A Guide to Bathroom Faucets

There’s more to choosing a faucet for a bathroom sink than what meets the eye. You may be drawn to a particular style, but it’s also important to consider if it works with your sink and whether or not it meets your needs. While it’s often costly to perform bathroom renovations, you can get the best value for your money by choosing the right materials.

Common Faucet Mounting Types

• Centerset.

•  This type is distinct because of its all-in-one design, which includes two handles on a deck plate. It has long been the standard in bathrooms, and it’s ideal for small sinks and cramped spaces. Three holes in the sink or mounting surface are required for these faucets, and the distance between the handles is 4 inches.

• Minispread.

•  This is the offspring of centerset and widespread faucets. It has the same dimensions as a centerset, but instead of a deck plate, it has individually mounted handles like a widespread faucet, giving a more modern look to any small space.

• Single Hole.

• A single-hole bathroom faucet may have one or two handles. If extra holes in your sink have already been drilled, use an optional plate to cover them up.

• Vessel.

•  Taller faucets complement a vessel sink, which sits higher than other sinks. Vessel sink faucets are typically equipped with a single multifunction handle.

• Wall Mounted.

• This should be in a stud-free area that is low enough to avoid splashing but high enough to allow for washing. Accessing the pipes behind the wall, especially behind a stone or tile backsplash, can make it more difficult and expensive to replace a wall-mounted faucet than a deck-mounted one.

Common Faucet Finishes

• Gold Metallics.

•  Gold appears richer and less brassy. For a more unique appeal, consider French gold or rose gold, which have brown and pink undertones, respectively.

• Silver Metallics.

•  Shiny chrome is a popular choice for commercial kitchens and bathrooms. It is durable, easy to maintain, virtually tarnish-free and reasonably priced.

• Nonmetallic. 

• Nonmetallic finishes, which are frequently powder-coated, do not bond as well to the base material as metallic finishes, making them prone to chipping if not handled carefully. This type of finish is often dominated by graphic matte black.