14 Best Faucets to Act as Kitchen and Bathroom Centerpieces

Spending a reasonable amount of time trying to understand how the best faucets work will never be a waste—especially in smaller bathrooms and kitchens, thoughtfully choosing every piece and fixture is essential.

Faucets, which generally go underthought in design projects, can be the centerpiece of the room in terms of aesthetics and the most luxurious device in terms of functionality! For these reasons, Arch2O has classified the best faucets for you regarding their valve system, control system, and fixture type.

©Brodie from Burst

Best Faucets According to the Faucet’s Valve Systems

At first appearance, the operation of any given faucet appears to be the same: turn the handle(s), and water will begin to flow. Faucets may look similar on the outside, but their internal structure might differ substantially between models. The inner parts of a faucet that control the flow rate and the mixing of hot and cold water are called valves, and there are four main types of valves.

• Ball Faucets

Ball faucets fall under single-handle faucets where the handle sits on top of a ball-shaped valve above the spout. Depending on the ball’s position, it controls the flow and mixes water temperatures from the faucet. This ball comprises slots, O-rings, and spring-loaded rubber seals to enable this mechanism—because of the more significant number of parts in this type, they need higher maintenance.

Also Read: 18 Minimalist Bathroom Design Ideas That Will Make Your Space Look Fresh, Modern, and Clean

©The Vendors

• Disc Faucets

Disc faucets are identified by the single-handle control and their vast, cylindrical faucet body. This type of faucet controls the water temperature through two ceramic discs at the bottom of the chamber, where hot and cold water get mixed, the proportion of each being handled by the side-to-side angle of the control lever. It is claimed that this type is the best faucet—they require very little maintenance and infrequent repairs.

©Delta

• Compression Faucet

Compression faucets are double-handled, meaning each water temperature line runs through its handle to the side of the water spout. This type of faucet usually feels less pressurized as they turn on and more pressurized as they close—this happens because compression faucets use a glorified screw that pushes against a rubber washer to form a seal that shuts off your water.

©Overstock

• Cartridge Faucet

Similar in their form and components to compression faucets, cartridge faucets can better be distinguished from the former only through using them. Cartridge faucets are much smoother than compression faucets, and the pressure is the same throughout the operation. This makes cartridge faucets better than compression ones in maintenance and reliability.

Also Read: 15 Calming Shower Plants to Transform Your Bathroom!

©Hansgrohe

Best Faucets According to the Faucet’s Control System

It is essential to pick the best faucet that complements the design of your bathroom or kitchen. Luckily, this need is anticipated by the manufacturers of most faucets today. Stylish and practical design are common traits among the best faucet brands. You can choose from several different designs. It’s crucial that whatever you choose is user-friendly, long-lasting, doesn’t reduce water pressure, and has adjustable flow rates.

• Single Handle Faucet

Single-handle faucets work by mixing hot and cold water in one lever. The handle’s position determines the amount of hot or cold water from the faucet spout. This single-handle faucet by Duravit has a minimalistic and timeless geometric design that fits every bathroom’s aesthetics. Moreover, the B.2 washbasin faucet’s aerator is adaptable to every basin, so water will not re-coat.

©Sustainable Solutions

• Two Handle Faucet

Two-handle faucets are more traditional in their look. They provide a level for each water temperature on its own. The desired mixed water temperature is achieved by adjusting each handle to increase or decrease the hot or cold water flowing through the spout.

©Erin Kestenbaum

• Touch-less Faucet

Touchless, automatic, or motion-activated faucets do not need handles or knobs to turn on or close—these are the best faucets for sanitation in crowded places like commercial buildings. Touchless faucets operate using a motion sensor. However, a handle can be incorporated to control flow and temperature accurately. GROHE has state-of-the-art automatic faucets whose motion sensors are more accurate than ever.

©GROHE

• Touch-Activated Faucets

Touch-activated faucets are turned on and closed with a simple tap on the top of the faucet’s body. Like automatic faucets, a touch-activated tap does not rely on handles or knobs. However, it offers more control, making it the best faucet for people with accessibility difficulties.

©Odditymall

• Push-button Faucets

Hansgrohe created the Metropol Basin mixer 260 Select with push-open waste set to make it easier for users to turn on and close faucets. Push-button faucets open with just a tap on a push-button on the top of the faucet’s main body. This faucet is mastered to fit all the sustainable requirements from manufacturing to operation.

Also Read: 14 Sustainable Houses You Would Love to Live in

©Hannapel.com

• Cross handles

Cross handles are two-handle faucets where the handles are shaped like a cross or plus sign. They offer a classical and more traditional approach and are operated with a twisting motion of the handles.

©Lauren Pressey

Best Faucets According to the Faucet’s Fixture Type

Deciding on a sink and a coating for it is not always simple. Because you will likely have your faucet for many years to come, you must choose a design and a coating that will leave a long-lasting impact.

• Widespread Faucets

Widespread faucets work with three-hole basins and comprise two handles and a spout. The identifying feature of this type of faucet is that the spacing between the handles ranges from 6 to 16 inches. Widespread faucets feature separate hot and cold handles independent of the spout and can be mounted on the countertop or sinks.

©Pottery Barn

• Single-hole Faucets

In a single-hole design, hot and cold water are combined in a one-piece casting that houses the valves. Single-hole faucets can come as single-handled, two-handled, touchless, or touch-activated. Some single-hole faucets have an optional cover plate for predrilled 4-inch drill installations.

©Wayfair

• Vessel Faucets

Extra tall faucets are created to fit the dimensions of vessel basins; vessel faucets are usually made as single-handle faucets. These faucets are perfect for elegance—they create a design statement with their form and positioning with the sink. Ideal Standard created the Vessel Mixer Slim with clean and continuous lines to complement every bathroom.

©Ideal Standard

• Hose Faucets

Some faucets include a retractable hose or a retractable or non-retractable hose, which is separate from the main tap. The water cannot drain from the faucet properly when a hose or other restriction is attached; as the temperature drops below freezing, the water in the tap begins to freeze. The freezing conditions are applied from outside the house back toward the interior as the water dries.

©American Home Shield