How to Choose the Perfect Tap for a Modern Home

December 05, 2025 Jarin Z

Choosing a tap for a modern home (or any home) is often one of the most overlooked parts of the design process. Many homeowners focus on big-ticket items—tiles, paint colours, lighting - without realising that taps and showers are the daily touchpoints that shape the way a bathroom or kitchen feels every single day.

A beautifully crafted piece of brassware can instantly elevate a room, setting the tone for luxury and offering a tactile experience that blends design with function. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the perfect tap or shower for a modern or transitional home, from finishes to forms, so you can create a space that is both timeless and indulgent.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to choose the perfect tap for a modern home, including the best finishes to use and how to get the best style for your space.

1. Look for Clean, Contemporary Forms

Modern design thrives on simplicity.

To achieve a refined contemporary look, choose taps with:

Uncluttered, well-balanced proportions
Angular or cylindrical shapes
Minimalist handles or single-lever operation
Smooth, uninterrupted surfaces
Matte or brushed finishes

These forms integrate naturally into modern kitchens and bathrooms, complementing features like flat-panel cabinetry, stone surfaces, open layouts and neutral colour palettes.

2. Choose a Finish That Fits Your Aesthetic

The finish of a tap is just as important as its shape, especially in a modern home setting.

Here are some of our most popular tap finishes and materials for modern homes, straight from our finish catalogue, which you can find here:

Design preference does play a big role here. Some of our clients prefer the contrast of unlacquered brass against a modern backdrop, while others like the worn and used appeal of something like gunmetal.

Stainless steel is always a classic for modern homes as well, which is no surprise.

Our finish guide is a great place to start if you are confused about these finishes.

3. Prioritise High-Quality Materials

Modern interiors often expose fixtures more openly, meaning that quality really matters.

This isn’t to say that quality doesn’t matter in a different setting, say traditional, for example, but in a modern design, poor quality can be exposed even more than usual.

All of our taps and products are constructed from solid brass except the stainless steel range, and this allows for:

Excellent durability and resistance to corrosion
A long lifespan, even with heavy daily use
A noticeably premium feel and weight
Consistent performance over time

Our stainless steel range is also a great option for quality, as this material is highly durable and corrosion-resistant, and very popular for the modern home aesthetic.

A tap should be seen as an investment, and this is very important for something that will be one of the key features in a modern aesthetic.

4. Match the Style to Each Room’s Purpose

Different rooms benefit from different tap styles. Choosing a design suited to each space ensures both function and aesthetic cohesion.

For kitchens:

Pull-out or pull-down spray taps add flexibility while maintaining clean lines
High-arc spouts work well with deep sinks and modern worktops
Single-lever taps support a minimal and uncluttered look

For bathrooms:

Wall-mounted taps pair perfectly with floating vanities or vessel basins
Compact basin mixers offer a neat, streamlined feel
Contemporary bath fillers in cylindrical or cubic shapes complete the modern bath aesthetic

5. Consider the Details That Define Modern Design

Small design choices can have a big impact on how modern a space feels. Look for taps that offer:

Slim profiles and unobtrusive shapes
Smooth, precise handle movement
Hidden fixings for a clean, uninterrupted surface
Matching accessories to create a unified look

These subtleties reinforce the overall design language of modern homes and help the tap blend effortlessly into the room.

6. Think About Cohesion Across the Home

If you’re updating more than one room, it’s worth considering whether you want to keep your taps and showers consistent throughout the home. The design and finish you choose can influence the overall flow of your interior, creating either a cohesive visual thread or curated moments of personality.

Modern interiors often benefit from consistency—structured, harmonious, and intentional. Matching finishes across bathrooms, en-suites, and the kitchen can create a unified aesthetic that feels calm and well-balanced.

However, there’s room for creativity. A feature bathroom, guest ensuite, or cloakroom can be an opportunity to introduce a unique finish or bolder style. Think of it as an elevated design moment—something unexpected that still feels connected to the rest of the home through subtle cues like matching lighting or hardware.

At Francone Bespoke Taps, our modern collections are crafted from solid brass and finished with contemporary textures and tones suited to today’s homes.

Whether you prefer the boldness of the rich tones from the gunmetal or the understated luxury of brushed brass, you’ll find a tap that feels at home in any modern interior.

If you feel overwhelmed by the design process, don’t hesitate to get in touch, and we can guide you through and build custom taps that are perfect for your modern home.

Photo credit: