Over the years, kitchen and bathroom faucets have taken on many styles and forms. While much of the focus has been on the design of the faucet body, there is a new trend making waves in the home design scene. Increasingly, decorative handles are becoming the focal point of faucet style.

With decorative handles as one of the most popular 2023 faucet trends, this guide is here to break down the ways in which decorative handles are being incorporated in kitchens and bathrooms. Discover the latest in faucet trends and find handles to match any style.

Functional Handles With Flair

When considering decorative handles, it's easy to assume that the only concern for homeowners is the stylistic details of the handle. While, yes, decorative handles focus on incorporating fresh style into the bathroom and kitchen, there is more than meets the eye.

Many of the latest decorative handles are also designed with functionality in mind. For those who have limited mobility or battle painful arthritis, the style of a handle makes a big difference in the functionality of the room.

For this reason, one popular trend is to pick out designer lever handles. Many lever handles are generally ADA compliant due to their function. Rather than a twist knob or handle, a lever faucet handle is simple to manipulate.

Consider modern ADA-compliant bathroom faucets which incorporate this lever design. In addition to the fact that many lever handles are ADA-compliant, these faucet handles are also being designed with style in mind.

Take, for instance, the Continental single-handle bathroom faucet. This faucet features a sleek design that offers the perfect modern touch for the bathroom. The simple lever is easy to use, but the unique single-hole design with stunning curves makes the faucet stand out. It's a lever that both makes life easier and improves the style of the bathroom.

Or, for a more traditional, elegant look, the Heritage two-handle bathroom faucet offers incredibly sophisticated detailing while maintaining faucet lever handles that are simple to operate. This faucet is the perfect blend of elegance and function.

Similarly, consider ADA-compliant kitchen faucets. The Heritage two-handle bridge kitchen faucet is wholly elegant, while the lever handles make using the kitchen faucet simple. The tall body of this faucet makes it stand out as a design focal point, and the details on the handles elevate the entire look.

The Focal Point of the Faucet

In the past, faucet handles were more of a functional afterthought than a design focal point. However, with the newest designs, stylistic handles can now make or break the design of a faucet. Pair the wrong faucet handle with a new faucet body, and the whole look can be off-putting.

Take, for example, the cross handles on the Kingston wall-mount kitchen faucet. These handles, with their stunning silhouette and whimsical hot and cold white caps, are integral to the vintage design of this faucet. Put a plain handle on this faucet, and the whole design would fall flat.

In the bathroom, you can see how faucet handles are becoming the focal point of design in the Restoration two-handle bathroom faucet. While the faucet body itself is classic, it's not the focal point of the faucet's design. Instead, the two white cross handles take the show with their bold styling that contrasts against the faucet.

In this way, many homeowners are transforming their kitchens and bathrooms solely through the use of better, more decorative faucet handles. These handles are becoming a crucial part of the room's style.

Exploring Popular Handle Styles

With faucet handles taking such an integral role in the design of faucets, there are numerous styles now available. Pick among the following popular categories:

• Cross handles: One of the most classic design styles, cross handles often feature a hot and cold cap. With cross-style designs, these handles are easy to turn left to right.
• Knob handles: Knob handles are usually a pair of hot and cold handles that can be rotated left and right to control the water flow. In some cases, a knob handle will be a single globe-like handle that is rotated in all directions to control the water flow.
• Lever handles: Often ADA-compliant, lever handles can be gently pushed right and left or up and down to control the water flow.
• Wheel handles: Borrowing heavily from industrial design, wheel handles mimic the style of an outdoor faucet handle. The wheel is turned in a rotating fashion. Wheel handles can be either singular handles or double handles.
• Loop handles: Usually a single handle, loop handles are manipulated in up-down and right-left configurations.
• Wrist blade handles: Wrist blade handles make it easy to turn on and off the water with one's wrists. They often feature a unique design where the lever style of the handle flairs upward.

Within each of these categories of faucet handle styles, there is a huge amount of variation in design. A knob handle could be a simple, sleek post style, or it could be an ornate decorative piece with multiple components and design details.

How to Choose a New Faucet Handle

When picking out new faucet handles, homeowners have a few things to consider.

1. The aesthetics of the handles: With the incredible decorative details of new faucet handles, it's important to carefully consider how a handle will incorporate with the rest of the room's design. For example, if a bathroom features a traditional, elegant style, a sleek modern handle will look out of place. It's also worth considering how a handle will look aesthetically in conjunction with the faucet body. The goal is to create a cohesive look in which the handles can shine.
2. The fit of the handles: It's important to note that not all handles are interchangeable. When replacing handles, it's crucial to consider all handle components, including the cartridge style and flanges. Certain handles can be exchanged for another if the specs match. However, in some cases, it's better to replace the entire faucet when upgrading the handles.
3. The function: From levers to knobs to cross handles, there are countless styles available. However, what type of faucet handle is the best pick will have a lot to do with personal preferences and needs. Consider every person living in the home when choosing the right functional style of handle.

Shop Kingston Brass for Popular 2023 Faucet Trends

When shopping for the latest in faucet trends, Kingston Brass is the perfect place to begin. Kingston Brass carries both kitchen and bathroom faucets with premium handle designs. From criss-cross handles to industrial wheel handles, there is something to match any homeowner's style. Shop today and discover the beauty of modern faucet handles.