Now that you’ve installed a gorgeous granite countertop, you may be struggling over the design of your bathroom faucet. There are hundreds of options on the market, and choosing one that fits your style, budget, and color palette can be a challenge. Don’t give up hope, though! The tips in this article will help you pick the perfect faucet for your space.
Pick A Color You Love
Brushed bronze, antiqued copper, stainless steel in matter or shiny finishes…nearly every metal tone is available for bathroom faucets today. Think about the colors found in your granite countertop and cabinets – do any of the metal tones clash with these colors? If so, discard them from your list of possible options. Next, think about the metals you like. Does the look of polished stainless steel appeal to you? What about antique bronze or copper? Color also impacts style. For instance, while stainless steel is timeless and works with a myriad of styles, bronze and antiqued copper tend to be more popular in vintage styles.
Don’t pick something that is fashionable just because the salesperson recommends it – make sure that you love the color. If you don’t, you may install it and find yourself wishing that you hadn’t.
Make Sure The Design Fits
That gorgeous, modern linear faucet may look great in the showroom, but once installed in your vintage bathroom, it will look out of place. Although granite countertops blend with nearly every style, the cabinet and tile choices you make for your bathroom will change the overall feel of the space. What style does your bathroom have? Make sure that it echoes the rest of the house, and that it also makes you feel relaxed. The bathroom should be a refuge from stress, not a source of it. One discordant element, and you’re harmony will be broken.
For modern bathrooms, use a faucet with clean lines. In vintage bathrooms, look for pieces with an authentic feel – you might even be able to find reclaimed vintage hardware in good condition, a special touch that can make your bathroom look even more like a piece of living history. More feminine spaces may match best with faucets that are arced or fluted for extra embellishment.
Remember Design is Art
The bathroom faucet is an amazing work of art in modern homes – there are some faucets that look more like sculptures than bathroom fixtures, and others that remind one of farmhouses. Some seem designed to replicate waterfalls, while others seem antiseptic and removed from nature entirely. There is truly a wide variety to choose from. Find something that you know you will love in the long term, and that won’t scare off or confuse your guests. If selling your home in the near future, stick with simple, classic designs that adapt well to multiple styles.
Let’s Get Technical
Today, the idea of a separate faucet for hot and cold water is nearly obsolete. In many bathrooms, a single lever controls both temperatures, and water exits from a single faucet. There are still multiple options for individuals who prefer to use two knobs or levers, as well. If you choose to work with vintage hardware and sinks that use a dual-faucet set up, keep in mind that potential buyers may be wary of the extra maintenance involved, should you one day choose to sell your home. For that matter, keep in min the extra work you will need to do.
Never choose a faucet that is either too modern or too antiquated for a plumber in your area to properly maintain and fix – unless you are willing to do all the dirty work yourself. If you love the look of vintage, but find actual antique fixtures a headache, many modern options may work well for you. Newer features, including touch activation and hands-free sensors, are even available with the vintage appearance.
Should You Play with Color?
Many newer faucets are incorporating LED technology to add color to either the faucet itself, or the water stream. While this trend is playful and exciting, it may be best to skip. Color isn’t for everyone. For children’s bathrooms, it’s an excellent pick, however.
Choosing a bathroom faucet to match your granite countertop can be a headache. There are more options available today than in any point in history. Keeping in mind a few simple ideas can prevent the headaches of difficult maintenance, home resale, and design clashes after installation. Once you have a faucet selected, don’t install it immediately. Let it sit on your granite countertop for a few days, in its packaging. Look at how the two blend together. Once you know that you love the faucet, move forward and install it. Otherwise, spare yourself from hating it in the future and return it.
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