What kitchen tapware finish is right for your kitchen? Our top 5 options

One of the best ways to update any kitchen is to simply select and install new tapware and fixtures. Equally, if you’re renovating, choosing the right tapware can make a huge difference to your finished aesthetic.

To help you make the right choices we’ve taken a closer look at the top five finishes, the pros and cons of each, and some tips for styling.

1. Stainless steel

Stainless steel is Australia’s most popular material for kitchen fixtures with good reason. It’s attractive, durable, easy to clean and completely timeless. It’s available with both a reflective, polished finish and a more matte, brushed appearance.

Either option is very easy to style and will go with almost any colour or texture, but stainless looks particularly good against whites and cool tones, in minimalist kitchens.

The Gareth Ashton 304 Gooseneck kitchen mixer is a great example of a well priced and versatile stainless tap.

2. Brushed brass

If you’re wanting to add a touch of old-world elegance to your home, brushed brass is a great option. It’s a little like a matte, toned-down gold and is both hard wearing and easy to clean.

This style can suit both modern and classic kitchens, and looks great against warm tones and darker colours.

3. Chrome

Chrome is the stylish, high-gloss cousin to stainless steel. It’s got most of the benefits – it’s incredibly durable, easy to clean and has an attractive reflective finish that looks great (as long as it’s kept clean).

This finish looks phenomenal in modern kitchens, as long as it’s accompanied by complementary warm tones and texture. It’s a little too shiny for some, so if you go with chrome make sure you see it in person before making a choice.

4. Matte black

Matte black is having its moment right now. This trendy finish is incredibly versatile, but it looks best in modern kitchens, accompanied by natural textures and tones (think timber, marble, stone), as well as muted colours.

The Gareth Ashton 304 square neck mixer is a great matte black option, that looks both modern and minimalist.

5. Brushed nickel

Brushed nickel, otherwise known as gunmetal, is similar to brushed stainless, but with a darker, greyer hue. It’s softer on the eye, very modern, and extremely durable, requiring minimal maintenance and cleaning to continue looking its best. It also hides smudges and fingertips very well, so it could be a great option for families with young kids.

It looks amazing in modern kitchens and like brushed stainless, it can suit most colours and textures – whether they’re warm or cool. But keep in mind when choosing that unlike stainless, brushed nickel finishes can vary a lot between suppliers, so it’s best to see in person before making a choice.

Visit an Abey showroom

There’s no way to choose a tapware finish with certainty if you don’t see it in person. To get started, browse a huge collection and speak to a kitchen design expert drop into your nearest Abey showroom.