I always say, "It doesn't have to match. It just has to 'go' ".

Maybe in more formal spaces matching would be the way to go however if the industrial style coffee table pictured was your choice I would say mix it up!

I personally love touches of cast iron, steel, aluminum, maybe a touch of brass on an old trunk, and of course rust lol.

Work it like you mean it, that's the bottom line

"Matching" is not in my dictionary any more.

It's more important that your pieces work together in style, scale and shape, than in finish. This is also true of wood.

It can help if you find ways to bring the metals together in some smaller items. I have some mixed metallic picture frames that allow me to use gold and silver in the same room. You could also do something similar by buying matching/similar styles with different metals on each, then displaying together (e.g. two navy pillows, one with gold detail and one with silver detail).

The other commenters are right - just don't let the mixing looking like an accident or oversight.

I hope it okay, since I have not systematically chosen all the items in any room to be one metal or another. confidently choose what you like, says i.

Line or color. Always. You can use either or both to tie a room together. So you can mix the metals (or any other color). But either repeat the combination as suggested with the frames, or else repeat the shape/pattern of the table a couple of other places in the room.

I based my family room design off of this room: http://bit.ly/n5mCIe
Aluminum, iron, i even added a bit of brass and i get so many compliments on it. Mixing metals is not only on point for interior design, it's really in for jewelry. Mix it up!

As with fashion, matching is overrated.

@jmcfadden That inspiration room rocks! What does your final look like?

EVERYTHING must match EXACTLY!

Sofas and chairs must match - Fabric and style - and they must all be placed in rows along the walls.
All wood tables must come from a set - no strange single pieces - and they must all match the piano, floors and trim perfectly. If they don't, they're out!
Walls may be painted one of three colors: Beige, Beige and Beige.
Curtains must match the pillows which must match the wallpaper, which must match the rugs - No deviation at all! Your rugs must all match as well - Handmade and one-of-a-kind must go! Be sure to get a runner for the hall that's the same design as the living room rug that's the same as the dining room rug! Every little bit of metal must not only be the exact same color, but the same shapes and sizes as well. Can't find a fireplace screen that comes form the same set as your ashtray, lamps and doorknobs? You've failed!
And don't forget - Your artwork on the walls must come in sets, and must be color-coordinated to the sofa! Sameness is perfection!

If you don't follow these absolute decorating rules, you must be some kind of Bolshevik! Off to the decorating work-camps with you!

I think you're ok mixing most metals with that coffee table, except shiny gold, imo.

BEPSF,
That was too funny. Thanks for the laugh. ;)

Haha bepsf! I was raised in a matchy-matchy house... I want my home to be far from that, but it's hard to feel okay with it. I think if you love a piece, you'll be okay with any color/metal combo.

I prefer to have hardware match, but that's about it.

I do, however, have a tendency to (unconsciously) group metals into two groups: warm (gold/brass/copper) and cool (silver/steel/chrome/aluminum). Painted metals will work with either group - red/orange/yellow with "warm" metals and green/blue/purple with "cool" ones. (Black and white painted metal can work pretty much anywhere, with pretty much anything.)

Nothing should dictate anything in your house. I think you define your own beauty and if it 'goes' then great, I agree with mjs7640, it doesnt have to match