Today’s tap designs have evolved to blend style and efficiency, with consumers seeking sleek finishes and ergonomic shapes to enhance their overall kitchen space.  Additionally, the hot water tap market continues to gain popularity, with AMA Research reporting a notable 17% growth in its UK Kitchen Taps Market Report for 2023-2027, where boiling water taps significantly contribute to this expansion.

Alongside hot water, factors such as meeting expectations for water quality and taste, as well as an increasingly health-conscious society, are shaping the requirements for innovative filtration technologies. Many models now come equipped with built-in water filtration, ensuring users have easy access to cleaner, safer drinking water by removing impurities such as chlorine, chemicals and heavy metals.

On a practical level, consumers are choosing taps that simplify everyday kitchen tasks. From food preparation to general cleaning, the demand for products that perform effortlessly while integrating into the kitchen workspace has become a necessity.

A recipe for success

Workstations that feature tools such as pull-down chef taps, spacious sinks, and innovative drainage solutions help unify the cooking and cleaning experience. The pull-out tap, in particular, makes short work of kitchen tasks – from food preparation to washing dishes. By creating a dedicated, functional space, designers can ensure the cooking experience is enjoyable and efficient.

Dale Gabriel, product manager, Prima Appliances, Sinks & Taps, PJH, explains, “The tap and sink workstation zone continues to be a key focus for open-plan kitchen design. Not only is it a multi-functional area for busy households, but it’s a central design point for contemporary kitchen living spaces. The kitchen tap category offers endless opportunities for personalised design complemented by an increasing range of technological innovations, such as instant boiling water, filtered water and professional pull-out spray taps.”

PJH, the Prima brand, offers a wide selection of competitively priced kitchen taps and sinks.  These products feature generous product specifications and all the benefits of PJH’s first-class distribution service.

For those wishing to incorporate the chef-style look for their kitchen appliances, sinks, and taps, Prima’s pull-out spray mixer taps answer the brief. Their design features a convenient, flexible hose that allows water to be dispersed in any direction, making washing awkward-sized pans or cleaning the sink effortless.

Pictured below is the adjustable spring mixer Mosa tap with double jet flow (above) and the Riace ‘L’ mixer tap with pull-out spout (left).

Tapping into your style

The latest hot taps are available in a variety of shapes, colours, and finishes, making it easy to incorporate them into any kitchen design. From brushed nickel to chrome and brass, the wide range of finishes ensures you can match or contrast your fixtures as desired. The increasing variety of design options means hot taps are no longer just functional – they’re also a stylish addition to any home.

Anne Kaarlela, InSinkErator, marketing communications and customer service manager, Europe, agrees, “A luxury look which complements both contemporary and traditional spaces is achievable through the latest instant hot water tap finishes. These products combine a desirable aesthetic with forward-thinking functions, and this means retailers can now showcase a wider variety of options which appeal to the different tastes of their customers.

“Matching soap dispensers in the same luxury finishes allows customers to create a beautiful sink set-up which reflects their style and catches the eye of guests. This combination adds further class to a space and ensures the kitchen looks sublime.”

Earlier this year, InSinkErator launched its award-winning 4N1 Touch tap, plus 3N1 tap, in brand-new, on-trend finishes Brushed Copper and Brushed Gold. InSinkErator’s most advanced multifunctional tap model is the 4N1 Touch, which is available in a J shape and an L shape. It is an all-in-one product that dispenses instant filtered cold water via a unique touch-button control, as well as instant filtered steaming hot water and regular hot and cold water, from the same combined fixture.

Creative co-ordination

Co-ordinating the tap and sink will achieve a refined, cohesive look that is enhanced by selecting the most popular tap finishes, such as polished chrome or brushed nickel. Beyond colour and material, choosing complementary shapes and proportions ensures the sink and tap work together, both visually and practically – for example, a deep, wide sink pairs well with a high-arched or pull-down tap. Thoughtful alignment not only enhances visual appeal but also improves workflow when it comes to everyday tasks.

Jennifer Townsend, product marketing manager, Rangemaster, agrees and explains, “Fire-clay ceramic sinks are rapidly becoming the hero piece in many kitchen design briefs, so taps need to enhance their character rather than compete with it. Brushed, low-sheen metallics – particularly Antique Brass – are set to eclipse mirror finishes, while the resurgence of taps in classic bridge silhouettes, now paired with discreet flow regulators, will allow designers to strike the perfect balance between heritage charm, water efficiency and a fully coordinated sink area.”

Rangemaster’s Aquaclassic tap brings a refined, timeless aesthetic to the sink area while remaining resolutely practical for everyday use. Cast from solid brass, the range is available in two carefully considered formats. The dual-lever monobloc has an elegant 359mm swan-neck and is ideal for mounting on the integrated deck of the new Sandwood fire-clay butler sink or on the narrow rims of contemporary worktops.

No fuss filtration

Filtered water not only improves the taste of everything, from your early morning matcha to your daily hydration, but also aligns with growing health-consciousness. With increasing awareness of contaminants like chlorine by-products, heavy metals, microplastics, and PFAS, ensuring your water is filtered offers more than just flavour – it provides peace of mind. As more people prioritise their health, having clean, filtered water has become a simple yet effective way to support overall well-being.

Tappwater promises an alternative to the filtration tap,  at under £50, its filter delivers peace of mind by removing over 100 impurities while maintaining essential minerals. Tappwater’s plug-and-play design ensures clean water is always within reach, without the need for costly installations or plastic waste.

Tappwater’s range of easy-to-install filters twist effortlessly onto standard taps and showers, transforming everyday water into clean, great-tasting hydration and a more enjoyable showering experience. For busy lifestyles, the Tappwater PitcherPro and Filter Bottle offer portable, practical solutions for on-the-go clean water.