Bathroom Faucet Purchasing Guide
If you think choosing a bathroom faucet is easy, then you’re wrong. You need to look for functionality and appearance. And not all faucets will work in every bathroom or sink. For instance, a modern one will look terrible if you have a 1920’s style bathroom. Not all faucets will fit in all sinks, either.
Factors To Consider When Choosing a Bathroom Faucet
Style
The most important factor to consider when choosing a bathroom faucet, in our opinion, is it’s style and design. Now, there are multiple styles and designs that you can choose from. Here is a short list of some of those designs.
Classical – Classical design does not refer to the goofy designs that you see in houses from the 1950s. Instead, we’re talking about designs that have up to date technology while having the appearance of an early 20th century fixture.
As you can imagine, these faucets look best in a classically designed bathroom. They will often be the centerpiece of the bathroom, too.
Also, make sure to install a classic faucet on a classic sink. It just won’t look good on a modern sink. And it may not even fit a modern sink.
Modern – Modern faucets obviously work well in a modern bathroom. The design normally incorpates curved lines with one or two handles, which makes it hard to pin down. But you will usually know a modern faucet just by appearance. It has that modern look to it.
These faucets don’t usually don’t serve as the centerpiece of the bathroom because that’s just how modern stuff works. Instead, they will often create an entire “mood” for the bathroom. However, many modern bathrooms don’t actually have a centerpiece, so it’s kind of a moot point. Most importantly, the sink you install the faucet in should have a matching design and style. Just trust us on that one. If it doesn’t have that, then the fixture will most likely look goofy and out of place.
Hybrid – A common trend in faucet design is the hybrid design because it’s so versatile. You can use it in a classic bathroom or a modern bathroom. However, these faucets usually look more like a classical faucet than a modern one. The classic look really never goes away. Though the lines are often straighter and the edges a tad bit sharper than you might expect.
As for handles, there is 50-50 split between one handle and two-handle faucets on hybrids. These faucets also come in a variety of colors, which makes it easy to find one that fits in your bathroom.
We recommend purchasing a faucet with a hybrid design if you don’t really know what you’re looking for.
Size
Faucet size is important. It’s perhaps one of the most important practical aspects of choosing a faucet. You definitely don’t want the one that is too big for your sink – it won’t fit!
A small faucet isn’t good, either. Small faucets will have a tap that is too close to the bottom of the sink, which will cause splashback. No one likes splashback from their sink, so don’t purchase a faucet that is too small.
The ideal height for it is about 8 inches above the bottom of the sink. Also, the tap should line up directly above the drain.
Plumbing Considerations
There are some basic hardware concerns you should look for before purchasing a faucet. Most importantly, make sure the faucet you want to purchase has the right amount of mounting holes for your sink. If your sink has too few mounting holes, then you will have to drill them yourself. And drilling holes through marble is extremely difficult.
We recommend not drilling holes in your sink.
Finally, make sure the nut is long enough for your sink. This isn’t really a problem on most sinks, but it can become a problem if you have an abnormally thick sink. On a positive note, you can purchase nut extenders separately, so you shouldn’t worry too much about this.
You should know if you need nut extenders before purchasing a faucet, though.
Finish
The finish is another important factor to consider before making a purchase. A high-quality finish makes maintenance super easy, and it’s much less likely to get scratched. But the quality of the finish isn’t the only thing you should be concerned about. The color is another important factor. It’s actually the most important factor. And yes, you have more options than chrome and steel.
Bronze – A bronze finish is one of the most stylish finishes you can purchase. Sadly, most customers just purchase a chrome finish without giving it any thought. However, all the fancy faucets with nice designs will have a bronze finish as an option.
We highly recommend choosing this finish if it fits the overall design of your bathroom.
Polished brass – Polished brass is another finish that tends to get ignored, which is a shame because it usually looks great. We recommend this finish if you’re going for a more classic look in your bathroom.
Wow! Faucets are available in so many different types! I wasn’t aware of so many types of faucets before reading your article. I agree that it is no use to go for a cheap faucet that won’t last very long. It is better to go for an expensive one which will give you the worth of your money over the years. I liked all the faucets but the two faucets that I liked the most are gold and brass faucet. Thank you.
I remodeled two bathrooms. One bathroom faucets are dripping and I’ve had to change the washers. Now, just 2-3 years later, they are dripping again.