The best kitchen taps are not an afterthought. Too often overlooked as a mundane practicality, they can set the tone for your kitchen design and elevate it from so-so to stylish in an instant.
Ready to switch out your humdrum taps for something trendier? Black bathroom taps are the must-buy of the moment and the same is true of the kitchen. But look to brass and gold if you want to warm up your palette. Tap into the industrial-chic craze with an edgy, steel installation or embrace minimalism with a contemporary, angular tap. Combine period and modern with a whimsical, curved copper faucet or go retro with Smeg's new Fifties-style taps in a range of summery sorbet shades.
Having already decoded the bathroom tap trends, top of our 2021 wishlist for the kitchen is a tap that supplies instant boiling water - a luxury worth investing in, if your budget and cupboard space allows. Try Franke's latest 4-in-1 range. Hands-free sensor taps deserve a mention, too - they enhance hygiene during the current health crisis, help conserve water and keep shiny spouts fingerprint-free.
Whatever your taste in taps, a fabulous faucet is sure to make washing up less of a chore. With one of our top picks, you'll be fighting to do the dishes!
Quadrant Dual Lever Tap, Rangemaster
Make a striking statement with the architectural lines of this cool-as-they-come black tap. Priced at £375 and available in three finishes, it cleverly mixes air with water for a splash-free flow.
MDF50 Retro Tap, Smeg
These colourful taps, £348.99 from 'it' Italian appliances brand Smeg, will add a playful twist to a neutral kitchen. Choose from seven finishes, including red, black and pastel blue.
Minerva Helix Electronic 4-in-1 Tap, Franke
Industrial can be elegant, as proved by these techy 4-in-1 taps, costing £1599. They come in four finishes - matt black, copper, gold and chrome - and spout boiling and filtered water. Pair yours with a farmhouse sink for a cottagecore look that's both trendy and timeless.
Gessi 316, Gessi
This fancy faucet, from £885, puts the durable beauty of steel under the spotlight. Its mechanical-inspired details will make it the talking point of any industrial-style kitchen.
Essence SmartControl Kitchen Tap, GROHE
If you're not quite ready to let go of chrome but want to bring your kitchen up to date, this champagne-tinted nickel tap, £651.60, with a handy push button on the end of its spout, could be just the ticket.
Tinkisso Colour Pop Contemporary Kitchen Tap, Dowsing & Reynolds
These cheery taps will bring some sunshine to a shady kitchen. The blush pink and pastel green are sold out at the moment, but you can join the waiting list or plump for this Scandi-style matt white, £99.99, which would beautifully complement raw materials.
3N1 Steaming Hot Water Tap, InSinkErator
This sophisticated tap, priced from £975, dispenses steaming, hot and cold water. Designed and made in Italy, it's available in five finishes, including our favourite brushed gold, and comes in a 'J' shape or 'L' shape. Opt for the more geometric latter, shown here, if you're aiming for a Jazz Age aesthetic.
Fohën Fahrenheit 3-in-1 Instant Boiling Water Tap, Fohën
For a touch of antique glamour, look to this brushed copper beauty with its 360-degree swivel spout, instant boiling water dispenser and adjustable temperature touchscreen. Choose from a mega 18 finishes, including pink, gold and white.
4549HT Armstrong Mixer with Pull Down Rinse and Textured Lever Handle, Perrin & Rowe
Designed with the grand country kitchen in mind, this satin brass tap, £795, nods to tradition with its textured 'hot' and 'cold' handles. For maximum impact, team it with dark matt-finish cabinets and a white marble splashback.
Cucina Cook Side Lever Sensor Kitchen Sink Mixer Tap, Crosswater
This slender spout, £207.90, boasts a battery-operated sensor for touchless handwashing, as well as a mixer handle. It's a smart, durable choice for a contemporary family kitchen.
-
I'm an Interior Stylist Who Knows How to Make Your Christmas Lights Work a Million Times HarderThere’s no one better than Livingetc’s long time contributor, the stylist Hannah Franklin, to advise on how best to use Christmas lights to make spaces feel like magic
-
"I'm a Professional Christmas Tree Designer — These Are My 7 Secrets for a Better-Dressed Tree This Year"When it comes to the designing the best-looking Christmas tree, you can take it from designer David Lawson on how to make an impression
-
Florist Angela Maynard on how to care for dried flowers and how to style them in a modern homeKnowing how to care for dried flowers means you can have stylish arrangements that last for years. Author and florist Angela Maynard shares her tips
-
11 beige living room ideas that prove beige can be far from boringBeige living room ideas might sound not sound like the boldest of color schemes but this pared-back palette can be just as striking a brights
-
How to use color in small living rooms – expert tips for getting the perfect schemeBringing color into small living rooms can be tricky, but with the right hues and our top tips, you can make the space look brighter, bigger and just better
-
8 best wood beaded chandeliers: embellished beauties, big on boho styleThese wood beaded chandeliers will add instant impact without for anyone wanting a glitz-free lighting centrepiece
-
How to choose cool colour combinations for your homeThe right colour combinations will look good throughout your home. Dagny Thurmann-Moe of Koi Colour Studio shares the no-go palette pairings and power hues
-
Buying a used kitchen could be your savviest design idea - here's what you need to knowBuying an ex-display used kitchen is a way to a high-end home at High Street prices
-
Home decorating: Tricia Guild's guide to a confident schemeHome decorating advice from legendary designer Tricia Guild OBE
-
How to achieve beautiful paint finishes according to interior designer, Nicola HardingBeautiful paint finishes transform a room and are easier than you think
