Bathroom taps can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your bathroom. So whether you are having a new bathroom, or just want to refresh your existing bathroom by replacing the taps, it’s important to make the best choice for your bathroom. And when it comes to taps, you can literally be spoilt for choice! There are so many different products out there, just where do you start?
In this article we explain the three key principles in choosing the best taps for your bathroom. We will look at:
- How to make sure your bathroom taps will work at their best
- How to choose the right style of taps for your bathroom
- What is the best finish for your bathroom taps
How to make sure your bathroom taps will work at their best
Before you start getting immersed in styles and colours for your bathroom taps, it’s essential to make sure that the bathroom taps you get will work at their best. Two of the key elements to consider here are water pressure and any pre-existing tap holes.
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Water pressure
The water pressure in your home will vary depending on the type of system that provides your hot water. If you have a combination boiler this will result in medium to high water pressure, whereas if you have a gravity-fed system – typically consisting of a cold water tank in the loft and a hot water tank in the airing cupboard – you will have low water pressure.
Most mixer taps, wall-mounted taps, and floor standing taps – such as the Perrin & Rowe Traditional bath shower mixer pictured below – will need high water pressure to function at their best. So do bear the water pressure factor in mind when choosing your taps, and if in doubt seek professional advice.
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Tap holes
If you are replacing taps in an existing bathroom you should also check whether there are any constraints in terms of pre-drilled tap holes. For example, most bathroom basins are likely to have between 1 and 3 pre-drilled tap holes so you would need to find taps that fit that configuration. Again, if in doubt, ask for advice, as you don’t want to end up getting beautiful taps that then prove to be unsuitable for your bathroom.
How to choose the right style of taps for your bathroom
The main style choice for bathroom taps is to decide whether you are going for traditional or contemporary. And that choice depends on the style of your new or existing bathroom, as well as your own personal preference. The two images below indicate the difference between traditional and contemporary bathroom taps, and shows how they can be used creatively for a mix of traditional and modern.
The first image shows a lovely small traditional style bathroom featuring separate hot and cold taps on the bath and basin. The bathroom has been given a contemporary twist by being painted in Stone Blue by Farrow & Ball.
The second image shows a traditional style bathroom with Jack and Jill basins. Interestingly, the basins both feature a stylish contemporary Perrin & Rowe three tap hole basin mixer, which we think is perfect!
It’s also a good idea to ensure that all the taps in your bathroom either match or at least complement each other, so there is not a confusing mishmash of different styles.
What is the best finish for your bathroom taps
Once you have established the best kind of taps for your bathroom and the style you want to go for, the next thing to choose is the finish of your taps. Here are three ideas to consider:
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Chrome
Chrome remains the most popular finish for bathroom taps. Chrome taps are both practical and stylish. Their glossy finish gives a bright modern look to your bathroom, and they are also easy to clean and resistant to corrosion and day to day wear and tear.
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Gold
Gold is also a popular choice for bathroom taps, particularly in period-style bathrooms. Many newer gold taps now have a shiny chrome-gold finish known as Antique Gold, which is more robust than older gold plated tap finishes.
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Metallic
Metallic bathroom finishes are very on trend at the moment, and add an elegant and luxurious finishing touch to your bathroom. They also wear well, so are a good choice for durability. In particular, look for taps made from brass or nickel which are extremely solid and give a high-class finish. There are also other contemporary ranges in other brushed and polished metallic finishes such as the brushed black brassware featured in the images below.
We hope that the above information is useful if you are considering new bathroom taps. If we can be of further assistance, do arrange to visit Stone and Chrome’s Camberley showroom to see examples of the taps we can supply and which could transform your bathroom.