It was a material once reserved for dishwasher facades, industrial kitchens and medical supplies. Now, stainless steel is featured in some of the most sought-after luxury design shops-becoming the first homegoods phenomenon to buck President Trump's tariffs.

Stainless-steel flatware, furniture and dishes are often imported from countries like Italy and Japan and have seen prices climb as much as 45% since the tariffs on foreign-made steel were implemented in April 2025.

These duties, however, haven't deterred young shoppers from scooping them up. Nor has it stopped interior designers from applying the humble, shiny material on the interiors of hotel bathrooms and home kitchens.

It is as if stainless steel goods are to millennials and Gen Zers what sterling silver homewares were to baby boomers. They offer a kind of finery with heirloom-worthy durability and distinct silhouettes that make a big impact at the dining table. Though more expensive than one may expect, the designs-also like silver once upon a time-are still relatively reasonable when compared with other materials, like modern silver goods and fine porcelain.

Few popular stainless-steel goods are manufactured in the U.S. When Trump's tariffs were implemented, brands like David Mellor, a British company that specializes in modernist stainless homeware, expected a hit to its business. It raised the price of its popular French press coffee pot, with its sleek curves, ovular handle and mirror-like finish, to nearly $200-up to a 40% price hike.

The tariffs, however, haven't hurt David Mellor's U.S. sales, which over the last two years have risen by some 70% while its roster of stores has grown exponentially. Steel's durability, paired with good design, can make the pricing feel more like a long-term investment for shoppers.

From industrial to aspirational

"It is popping up everywhere," said the New York City-based furniture designer Seungmin Han of the stainless's popularity. Earlier this year he released a stainless-steel chair ($1,800) made from the same metal components that are used to craft the elaborate fences often seen in New York's outer boroughs. His chair, like many of today's more successful stainless designs, is rooted in tradition while offering a novel, attractive concept for an everyday object.

Designs can appear organic and rustic, often in a brushed-metal finish that is subtler and more fingerprint-resistant, or offer a graphic punch with a highly reflective chrome look. In homes, the stainless designs are often featured as a foil to the plush textiles, overstuffed furniture and decadent wallpapers that have also become popular.

Though artistic in appearance, the products' material lends itself to heavy and frequent use-imbuing each object with a kind of duality that is both precious and relaxed. The Japanese line Wasabi's hammered stainless steel side plates ($30), for example, resemble hand-forged pieces but are dishwasher-safe. House of Léon's steel side table ($950) is almost double the price of those made with wood veneer ($590), but isn't at risk of water damage, allowing its owner to go coaster-free.

Modernist appeal

Retailers said they are working with brands to absorb the new costs where they can-which appears to be fueling the trend.

Finnish Design Shop, which specializes in Scandinavian goods, includes all duties in its sticker price and has still seen its stainless U.S. sales spike by up to 40% this year. "You would guess consumers would move away from a material facing higher prices," its chief executive, Noora Tirkkonen, said of stainless goods. "This isn't the case."

Stainless-steel kitchens and bathrooms have also increasingly filled design magazines, even though the cost of high-grade stainless sheets has tripled since Los Angeles-based designer Dean Levin started working with the material in 2021.

Levin and others are attracted to how steel, when applied to countertops, sinks and walls, can give a room an Italian Space Age feel. The material's new cost puts it on par with traditional luxury materials.

Levin, founder of design company 22RE, thinks this only adds to its allure. "It used to be economical," he said. "When things are harder to acquire, it becomes more exciting for people to use."