Bathroom Taps

Buying Guide to Bathroom Taps

How To Choose Bathroom Taps

There are some technical considerations when choosing basin and bath taps. We would always recommend consulting a reputable plumber.

Replacing old taps with new ones is straightforward if you select the same type and size. If you live in an area with low water pressure, look for bathroom taps that say that they're designed for low pressure use. Others may state a minimum pressure.

For bathrooms renovations and new build projects, there is a very wide choice. Plan the layout of your bathroom and consider the sizes and models of the bath and sinks required. Then you can think about which taps will suit them best. Take the advice of a good plumber as regards to positioning of the pipework and the sort of taps which will work.

Then you can further narrow your selection based on design style. Traditional taps might complement your Edwardian suite or a state-of-the-art designer tap to make a statement? And don’t forget colour choice: classic shiny chrome, matt black or perhaps gold.

Types of Bathroom Taps

Basin Mixer Taps

Most standard basin mixer taps are attached directly to the basin. Tap holes are normally pre drilled or pre formed in the basin. In some cases, mostly with German basins, the tap holes are half cast out on the underside. Your plumber taps out the holes as required. Wall mounted taps give a more contemporary style. They're screwed on to the bathroom wall with all the plumbing hidden behind the tiles. They look great and are easy to clean.

Variations include tall spouts, swiveling spouts, traditional styles for period sinks, and digital units which are operated electronically.  

See our basin mixer taps page for a full range of product options.

Basin Pillar Taps

Sometimes considered the ‘classic’ type of tap system, these are the traditional one hot and one cold tap seen in bathrooms through the ages. They can be mounted on the basin, which is standard practice, or wall hung. They're available in both modern and vintage designs. Browse the models from Bayswater, Imperial and Pegler for period fittings. For modern designs look at Vitra or Grohe. 

See our basin pillar taps page for a full range of product options.

Bath Shower Mixer Taps

A bath shower mixer tap is a bath tap unit with two functions. Firstly to blend the hot and cold feeds together to fill the bath and secondly, at the flick of a switch, to take a shower instead. They can be mounted on the bath itself, wall hung or floor standing. The latter is designed for use with freestanding bathtubs. For striking gold or chrome floor standing taps, we recommend Crosswater and Britton. 

Shower mixers are an ideal space saving option when there isn’t room in the bathroom for a separate shower. Or when the additional shower function is a desirable option. Because it’s a mixer unit, the perfect temperature is simple to select and thermostatically controlled. There is a lot of choice from manufacturers Grohe, Roper Rhodes and Abacus.

See our bath shower mixers page for a full range of product options.

Bath Mixer Taps

Mixer taps draw water from both hot and cold pipes and mix it together before it flows out into your bath or basin through a single spout. They allow you to easily achieve the desired water temperature. Saving time, wasted water and energy. 

They can be hung on the wall, mounted on the side of the bath or floor standing. For contemporary designs, we like Vado, Hansgrohe, Roper Rhodes and Pegler. For traditional looks check out Old London, Tavistock, Perrin & Rowe or Burlington.

See our bath mixer taps page for a full range of product options.

Bath Pillar Taps

The traditional bath tap set up with one tap for the cold feed and one tap for the hot. Whilst vintage designs are still popular there are also many modern versions such as those from Vitra, Pegler and Crosswater. It can be quite straightforward to replace bath pillar taps.  

See our bath pillar taps page for a full range of product options.

Popular Styles

Traditional Taps

To complement a vintage style of bath or basin, the buyer has a great range of traditional taps to choose from. There are single, double or triple hole tap systems. Plus eye-catching floor standing taps, designed to work with a freestanding bath. Manufacturers who specialise in traditional bathroom taps are Burlington, Imperial and Bayswater.

See our traditional taps page for a full range of product options.

Designer Taps

Continual technical improvements and buyer demand have seen an explosion in designer taps in recent years. Bathroom taps have now taken a central role in defining style. Adding luxurious finishing touches to basins or baths. Some forms have diverged into almost organic curves and swirls. At the other end of the design spectrum are crisp structural lines with square edges. Some designer taps are a perfect blend of each.

Recently, alternative colours like burnished brass, gold and matt black have been introduced. Browse designer collections from Hansgrohe, Britton, Tavistock, Pegler, Roper Rhodes, Grohe, AXOR, Crosswater and Vado. 

Black Bathroom Taps

Blending beautifully with fresh clean white ceramics, black bathroom taps are available in every type of tap. Usually in a matt finish, they add a dramatic touch to a modern layout and are easy to keep clean. Stemming from the popular industrial look, black taps are instant chic. Emphasise the modern monotone cool by sticking with white and black only. Or introduce an accent wall, tile or floor colour for a more quirky character. Pioneers of this trend are quality brands Vitra, Crosswater, Roper Rhodes and Abacus.  

See our black bathroom taps page for a full range of product options.

Gold Bathroom Taps

Giving an instant luxury upgrade to a bathroom, gold bathroom taps are a perfect way to inject opulence, colour and distinction. Gold taps have long been a feature of traditional bathrooms. However, they're now being offered in colours such as rose gold and burnished gold for use in modern bath and basin designs. The combination of a modern suite with modern gold bathroom taps is simply stunning. At the forefront of this new trend are brands such as AXOR, Vitra and Swadling.