Finish with flair: How to choose your faucet finishes

During any kitchen or bathroom remodel, there are a ton of small, detailed decisions that will help you create a space that’s exactly what you want. Should you choose granite or marble countertops? Do you prefer a sliding glass or hinged shower door? Will you want wall-mounted kitchen faucets or ones that are mounted to the sink itself? All of these miniscule details may seem trivial, but ideally they’ll add up to the perfect space. One of the smallest details you’ll need to consider during a remodel is exactly what finish to choose for your kitchen or bathroom faucets. These days, between matte, oil-rubbed, brushed and every other style you can choose for each finish, the options seem all but endless. So, to help you choose the finish that will work best for your renovated space, here are some of the considerations you should make when choosing a finish:

For versatility, consider “neutral” finishes
Chrome is one of the most universally popular finishes. That’s partially because it’s the most inexpensive, but chrome faucets are also extremely versatile, allowing you to pair them with almost any material you want for your counters, sink and overall color scheme. In that way, chrome can be considered a very neutral option. Other versatile neutral finishes include stainless steel and nickel, either of which would pair nicely with most styles and materials.

“Stainless steel is an obvious choice for a contemporary space.”

Style
When choosing your finish, it’s important to consider the overall style of your new space. Are you creating a contemporary, streamlined kitchen or a cozy vintage master bath? This will go a long way in helping you narrow down your choices. For instance, an obvious choice for a contemporary space is stainless steel, while oil rubbed bronze bathroom faucets would complement a vintage space beautifully.

Practicality
For some homeowners (especially those who have kids), the single most important part of choosing materials for a new kitchen or bath is making sure they’re easy to clean and maintain and won’t show smudging or wear easily. For that reason, you may want to consider practicality when it comes to faucet finishes. Matte or brushed finishes, for instance, hide smudging and fingerprints much better than polished finishes. Stainless steel and chrome are easy to clean but well-known for showing off every fingerprint and smudge.

Undertones and uniformity
Most finishes have warm, cool or neutral undertones, so that’s something to think about if you’re considering a specific color scheme. Brass, bronze and copper, for instance all have warmer golden undertones, whereas chrome, nickel and steel are cooler with a more silver tone. Silver undertones tend to be more neutral, along with polished black and white finishes.

Another undertone consideration you should make is whether you’re planning on opting for uniformity between all of the finishes in the room or mixing two or three. In other words, in a bathroom, you’ll have to choose a finish not just for the faucets, but for your cabinet hardware, clawfoot tub feet, mirror frame and any bathroom accessories you need, such as toilet paper holders or towel stands. Most remodelers recommend using the same finish for each of these fixtures, but in some cases mixing finishes can create an interesting and stylish aesthetic. However, in most cases, it’s better to aim for mixing finishes with similar undertones to create a blended yet distinct look.

Durability
Durability should be a consideration while choosing a faucet finish, but it may not be the most important. That’s because with recent advancements, most are long-lasting and sturdy – even nickel, which used to be renowned for its inability to withstand wear and tear. As long as you opt for durable faucets and faucet parts (we recommend brass), the finishes you choose should remain intact for years.

Price
Chrome is the most inexpensive option for faucet finishes, while brass and bronze may be more expensive. Oil-rubbed or brushed versions of brass and bronze are typically costly, though they provide a unique style that many people are happy to pay for. So, first take your budget into account, and decide how much you’re able to spend on your bathroom or kitchen faucets. Then, narrow down your finish choices, and do some research to determine which affordable options still complement your room’s style.