Copper's timeless appeal makes it a beautiful stand-in for other popular metallic accents, like brass and chrome. In this bathroom, designer Brittany Krupnik added warmth to the cool color scheme with glints of copper via cabinet hardware and industrial-style sconces.

From: Blissful Design Studio

Copper : A Kitchen All-Star

Copper has long been the go-to cookware for chefs but copper's kitchen usefulness doesn't stop at pots and pans. It's antimicrobial properties — seriously, copper is such a germ-buster that it kills E coli on contact — make it an excellent sink, faucet, backsplash and countertop surface.

Belly Up to the Bar

Hammered copper sheets wrap the base of this curvy bar in a sun-washed Manhattan loft. Paired with tufted velvet barstools, the bar's clean lines and glamorous style give this corner of the loft a hip, speakeasy vibe.

From: Art Home Garden

Beautify Your Bar Cart

Even a small pop of copper, here courtesy of the carrara marble ice bucket, is a trend-savvy way to brighten up your bar cart.

From: H. Camille Smith

Set the Table Aglow

Increasingly popular for entertaining, copper and it's trendier lookalike: rose gold are great choices for adding a warm touch of glitz to a formal or informal get-together. True rose gold — the pinkish-gold sold by jewelers — is an alloy of pure gold, copper and a small amount of silver; the higher the copper content, the more the metal resembles pure copper so it's easy to see how the terms 'rose gold' and 'copper' have become interchangeable.

From: Blissful Design Studio

Party Like a Pro

Both beautiful and antimicrobial, copper cheese knives take your cheese or charcuterie board to the next level. To truly party like a pro, pair the blades to the items you're serving: the pointed blade for hard cheese (like cheddar and gouda), a curved spreader for soft cheese (like brie and chevre) and a wide blade for semi-hard cheese (like manchego and provolone). Post-party clean-up is easy; just give 'em a quick wash and towel dry to keep the copper gleaming.

From: H. Camille Smith

Outdoor Entertaining Made Easy

Copper's temperature conductivity (read: hot stays hot and cold stays cold) makes it easy to stylishly chill canned or bottled sodas, wine or your favorite brew for hours — even on a warm summer day.

From: H. Camille Smith

Living Wall

In this courtyard, created by landscape designer Randy Thueme, perforated copper panels are interwoven with the trunks of young trees to create a privacy wall that will become more interesting over time as the copper panels verdigris and the trees grow to maturity.

From: Randy Thueme Design Inc.

Decor We Adore: 15 Reasons We're Crazy for Copper

Related To:

Shop This Look

Move Over, Moscow Mules

Chef-Quality Stunner

Light It Up

Patina: More Beautiful With Age

Bathing Beauty

Pretty Privacy

Create a Show-Stopping Centerpiece

Metal of the Moment

Copper : A Kitchen All-Star

Belly Up to the Bar

Beautify Your Bar Cart

Set the Table Aglow

Party Like a Pro

Outdoor Entertaining Made Easy

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