Bathroom fixtures: matte black or chrome?

Hello everyone, we are facing the decision whether our bathroom fittings should be matte black or chrome. Does anyone have experience with cleaning black and how does it look with scratches? Are these fittings sensitive, especially when wearing rings?

That is of course a matter of taste. I find the appearance quite appealing. However, it must also be said that black is declining again in interior details. This trend can quickly be considered a trend of the 2020s. In addition, lime and dust deposits are more visible. The cleaning as well as the surface strength should be the same.

Depends on whether powder-coated or anodized. Most (all?) matte black fixtures are, as far as I know, powder-coated or even painted. There are anodized fixtures, but they have a slight sheen. So anodized is more durable than powder-coated because it is not an additional layer, but the surface itself is chemically altered.

We have black fixtures from Hansgrohe and both the bathtub and the shower fixture already have chips. We have baliv (Obi house brand) in the guest WC and kitchen and everything is fine there. But yes, more cleaning effort. A descaling system is basically mandatory unless you live in an area where the tap water is already soft.

The black fixtures are usually more expensive.

May I be so bold as to ask for a photo of a black tap in use? We have quite hard water, and I just can't imagine that fitting together. Thanks in advance!

We have chrome in the family bathroom and black in the guest bathroom. When I look at our chrome fixtures, which are used daily, I don't want black there. Our water is also quite hard. In the guest bathroom, I wipe the fixture with a cloth after each use.

On black, you can probably see the limescale spots more clearly, but you can also see them on chrome. You have to regularly clean both.
In general, I think black fittings and door handles are slowly no longer looking modern. I think people get tired of them relatively quickly.
Stainless steel and chrome are timeless; they also fit both dark and light furniture and walls in terms of decor. Overall, that is much more neutral. Since we did not furnish every room in the same style, that was clear from the start for us.
Especially light beige tones and white furniture are very trendy again right now, which naturally clashes with dark accents. We also did not want to limit ourselves too much in case we want to change the rooms in the future.

At the end of the day, it’s simply a matter of taste.