Style

Style generally refers to an overall look and feel of a room. Style can reflect a tone like casual, formal, or traditional; style can reflect influences from around the world, like French Country, Japanese, Swedish, or Tuscan; and style shows your unique tastes. A faucet is one element of an overall design. It is important to get the design elements of a room working in concert. You probably do not want to use an Art Deco-style faucet if the other style elements of your room are Swedish. There are also certain elements of a room that traditionally relate closely to each other. A bathroom sink and its faucet should have a close design relationship. The bathroom faucet usually also relates closely to the toilet handle, the towel bar and the internal bathroom doorknob. For kitchens, the faucet may relate to the drawer pulls and cabinet knobs, and may relate to the finish of the appliances, as well. If you are not familiar with how specific styles might be reflected in faucets, sinks, doorknobs, trim, and other decorating elements, it is a good idea to go to a kitchen or bathroom showroom; each area on display is usually decorated in a cohesive theme. If you are what styles are on display and which elements of the design are reflective of those styles, ask a salesperson.

Finish

Faucets are available a wide range of finishes. Many are metallic, but some incorporate ceramics or epoxy.  The most popular finishes include:

1. Brass

2. Copper

3. Stainless steel

4. Chrome

5. Nickel

6. Bronze

Most faucets are made of a core of brass or stainless steel, and covered with a finish. Metallic finishes are the most popular, with brass, copper and stainless steel topping the list. You can also find finishes that are epoxy or that integrate metal with porcelain or ceramic elements. Faucets might combine two finishes, like brass and chrome. If you attempting to match finishes from two manufacturers (a faucet from one company and a towel bar from another) it is best to stick with the polished version of one metal (polished chrome, stainless steel, or copper) as opposed to an antiqued metal, brushed metal, or other treatment. Treatment finishes tend to vary significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Handles

Sink faucets are either single or double handle in configuration. Bath/shower faucets often have an additional handle that directs the water to flow from the tub spout or the shower spout. The most popular handle styles for double handle sinks are the lever handle (that extend at a right angle from the faucet stem) and the cross handle (where the center of the cross is located on top of the faucet stem). A number of faucets are available with both lever and cross-style handles, so you can select your favorite style.  

The handle of a single handle faucet moves both up and down as well as side to side, so the one lever can control the amount of water flow as well as the water temperature. Single handle faucets tend to look more modern, but a number of manufacturers have incorporated traditional and antique designs into single handled faucets. Single handled shower faucets often rotate to adjust water temperature, and slide toward and away from the wall to adjust water flow.

Spout

All faucet spouts extend into the sink and angle down so the water is directed into the sink bowl. That's where the similarities end and where your decision process needs to begin. Do you want a spout with a standard arch or a high arch (sometimes called a gooseneck spout)? Do you want the spout to be one seamless piece of metal arcing up from the sink, or a multiple piece spout that has a constructed look? Do you want a spout that has a circular circumference, an oval circumference, or is angular? Do you want the spout to be finished in one material, or more than one? Asking these questions will help you understand your options as you shop. Answering these questions will move you closer to a final decision.