Like all things in fashion - what once was old is new again.

Tapware of all colours and shades was extremely popular in homes in the 70’s. After falling out of style in favour of chrome, coloured tapware has become all the rage again in the last 5 or so years. This is mostly the result of coloured kitchen and bathroom tapware being featured on home renovation shows such as The Block.

Matte black tapware in particular has become a must-have, but other colours like gunmetal, brushed gold, rose gold, brushed nickel are being seen more and more too.

If you’re designing a new bathroom or kitchen, or you’re thinking about giving your existing tapware a new look, you may have contemplated opting for coloured tapware instead of traditional chrome. In this blog post, we take a look at everything you need to know about coloured tapware before you decide to make a purchase.

The benefits of coloured tapware

The design of your home should be a reflection of your personal sense of style. Colours are a key way to create a look that you want to achieve for an individual room. With the rise in popularity of different coloured tapware, it’s now easier than ever to individualise the appearance of your home without having to undertake a huge amount of renovation work.

Despite being small in size, coloured tapware can pack a really powerful design punch. It’s an affordable way to bring a high-end feel to even the most basic of bathrooms or kitchens.

Some people may want to avoid opting for coloured tapware because they feel the look of it will age quickly. But one of the great things about tapware is that it is relatively inexpensive to swap out. So if you decide down the line that you want to change the look of your bathroom or kitchen, it will be cheaper to just change the tapware compared to say completely retiling or replacing the benchtops.

The importance of making sure things match

If you are keen to jump on the coloured tapware bandwagon, it’s important to be aware of the need to match your coloured tapware with the other elements in your bathroom or kitchen.

Brushed gold tapware in a bathroom that has chrome towel rails is going to look a bit odd. Ideally, all your accessories and fittings should have a coordinated look in terms of style, shape and colour. So just be conscious of this when choosing a tapware colour. You may need to make a few other changes to the accessories in your bathroom or kitchen to make a certain tapware colour work. 

Choosing the right colour for you

There are probably 40 to 50 different tapware colours available across different manufacturers, so it can be difficult to know where to start when choosing a colour!

One thing to keep in mind is that there will be variations in shades between every manufacturer. What one manufacturer calls gunmetal may be lighter or darker compared to what another manufacturer also calls gunmetal.

To avoid any disappointment, make sure you visit a bathroom or kitchen showroom to view the differences between colours rather than ordering any tapware online without seeing it in person first.

To help you weigh up your options, here’s a quick rundown of some of the most popular tapware colours:

• Matte black:  Matte black tapware has been extremely popular for a few years now. It looks very sophisticated and adds a touch of luxe to any bathroom or kitchen. Black looks fantastic paired with white or grey, so it’s pretty easy to match with neutral colour palettes. It can also be used to create a striking monochromatic or industrial looking space. A key benefit of matte black is that it’s easy to keep clean as it resists fingerprints. One thing to keep in mind though is the need to avoid harsh cleaning chemicals.
• Brushed nickel:  Brushed nickel tapware offers a warmer and softer look compared to polished chrome. It’s extremely durable and tends to keep its finish very well. It doesn’t show fingerprints or water spots and is easy to clean. It looks good on stark-white sinks in both kitchen and bathroom. The soft hue of brushed nickel also makes it look great on stone countertops, such as marble and granite.
• Gunmetal:  Gunmetal refers to a shade of grey which is becoming increasingly popular and is being touted as the ‘next matte black.’ Unlike chrome, gunmetal tapware won’t show fingerprints and it’s a very versatile colour option for matching with a wide range of colour schemes.
• Rose gold:  Sometimes referred to as sunset, rose gold tapware is guaranteed to make a real style statement. Today’s rose gold tapware is much more warm than the garish gold finishes seen in the past. Rose gold looks beautiful when paired with a deep veined marble kitchen splashback and cool-toned stone benchtops.
• Brushed gold:  Brushed gold tapware will add an air of elegance to any bathroom or kitchen. It works well with a number of different aesthetics, from boho-luxe to modern-country styles.

Different types of finishes

Choosing a colour is just one element to picking out new tapware. You’ll also need to take a look at the different types of finishes which are available.

You want the colour of your tapware to last for as long as possible. Improper care coupled with an inferior quality finish can result in fading and cracking, particularly in the case of white tapware which can be prone to yellowing.

There are 3 main types of tapware finishes available - powder coating, electroplating and PVD.

• Powder coating: Powder coating is a finishing process in which a coating is applied electrostatically to a surface as a dry powder before heat is used to finalise the coating. It yields a thick hard finish. This type of tapware finishing is often the cheapest on the market as it is the easiest to manufacture. It is generally less durable than electroplating and can sometimes be prone to chipping and peeling off if not cared for properly.
• Electroplating: Electroplated finishing involves using electrical current processes to form a coherent metal coating. This process essentially changes the existing surface properties of the tapware to which layers are added to increase abrasion and wear resistance. It is easy to maintain and will stand the test of time in your bathroom or kitchen.
• PVD: PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition. PVD is an innovative method of finishing that has its origins in the manufacturing of tools and cars. This technique vaporises solid metal in a high vacuum and deposits it on electronically conductive materials as a pure metal or alloy coating. Once applied, the coating is nearly impossible to remove and won’t wear off on its own. It can provide a clean, polished appearance or a uniform matte appearance. PVD is being more and more widely used by tapware manufacturers as the process to apply PVD coating is completely eco-friendly.

Need help choosing coloured tapware for your kitchen or bathroom? Talk to the team at Argent.

Whether you’re renovating or building from scratch, Argent is here to help. Our bathroom and kitchen experts have all the right know-how to recommend the perfect products for your needs so that you can make that final decision with confidence.

Click here to get in touch with us today. We have Resource Centres in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Or give our Customer Support team a call on 1300 364 748.