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.
