Polished Chrome
Chrome, aka chromium, is a plated finish that you’ll probably remember from the taps in your childhood homes, and perhaps the homes of your grandparents, too. It has long been revered as a safe choice, not to mention one of the most affordable finishes available.
As long as you buy from a reputable manufacturer that electroplates chrome onto solid brass, the finish should last well without any peeling or flaking. Rusting or oxidisation will only occur if the product is poorly plated or badly damaged/scratched subsequently.
Chrome has a slightly blue tint, and the finish is very bright, almost mirror-like. For these reasons, it is often used in contemporary homes with cool colour schemes. Chrome’s main selling point is that the finish looks the same whichever manufacturer you choose, thus matching chrome products from different sources is rarely problematic.
One negative of chrome is its lack of design appeal. This is entirely subjective, but chrome has been so ubiquitous for so long that it has become almost invisible.