There are a vast range of kitchen tap styles available on the market and choosing the right one can certainly be a challenge. Not only should kitchen taps blend in with the rest of your kitchen design, they must also be practical and easy to clean. Try to express yourself by selecting a kitchen tap style that matches your personality.
Here we explore the different kitchen tap styles, their features and the chief considerations when choosing a new kitchen tap.
Kitchen Tap Styles – Things To Consider
Design
From wall-mounted taps to bridge taps to pillar taps to single lever taps, you will discover there is no shortage of options when conducting your research into kitchen tap styles. The design you choose must be practical and look good.
Extra features
Of course, your kitchen taps will provide hot and cold water as standard. But it is possible to add some additional smart features such as an instant boiling water tap, filtered water tap or sparkling water tap, for example. Before you make a purchase, it’s important to consider boiling water taps require extra space for a water tank and sparkling filter taps use CO2 canisters to function.
Spout
The general ‘look’ of your kitchen can be affected by the shape and design of your tap spout. If you’re tight for space, a large spout will look too big and out of place. Choose a tap with a spout design that is sympathetic to your surroundings, whether that is a tall swan neck spout or a smaller waterfall spout.
Finish
Kitchen tap styles come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and designs. They also come in a variety of finishes including chrome, stainless steel and copper and in a range of colours and textures from chrome to matte black. Choosing the correct type of tap to match the theme of your kitchen will help complete the room’s swish overall appearance.
Low water pressure
Your options for kitchen taps may be limited if you live in an area of low water pressure. Some kitchen taps require 0.5 bar or more of pressure to function properly, though low-pressure kitchen taps specifically designed for pressures of 0.5 bar or less are also available. It is wise to check the water pressure level in your kitchen before deciding what taps are best for you.
7 Kitchen Tap Styles
We have highlighted five key areas for consideration before buying your kitchen taps. Now let’s explore the specific kitchen tap styles and their main differences. As you will see, there is a type of kitchen tap to suit every taste.
1. Pillar kitchen taps
One tap for hot water and another for cold water – what could be simpler? Pillar taps give you direct control over water temperature to create the ideal hot/cold mix. This feature can be particularly helpful when trying to find the perfect water temperature for washing dishes, for example. Pillar taps are mounted on a kitchen sink or basin and are available in a wide range of styles and designs. However, they have become less fashionable due to there being two separate flows of water which means you could find yourself wasting time by simultaneously turning each tap until you find the right temperature.
2. Bridge tap
A more modern design than pillar taps, the bridge tap has a single, central spout which integrates the hot and cold taps via a connecting pipe. The spout can swivel with most bridge taps but, like pillar taps, finding the ideal water temperature involves playing around with both warm and colder water feeds, which can be a faff. The simplistic and clean design of bridge taps makes them ideal for kitchens with a minimalist style and without lots of kitchen clutter.
3. Single lever mixer taps
Minimalist in design, the single-lever mixer tap is an extremely popular design of kitchen tap. Hot and cold water pipes connect to a mixer valve under the sink. A single spout and lever known as the monobloc are the only visible parts, so only one hole is required in the sink. Move the lever in and out to control the water pressure and from side to side to control the temperature. Single-lever mixers use less water than twin-lever mixer taps as it takes less time to find the correct temperature. This results in less water waste which is an environmental benefit and great news for your water bill.
4. Twin lever mixer taps
A single, central spout flanked by hot and cold levers or crossheads is known as a twin-lever mixer tap. This tap is both simple to install and easy to use as only one hole is required in the top of the sink. Hot and cold water mix in the swivelling spout so you can find the correct temperature without much fuss. A twin-lever kitchen tap is both simple and functional and can be an eye-catching feature of any kitchen, particularly those in the classic, farmhouse style.
5. Deck-mounted or wall-mounted taps
A modern, stylish tap system where hot and cold water supplies are neatly hidden behind a wall to provide a clean and minimalist look. The spout and levers or crossheads stick out from the wall above a sink, most commonly in the style of a bridge tap. As you would expect, these taps require more plumbing work to install than many other kitchen tap designs. Wall-mounted taps are a great space saver as they give you more room for manoeuvre when washing your hands and cleaning the sink or basin. They are a great space saver as you don’t have to look to avoid deck-mounted taps that can get in the way.
6. Three-hole taps
This design is where three holes are required to install a kitchen tap – one each for hot and cold levers or crossheads and another for the spout. Finding the perfect water temperature involves simultaneously turning the hot and cold feeds which give you maximum control over the water temperature. These taps involve more preparation work to create the three holes, especially when you have to bore through kitchen tiles. However, three-hole taps can be a stylish way to make a statement in your kitchen by providing a luxurious look and feel, but without any significant expense.
7. Push button or handleless taps
You are most likely to find these in commercial kitchens and public toilets and bathrooms, though they have become more common in domestic kitchens too. They are generally a monobloc design but without a control or crosshead lever. The tap works by pressing a button which opens a pressure valve to release water before automatically switching itself off. Pretty ingenious! Push taps reduce the risk of accidental flooding because they switch off automatically. This can also deliver significant cost savings due to lower water waste and the fact the controlled water flow often means users wash their hands quicker than they would with other tap styles.
We Help You Find The Perfect Taps For Your Kitchen
KNB has more than 30 years’ experience in designing and fitting kitchens across the Nottingham area. Explore our full range of kitchen fixtures and fittings by requesting a brochure now, or contact our team directly.