Thanks to Delta® Faucet for partnering with me on this post. All words and opinions are my own.
How to Choose the Perfect Kitchen & Bath Faucets
Besides reliably delivering hot and cold water to your sink, your kitchen and bath faucets help define your style and accessorize your space. Just as you select your favorite style accessories to complement and complete an outfit, so should you also choose faucets that best complement and complete your room! But with so many great faucet options available, how in the world do you pick the perfect ones? Let’s explore the different faucet mounting styles, functions, and finishes to help you hone in on the best faucets for your kitchen and bath!
What are the different faucet mounting styles?
Choosing the right faucet mounting style for your kitchen or bath is the first and most important thing to consider when choosing a faucet. Faucets come in sink-mounted, deck-mounted, and wall-mounted varieties. The type of sink you have will play a large part in determining the type of faucet you choose. Drop-in sinks typically have one, three, or four holes pre-drilled which determine where the faucet must be positioned. An under-mount sink provides more flexibility in your faucet options and requires drilling holes into the countertop.
Sink-Mounted Faucets
Source: Beautiful kitchen by In My Own Style featuring the Delta Cassidy Single Handle Faucet.
Sink-mounted faucets mount directly to your bathroom or kitchen sink. The amount of pre-drilled holes in your sink may determine and/or limit your faucet options. If you want to update your sink-mounted faucet to a single hole variety, choose a faucet that comes with an escutcheon to cover up any unnecessary holes. This type of faucet is a great option if you are looking to quickly update an existing sink!
Deck-Mounted Faucets
Faucet Source: Delta Lorain® Two Handle Faucet in Oil Rubbed Bronze
Deck-mounted faucets mount directly to your countertop and are used with undermount sinks. They are a popular choice for the modern kitchen and bath, providing a wide variety of faucet options. The type of faucet you choose will determine the number of holes to be drilled into your countertop. When mounting this type of faucet, be sure to leave plenty of space between the faucet and wall for cleaning purposes. Food and grime can easily become trapped behind deck-mounted faucets.
Source: Farmhouse laundry room by Twelve on Main featuring the affordable deck-mounted Delta Lorain Two Handle Kitchen Faucet in Oil Rubbed Bronze
Wall-Mounted Faucets
Source: Delta Cassidy Two-Handle Wall Mount Lavatory Faucet
Wall-mounted faucets are mounted directly to your backsplash or wall. They offer a nice change of pace from sink and deck-mounted faucets and add a touch of drama to your kitchen or bath. If you are short on space or need to free up your countertops, a wall-mounted faucet is the perfect solution! Installation of a wall-mounted faucet tends to be trickier and may require the help of a professional.
What functional considerations should I note when choosing a faucet?
Single handle, double handle, touch/hands-free activation, pulldown…these are just a few of the functional considerations to take into account when choosing your faucet. It might be tempting to choose a faucet based solely on looks; however, beauty and function in design should always go hand-in-hand, with function having the upper hand! Before choosing a faucet, consider how your faucets will be used and by whom. Do you have small children or aging parents in the home who might benefit from an easier to use single-handled faucet?
Source: Postcards from the Ridge bathroom makeover featuring the Delta Linden™ Single-Handle Faucet in Chrome
Perhaps you desire a bathroom faucet that makes washing hands, rinsing out delicates in the sink, and filling flower vases a breeze? A two-handled gooseneck faucet, with it’s high sink clearance and traditional good-looks is a lovely option.
Source: Making it in the Mountains bathroom makeover featuring the Delta Cassidy Faucet Two Handle Widespread Lavatory Faucet
Or maybe you need a faucet that will activate with the touch of a hand, pull down to rinse out a messy sink, and look gorgeous while doing so! The DeltaTouch2O®faucets are for you!
Source: French Country Cottage featuring the Delta Cassidy Touch2O in Champagne Bronze
Which faucet finish should I choose?
You’ve chosen your faucet’s mounting style and know how you want your faucet to function, so now it’s time for the fun stuff! It’s time to choose a faucet style and finish! Chrome, nickel, stainless steel, oil-rubbed bronze, brushed metals, and gold are just a few of the finish options to consider. In order to decide which finish will look the best in your space, it is important to consider the following.
Take note of your color palette and other metals in the room.
Source: Beautiful bathroom makeover by So Much Better With Age featuring the Delta Cassidy Two Handle Widespread Faucet.
The elements of your room such as the paint colors, tile, cabinets, lighting fixtures, etc. should inform your faucet finish selection. If you are doing a complete kitchen or bath remodel, consider creating a design board to visually see how well your faucet finish goes with your other selections. When in doubt, classic metals such as chrome, stainless, and nickel look great in both the kitchen and bath. Chrome, like a good pair of denim jeans, is a casually elegant choice that pairs well with other accessories. It is typically more affordable than other finish options and doesn’t go out of style.
Don’t be afraid to mix metals.
When choosing a finish for your kitchen or bath faucet, it is okay to mix metals! Mixing finishes adds contrast, character, and dimension to your space. Just be careful not to overdo it. Choose metals that are within the same “polish family” such as all polished, or all brushed. For example, in the lovely modern farmhouse powder room below by Wife in Progress, the Champagne Bronze faucet, mirror, and light fixture pairs beautifully with the Oil Rubbed Bronze hooks and toilet paper roll holder.
Source: Wife in Progress bathroom renovation featuring the Delta Linden Two Handle Centerset Faucet in Champagne Bronze
Brushed metals hide fingerprints and water spots.
Shiny reflective surfaces will more readily show fingerprints, water spots, and grime. If you want a faucet that will look cleaner longer, consider a brushed finish. Champagne Bronze is a hot trend that you will continue to see more of in the next five years! It’s a warm muted finish that feels updated and modern, yet cozy and comfortable.
Source: Shades of Blue Interiors bathroom makeover featuring the Delta Cassidy Two Handle Centerset Faucet in Champagne Bronze
Just as your favorite fashion accessory works well with multiple outfits, a beautiful faucet works well in multiple spaces with differing decor styles.
Think about your favorite fashion accessory. Perhaps it’s a pair of diamond studs, leather handbag, or silk scarf. Classic accessories look great with multiple outfits–whether it’s jeans and a t-shirt or a dress and heels! Likewise, a beautiful and classic faucet in a contemporary finish looks good in multiple spaces. Check out how gorgeous the Delta Trinsic Touch2O Faucet in Champagne Bronze looks in a coastal, farmhouse, and contemporary kitchen!
Delta Trinsic Touch2O Faucet in Coastal Kitchen
Source: Coastal Kitchen Makeover Reveal by Sand & Sisal
Delta Trinsic Touch2O Faucet in French Country Farmhouse Kitchen
Source: Gorgeous farmhouse kitchen by So Much Better With Age
Delta Trinsic Touch2O Faucet in Contemporary Kitchen
Source: Amazing house tour and contemporary kitchen by Two Thirty-Five Designs
I hope this guide has helped you select the perfect faucets for your kitchen and bath! To browse through the latest and most innovative faucets available, visit Delta Faucet and browse through their wide selection of beautiful kitchen and bath faucets. All pictures in this post showcase Delta faucets! Click on the source links below each picture to be taken to the product of your choice. Special thanks to all of the bloggers who shared their gorgeous kitchen and bath reveals featuring Delta Faucet products!
Tomas Killington says
My brother recently purchased an older home. He is currently having massive upgrades done to his bathrooms, but he’s unsure which fixtures to choose. I didn’t realize taking note of the other metals in the room can help you choose between chrome, nickel, and stainless steel finishes. I’ll be sure to share this information with my brother.
Zequek Estrada says
I’m going to be having some renovations done to my bathroom later on this year, so I’m looking ideas I could use. I love the idea of having a two-handed faucet installed. I’m a big fan of more traditional looking designs.
Colin says
Wonderful article Beth. Beautiful photos, and great job covering the wide range of faucet styles and finish options available.
Beth says
Thank you!
Jamie says
Thanks so much for including two photos of mine! I absolutely adore my Delta faucets. This is a great post, Beth!
Hugs, Jamie
Beth says
You’ve done such a beautiful job with your home Jamie! Thanks for allowing me to use your pics. 🙂