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After consulting a plumber regarding your water pressure, you will be armed with knowledge on the types and models of tap that are suitable and can safely be fitted in your kitchen or bathroom for that matter. The next most important factor to consider when planning a new kitchen, or at least revamping the sink area, is how the new tap will be fitted.

There are three types of mounting available – deck (on the work surface), wall or sink – and its worth thinking about the amount of space around the sink you have and whether you are looking for a traditional or contemporary style. Most of the styles have options to work at low or high pressure, though consult assistance from the store you are buying from if this isn’t made obvious.

Wall Mounted Basin Taps
Where plenty of space is required, a sleek sharp wall mounted tap will allow for a sink to be fitted closer to the wall, if required, and will provide you with a fairly neat and tidy minimalist look. This type of mounted tap looks great and gives the impression and sense of space, however its pipes and connections will be hidden in the wall making it difficult to access should anything need maintenance in the future.

Deck Mounted Taps
Perhaps the most popular of kitchen fitted taps are those that are mounted onto the work surface next to the sink. Pillar taps are traditionally fitted on the deck because they need the space and usually have two parts which must be mounted, although this type of tap may not be suitable for sinks that have the holes already drilled. These taps have plenty of areas that need cleaning due to its two or three sections that are fitted on the worktop, perhaps not particularly useful for those kitchens with wooden work surfaces around the sink.

Sink Mounted Taps
Again, potentially a space saver any sink mounted taps need to be fairly tall to allow for washing of large dishes in the sink. Usually suitable for both low and high pressure water flow, they are largely available from designers and also to suit low budgets. These taps usually swivel 180 degrees and are fixed to one place where the movement allows water to flow over a double sink, or a sink and drainer – making it fairly easy to clean the area too.

Plans to recreate spa and luxury surroundings in bathrooms are what the majority of us style followers are doing in our homes this year, with those that want to make more of a statement beginning to introduce vibrancy by way of strong colours like reds, blacks and purples. It may be those that are slightly more daring that introduce colour to what was previously all white and clinical on the approach to 2010, but for those a little less likely to choose those bold colours, sanctuaries can be created using simple sweeps of colour by adding the latest accessories to a bathroom packed with stone tiles and neutral colours.

Buying the smaller items and accessories for the bathroom is not exactly something most of us do regularly, so the decision over those products like taps and fixtures and fittings like towel rails and tissue holders is fairly difficult due to the sheer amount of things available on the market. For those of us attempting to follow todays trends, we might be opting for eco friendly accessories that use the latest technology to help both the environment and your pocket.

When buying smaller items like bathroom taps, it is still worth considering the style, the function and budget before making a purchase. Lever taps have been popular over the past five to ten years though even this trend is moving on slightly as we recreate luxury bathrooms in modern homes.

For modern taps in spa style bathrooms, dual lever taps are the norm. Classic styles can be obtained with the most wonderful crystal handles or spa type waterfall taps can be found that reproduce the smooth calm running water that may be associated with the calmness of a spa.

The materials in which the bathroom taps are made of should be a good consideration too. Where traditional style brass might once have been first choice, it is at risk of being overtaken by other materials like nickel and chrome, with stainless steel being the choice for a hard wearing and sturdy tap that can be found at very reasonable prices.

Considering the other accessories that will accompany your spa retreat will help create a great atmosphere with a sense of style and consistency – matching the tissue holder to the colour and style of the taps and towel rail really brings the whole look together. Whether it’s a minimalist luxury health club spa or traditional Mexican spa retreat you can achieve lots by thinking about the smaller things as much as, say, the wall tiles.