Nickel Sockets and Switches
Nickel sockets and switches sit between chrome and pewter on the finish spectrum — warmer and softer than chrome, brighter than brushed steel, with a depth that works in both traditional and contemporary rooms. Socket Store carries the full spread of nickel tones: soft-sheen brushed and satin nickel, and brighter polished nickel.
Choose your plate style: Victorian brushed nickel with its classic stepped border, geometric Deco, rope-edged Georgian, or the thicker Victorian Cast plate with its sharp multi-stepped edge. Polished nickel is available in Flat and Victorian plates, and the imported Retrotouch brushed nickel range offers a screwless look. Matching dimmers, toggle switches, USB outlets and accessories run across the ranges, so a whole property can share one consistent finish.
Every range carries a 10-year warranty, and all but the imported Retrotouch range are hand-finished in Worcester, Britain.
Looking for a darker, antique finish? See our Antique Pewter range, which has moved to sit alongside our other pewter finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between nickel and brushed steel sockets and switches?
Nickel and brushed steel are both cool, silver-toned finishes with a brushed texture, which is why they are frequently confused. The difference is in the material and the warmth of the tone. Brushed steel sockets and switches are made from stainless steel, giving them a clean, cool, slightly blue-grey appearance — the finish most commonly associated with modern and industrial interiors. Nickel is a brass-based plate with a nickel plating applied, which gives it a fractionally warmer, softer tone than brushed steel. Side by side, brushed steel is crisper and cooler; nickel is subtler and slightly warmer. If your kitchen appliances or other hardware are stainless steel, brushed steel will match more closely. If you are after a softer silver that sits between chrome and brushed steel, nickel is worth considering.
Which is more durable, nickel or brushed steel?
Both carry our 10-year warranty. Brushed steel is stainless throughout, so it has no plating that can wear. Nickel is plated, but the quality of finish on our ranges means it holds well under normal domestic use.
Where it works
Nickel is a softer, warmer alternative to chrome and brushed steel — a finish that suits interiors where a silver-toned fitting is wanted but the cooler, harder quality of chrome or brushed steel feels too stark. It works well in bedrooms, sitting rooms, and dining rooms with a classic or transitional character, and pairs naturally with warm neutrals, soft greys, and traditional joinery. Nickel also works effectively in period properties that have been updated with a contemporary interior — it sits between the traditional warmth of brass and the modernity of chrome without belonging firmly to either.
Popular Nickel plates
With it's slightly warmer colour compared to brushed steel, these plates stand out a bit more and fit with warmer coloured decors.
