How To Decide Between Black or Stainless For Your Faucet
Recently some of our kitchen remodel clients asked me, “How do we choose between black or stainless for our kitchen faucet?”
As someone who generally designs spaces somewhat intuitively, this question made me stop and think.
I usually visualize a space over the months we are designing it together, and then when someone talks about their faucet (or another element of the space), one just sort of pops into my head that I can visualize will be beautiful.
As I took a moment to think, I had to ask myself: How should someone decide the finish for their faucet? And more importantly, is there even a “right” answer?
If you found yourself here today, I am betting you have the same question running through your mind, and I can appreciate that! All of the elements of your kitchen will come together to create an overall feeling to the space, so making sure to select a faucet that will enhance your vision is an important decision.
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I will start off this topic by saying - when it comes to design items like this, I really don’t believe there is a right or a wrong answer. It is about what will make you happy everyday when you are in the space.
It is also good to remember that unlike countertops or a backsplash that can be costly and difficult to replace if you don’t like them, swapping out a faucet if you change your mind on the finish is pretty minimal effort and expense.
That said, I do have a way I tend to think about things when choosing a faucet finish. But remember, it is just my opinion, so feel free to take it or leave it.
Can You Mix Black And Stainless Metals In The Same Space?
In a word - YES! In fact, I think it can be really nice to mix up to two finishes in a space. If you have chosen black light fixtures and a stainless steel sink, then you could really feel empowered that either finish for a faucet will blend well in your space.
For some, the thought of mixing metals is an absolute “no-go”, in which case I would recommend you stick to your guns and do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
If you’re excited about the idea of mixing metals, my only word of warning is against having more than two different metal colors in one space. It can often come off as not well thought out and actually take away from the design in some cases.
Assuming you’re going back and forth between black and stainless for your faucet, I am assuming you are probably already planning to incorporate both of those metals into your space in different ways.
With those two tones having such a large contrast, my #1 goal with the design would then be to make sure it has a visual balance. Let’s keep going and we can talk about what that means.
Coordinating A Black or Stainless Faucet With Your Sink
I have noticed that when my clients select a stainless steel sink, they tend to want a stainless steel faucet as well. On the other hand, when they have a white or colored sink, they are more open to choosing a black faucet.
I can understand that for many people the sink and faucet sort of feel like one unit, and for that reason they want to have them match in finish.
For me, I don’t see it quite that way. I tend to view everything below the countertop as part of the cabinetry and everything above the countertop as part of the decorative accents to the space. For that reason, I don’t use the finish of the sink as my deciding factor when choosing between a black or stainless faucet.
Coordinating A Black Or Stainless Faucet With Your Cabinet Hardware And Lighting
When thinking of the faucet as part of the decorative elements of the kitchen, it generally falls more into the category of the hardware and lighting in my mind. Especially when dealing with two finishes as dramatically different as black and stainless, making sure to use the black in a balanced way will ensure the space doesn’t look disjointed or visually more “heavy” in some areas than others.
Using a metal tone like black for the lighting, faucet, and hardware in contrast with the stainless can be a great way to have interest throughout the space and help bring out design details.
Of course every project is different, but overall I think having the faucet finish tie into those decorative elements generally feels more proportionate and intentionally designed.
So, Should You Choose A Black or Stainless Faucet?
To decide what is best for you, I would recommend you first consider if you plan to mix metals in the space or not.
If yes, and the two metals you plan to mix are black and stainless, then this should be easy. If choosing between either black or stainless would be adding a third metal finish to your space, I would cross the third one off your list and select the other option to limit your finishes to two.
Next, consider what metal tone your decorative elements such as your cabinet hardware or lighting will be and think about what would make the space feel most balanced to you. Congratulations - you will then have your answer!
Conclusion
Ultimately, choosing between black or stainless for a faucet is really up to each individual’s preference. For me, I think of it as part of the decorative features of the kitchen and lean toward having it match the cabinet hardware and/or lighting. I hope you can feel comfortable to move forward with your faucet finish decision with confidence!
Now it’s your turn - Do you prefer a black or stainless faucet? How did you make your decision? Let me know in the comments below!
