Choosing brass handrail brackets

If you’re planning on renovating your staircase, choosing a handrail bracket that’s sturdy, durable and aesthetically pleasing can be a challenging task. Brass handrail brackets are one of the most popular choices. So, what is a brass handrail bracket and what do I need to know before making my purchase?

Brass handrail brackets are known for being durable and strong, with a high-end appearance. There are many different available, ranging from intricate patterns to simple designs, and you’ll need to choose a design that will fit with your home’s interior design scheme. 

Keep reading for a more in-depth explanation of what brass handrail brackets are, their main features, the designs available, and what to consider when purchasing a brass handrail bracket.

 

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What is a brass handrail bracket?

Handrails are a pivotal part of many staircases. They provide safety and enhance your home’s aesthetic. One of the most important features of a handrail is the handrail bracket. Wall-mounted handrail brackets are used to attach either standard ungrooved handrails or mopstick handrails to their firm position on a wall. With each handrail bracket, you will find a wide range of styles and materials available, allowing you to achieve the exact look you desire for your staircase.

One of the more popular materials for handrail brackets is brass. Brass handrail brackets are a great option, not only due to their classic, luxurious appearance but also for their durability and strength. These brackets are bound to bring a creative edge to your home’s design.

 

Why choose brass handrail brackets?

Brass handrail brackets are a fantastic choice of wall brackets for various reasons. Here are three reasons why you should choose brass handrail brackets for your staircase: 

 

  • They provide a unique style – the style that brass handrail brackets create is hard to replicate. Brass has a distinctive classic appearance, which is guaranteed to provide your staircase with a unique feel.
  • They pair beautifully with most woods – whatever wood you have chosen for your handrail, you can be sure that a brass bracket will complement this beautifully with its versatile design. However, it is worth noting that brass goes particularly well with brighter shades of wood, such as pine.
  • Flexible for a range of staircase designs – brass handrail brackets are surprisingly versatile and can be used for a range of staircase designs and aesthetics. No matter what staircase style you have, brass handrail brackets can seamlessly fit into the design and bring a fresh look to it.

 

What are the different designs available for brass handrail brackets?

Brass handrail brackets come in two different designs. These are:

 

Simple designs

Simple brass handrail brackets are designed to bring a simple yet stunning appearance to your staircase. These designs blend seamlessly into the wall and staircase area, allowing them to greatly complement the current aesthetic without drawing too much attention away from the overall staircase look. These simple designs are also more affordable – Jackson Woodturners’ Brass Wall Bracket is a perfect example.

 

  • These brackets are used to attach a handrail to a wall.
  • The bracket stands 70mm from the wall to the screw hole, or 85mm if mounted on a patrice.
  • The circle that attaches to the wall is 55mm in diameter.
  • The rectangle that attaches to the rail is 47mm x 21mm.
  • The Item is brass plated.
  • 1 bracket per pack.


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Decorative designs

If you desire something with more creative flair and ‘wow-factor’, then the decorative brass wall bracket designs are the right choice. These designs are made to attract immediate attention for their beautiful style and have a bold, innovative appearance. Whilst more expensive, these designs are great for traditional homes that want to portray uniqueness and elegance. Jackson Woodturners’ Antique Brass Petal Wall Bracket does just this.

 

  • 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 caps are also available.
  • 1 bracket per pack.


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To view your full range of options, shop our brass handrail brackets here.

 

What to consider when choosing a brass bracket

Here is a list of the main things to consider when choosing your own brass handrail wall bracket:

 

Does your handrail bracket match your staircase aesthetic?

Harmony is the key to producing the perfect staircase aesthetic. Therefore, you must make sure that your chosen brass handrail bracket fits well with your overall staircase design, including whether it is contemporary or traditional, the wood type, colour, etc.

 

Price

Different handrail bracket designs have different price ranges, i.e., decorative designs are more expensive. Make sure you know your budget and what style of bracket you are looking for. Shop our full selection of brass handrail brackets to view your options.

 

Style (modern or traditional)

Brass brackets go well with any style, but specific designs work better with different style homes. If you have a more modern home, you may want a more sophisticated design, and if you have a traditional style home, you may want to opt for a more antique decorative design.

 

What woods are you pairing your bracket with?

Brass handrail brackets complement all types of wood well, but if you want an optimal pairing, brighter shades of wood such as pine go best with the darker hues of brass tones. Shop our full selection of pine handrails here.

Brass also looks great when paired with dark or medium-toned woods, if you want to create a more dramatic look. At Jackson Woodturners, we have a range of Dark Hardwood stair parts, including handrails, made from gorgeous West African timber which would look stunning paired with brass handrail brackets and matching endcaps.

Another popular wood choice with brass is walnut. This Walnut Round Mopstick Handrail would pair beautifully with a highly decorative brass bracket to create a real sense of character in any home.

 

Do you want to add a decorative touch to your staircase?

Some homeowners have a simpler staircase design and are looking to add more creativity to it. This can be easily achieved with the right handrail bracket. A decorative brass handrail bracket – such as Jackson Woodturners’ Antique Brass Petal Wall Bracket – will not only bring a luxury touch with its darker hues but also provide an elegant appearance with its decorative design. This will surely turn your simplistic staircase into a dazzling, artistic design.

 

What are the other handrail bracket materials?

Brass is not the only handrail bracket material available, and each one has its unique benefits:

 

  • Nickel – brushed nickel handrail brackets have a traditional, industrial style to them. They have a similar warm hue to brass but very small abrasions creating the brushed surface effect. These brackets are great for hiding fingerprint smudges and marks, and they go well with warm hues of timber like oak.
  • Chrome – chrome brackets are much bolder compared to other brackets. Their dazzling, refined finish looks great in modern staircases. Read our guide to choosing chrome handrail brackets here.
  • Black metal – black metal brackets are a sleek, innovative addition to home designs. The brackets are perfect for creating a bold, sophisticated appearance, but also blending well with more neutral tones such as pale or dark wood.

 

Which end caps should I pair with brass handrail brackets?

An end cap is a perfect way to finish the aesthetic of your handrail and add a final decorative touch. However, it's important to choose one that will complement your home's current style.  

Slimmer end caps are great for more traditional aesthetics where they can subtly blend in with the staircase design. A good example of this is Jackson Woodturners’ Brass Slim End Cap. More decoratively designed end caps are better for modern aesthetics that want an elegant and innovative look, such as our Brass Filigree End Cap.

 

Does my endcap design need to match my handrail bracket?

There are a wide range of end cap designs available and it’s easy to find a matching style to go with your handrail bracket for a cohesive look. For example, if you’ve selected this Antique Brass Petal Wall Bracket, the perfect handrail bracket choice might be this matching Antique Brass Petal End Cap.

However, endcaps are also available in a range of woods, including pine and hemlock, if you’re looking for something different. Wooden endcaps are referred to as end scrolls and have a unique decorative finish.

 

Which brass end cap is best for mopstick handrails?

For mopstick handrails, there is a choice to be made between slim-end, medium-end, and filigree end caps. We suggest opting for the filigree caps, such as this pair of Brass Filigree End Caps, for a more ornate finish.

You can shop our full range of end caps here. For more advice, visit our page on how to choose the right stair accessories.

 

How do I care for my brass handrail brackets?

To get the most out of your brass handrail brackets, it’s important to care for them properly. Brass, as with all metals, is tough and durable, but still requires some care to keep it in pristine condition.

Experts at Jackson Woodturners suggest that a disposable dust satin cloth or microfibre cloth is perfect for safely dusting brass handrail brackets. For cleaning marks and fingerprint smudges, our experts suggest mixing a cleaning solution with warm water to not damage the metal by being too strong.

Read our guide on staircase cleaning and maintenance for more information.

 

Brass handrail brackets by Jackson Woodturners

Jackson Woodturners offers the UK’s largest selection of contemporary and traditional stair parts.

We stock a wide range of brass handrail brackets, as well as other materials such as chrome, nickel, and black metal. If you’re looking for wooden endcaps, we offer a range of wooden end scrolls, including dark hardwood, hemlock, oak, pine, and walnut. If you plan on painting your end scrolls, we offer a convenient white primed option.

You can explore our full range of handrail brackets on our website. Alternatively, if you need some help choosing the right style or material of handrail bracket for your staircase, our friendly team will be happy to help. You can call our staircase experts on 0114 272 1228 or email [email protected].

 

Frequently asked questions

What is the best material for handrail brackets?

The best material for handrail brackets will depend on your requirements, budget and aesthetic preferences. Brass is a popular choice, due to its durability and luxurious appearance, especially for period properties or more traditional homes. For more modern homes, chrome has a sleek and refined look which is guaranteed to make a positive impact on your staircase. 

 

Are brass handrail brackets durable and long-lasting?

Yes, brass is a very strong and durable material, making it the perfect choice for handrail brackets and endcaps. Choosing brass handrail brackets guarantees your handrail will be fully supported and you won’t need to worry about replacing your brackets for a very long time.

 

What colour are brass handrail brackets?

Brass handrail brackets have a golden-yellow appearance with a subtle brown undertone. It’s similar to gold, but brass has a slightly more muted tone making it a more versatile choice for many applications, as well as being significantly cheaper.

 

What finishes are available for brass handrail brackets?

Brass handrail brackets come in two main finishes: antique brass and polished brass. Antique brass handrail brackets, such as this Antique Brass Wall Bracket, have an aged, tarnished look that works wonderfully if you’re trying to inject character into your home.

Polished brass handrail brackets have a bright, shiny and polished appearance (hence the name). This finish is created by polishing the brass until it has a high shine and then coating the metal in a clear lacquer to protect it from oxidation. A polished brass finish looks stunning, but it can require more maintenance than antique brass as fingerprints show easily. 


For more information about choosing handrails and handrail accessories, visit our ‘expert guide to different handrail types’ article.