There are a number of different styles of taps. For the purpose of this article, kitchen taps are the topic. The main differences are whether you want individual taps (a separate hot and cold tap, each with its own on/off handle and spout) or a mixer tap.

So what are kitchen mixer taps? Basically, hot or cold or a mixture of the two comes out of one tap. There are of course, pros and cons to having this arrangement in your kitchen. The pros are that you can easily vary the temperature of your water with just one control – leaving your other hand to be doing something else – holding food for washing, filling the kettle or coffee jug up etc. Another plus point is that the single tap can look refined, elegant and streamlined – a much sought after look in a lot of peoples homes.

The cons to taps kitchen are that if you want period features in your home (such as a certain type of sink, antique effect cupboards etc), a mixer tap can sometimes not look as authentic as having a separate hot and cold tap. Another possible con is that should anything go wrong with the mixer, the entire water supply for that room is compromised – which is not the case should a hot tap, or cold tap need work doing to it. Having said that, taps generally do not go wrong.

When all is said and done, going to a good bathroom store, outlet or even website will give you a very good idea of the features and look that fit in with what you had in mind and what your budget will allow. Get a feel for how the item would look in your kitchen, get a friends opinion on how they find their mixer. All of these things can help you make up your mind as to what is best for you!