Top taps

Read on for the latest in tap trends…

‘Green’ innovations – “There is a greater consciousness in South Africa to conserve water given the current severe drought in the Cape and many other areas of the country,” says Commercial Director at Kohler Africa, Ronelle Badenhorst. “With this awareness, there is an increase in popularity for products that are eco-conscious and offer water-saving features,” she adds.

Image: Kohler

Colour coding – While chrome remains a classic choice, consumers still want elements of personalization and colour. “We’re seeing the rise of rose gold in tap colours,” says Ronelle. According to Siobhan Thomas, Managing Director at Flush Bathrooms, black is the way to go. “Black taps, black bath and shower mixers, even black showerheads in both round and square collections add a contemporary edge,” she says. With so much choice out there, just take care to choose taps that all complement each other visually. There’s nothing worse than a bathroom with mismatched taps.

Image: Flush Bathrooms

Smooth edges – The shape of a tap and/or spout can set the tone for a space and many consumers are choosing organic shapes, with curves overtaking squares. There is also a move towards softened geometrics. Instead of traditionally solid, thick square shapes, consumers are choosing more slim-line designs.

Image: WOMAG

Making a statement – The style of tap you choose has a big impact on the overall look of your bathroom, so if you want to give your existing bathroom a new lease of life, then a simple way to do this is to just replace the taps. Not just a functional necessity, a beautiful tap can become a focal point in itself. A tap’s ‘statement’ can come from its size, its shape, its colour, the material it’s made of, where it’s positioned or all of the above. “There continues to be a big trend for an industrial look, with stronger design lines and presence in the bathroom,” says Ronelle.

Image: Kohler

Space savers – Wall-mounted basin mixer and tap sets continue to be popular. Not only do they enhance the look of a bathroom space, they also clear the way for more space on vanities, create a less cluttered feel in the bathroom and complement other statement pieces such as baths and basins.