How to match handles to taps?

Handles and taps: fittings at the service of your décor! 

Door handles and taps are two essential accessories for your kitchen and bathroom. Matching them correctly will significantly boost your décor! 

You have three options for matching door handles to taps:   

• Harmonise your decorating style
• Choosing to coordinate the finish
• Bet on contrasts 

Through concrete examples, discover the various solutions for knowing how to harmonise door handles with your taps.

How can fittings become decorative allies?

Taps, primarily functional, prove to be an excellent decorative ally! A design black mixer tap in the kitchen, a stunning walk-in shower in a modern bathroom, or a white ceramic bathtub are all powerful decorative tools! 

The common features between handles and taps 

Taps and door and furniture handles share common features: 

• Functional fitting: Both are essential fittings in the home that contemporary hardware transforms into decorative accessories. A magnificent mixer tap with a spray or a gilded copper pull handle in the kitchen are both practical and ultra-trendy!

• Materials and finishes: Handles and taps are manufactured from a range of identical materials, such as brass, stainless steel or zinc. 

They are also available in a wide variety of finishes, such as chrome, nickel, bronze and antique brass, allowing all combinations for a design interior décor.

• Aesthetics: Handles and taps both contribute to the overall aesthetic of a room. Their variety of styles, finishes and designs allows any type of décor to be enhanced.

Harmonise your interior style

The first criterion to take into account is of course the general style of your home and the particular style of your kitchen and bathroom. 

A modern decoration

A modern décor emphasises simplicity and functionality. A modern bathroom features clean lines, smooth surfaces and materials such as glass, metal and stone. Colours tend to be neutral and accessories are often minimalist. 

Handles and taps will be chosen based on their minimalist contemporary design or modern finish such as black or chrome.

Set of contemporary door handles

If you are looking for contemporary-design door handles to match modern taps, the brushed stainless steel door handle set is an excellent choice. Their elegant finish will harmonise perfectly with similar bathroom taps and accessories.

A classic decoration 

 Inspired by timeless designs, the classic style of a kitchen or bathroom showcases elements such as metro tiles, brass taps and freestanding baths. Colours are generally soft and warm, with touches of wood and elegant accents.

Set of classic door handles

For a more traditional aesthetic, antique brass door handles add a touch of sophistication to any interior. Pair them with matching bathroom taps and accessories to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Harmonise the shapes

Make sure that the style of the door handles and taps complement each other. If you have clean, modern lines in your bathroom, choose door handles with similar lines for a cohesive look.  

The shape of handles plays an essential role! A handle with generous curves is in keeping with the codes of traditional décor.

Coordinate your finishes

The interplay of finishes is crucial for creating a consistent aesthetic. If you want a harmonised set, simply choose door handles and taps in similar or complementary finishes. For example, if you have brushed stainless steel taps, opt for door handles with a similar finish for a harmonious appearance. If your taps have a brass finish, install matching furniture handles.

Why choose the same finish?

Choosing the same finish for door handles and taps offers several significant advantages in the design of your décor. First and foremost, it creates a consistent visual harmony that reinforces the overall aesthetic of the room. When the finishes of both elements complement each other, it creates a sense of fluidity and unity, contributing to a more elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. 

Furthermore, this helps avoid visual discordances that could potentially distract the eye and disrupt the balance of the décor. By opting for the same finish, you create a subtle yet powerful visual link between the various elements of your interior, contributing to a more immersive and enjoyable aesthetic experience for yourself and your guests.

Choose the same material?

Using the same material for the handle and tap guarantees aesthetic consistency.

Taps, like handles, are manufactured from a variety of materials, each offering its own advantages in terms of durability, performance and appearance. Here are some of the most commonly used materials for making taps:

• Brass: Brass is one of the most widely used materials for taps and door handles due to its durability, corrosion resistance and ability to be easily moulded into different shapes and finishes. 
• Stainless steel: Stainless steel handles and taps are valued for their corrosion resistance, ease of maintenance and modern appearance. They are often chosen for contemporary kitchens and bathrooms.
• Copper: Copper is sometimes used for taps due to its high thermal conductivity, making it ideal for plumbing applications. Copper taps are durable and resistant to corrosion, but their high cost makes them less common than other materials. Copper-finish handles are highly sought after in interior décor!
• Zinc: Zinc is often used as a base material for taps, as it is easy to mould and manufacture. However, zinc taps are generally coated with chrome, nickel or other material finishes to improve their appearance and durability. For handles, designers use a zinc and aluminium alloy: zamak!

These materials offer harmonious finishes that will be more easily combined with door handles or kitchen and bathroom furniture handles. 

Here are some illustrations of coordinated finishes: 

The coordinated gold

The brilliant gold colour is a chic finish for the bathroom tap. The white basin and the grey of the door highlight this elegant shade. The shape of the polished gold handle is understated yet modern, in keeping with the bohemian chic theme of the room.

The coordinated chrome

Pair this ultra-modern spring kitchen tap in a stainless steel finish with a chrome door handle to create a perfect decorative ensemble! The modernity of the room is embodied by both accessories.

The black finish

The black sink and tap create a modern, trendy look in the kitchen. Fit the kitchen door with a contemporary-style black handle.

The white set

White is the dominant colour in this bathroom, where natural wood adds a touch of neutral colour. The sink cabinet is fitted with a satin chrome pull handle, while the entrance door features a white handle with simple lines to echo the style of the tap.

The coordinated bronze

The bronze finish suits a contemporary style combining steel and raw wood, dark colours such as black and grey, lifted by touches of vivid colour! The brushed bronze finish of the taps is echoed by the handles on the low cabinets.

Play with contrasts

Another option, entirely opposed to finish consistency, is to create contrasts of colours and materials. 

Mixing finishes can create an interesting visual effect and add depth to your décor. Combining antique brass door handles with chrome taps, for example, can create a subtle yet striking contrast.

The advantages of not choosing the same finish for handles and taps in your wet rooms:

Choosing different finishes for door handles and taps in a kitchen or bathroom offers certain advantages.

• An eclectic look: Mixing finishes will add dimension and visual interest to the space, creating a more dynamic and eclectic look. By combining colours, you can introduce contrasting elements that draw the eye and add character to the bathroom. 

• An interesting interplay of textures: Furthermore, you can play with different styles and textures, which can be particularly beneficial in a kitchen where visual diversity is often appreciated. The same applies to the bathroom, where mixing the white tiles of the basin or radiator with light wood furniture or a beige-coloured floor is a popular choice.

• An original décor: By choosing door handles and taps with different yet harmonious finishes, you can create a subtle balance between the elements of the kitchen or bathroom, adding a touch of originality and personality to your rooms.

The combination of gold and chrome

The gold tap contrasts clearly with the stainless steel of the sink set on a marble worktop with dark wood low cabinets. The interplay of colours and textures adds style to this modern kitchen. You can opt for a gold handle if the door is dark wood, or a chrome handle for a plain door. 

The combination of gold and black 

Door hardware loves to play with finishes, as evidenced by this black and gold two-tone handle, which is showcased on a white door in a room with white furniture. Ideal for dressing the door of a bathroom with a clean style, this understated and chic handle pairs beautifully with white marble and copper-toned wooden flooring.

The combination of chrome and black

In this bathroom, all textures come together to form a harmonious ensemble: the white ceramic sink, the glass shower door, the chrome stainless steel mixer tap and the black handle on the wooden door. 

This design two-tone door handle offers a great option for combining black and chrome! On a black door, the thin chrome line of the lever is ultra-trendy! The contrast with the bathtub or white ceramic shower fitted with a brushed steel mixer tap is striking!

The bronze, white and chrome trio

The dark bronze handles on the furniture contrast with the ambient brightness of the room and with the white stainless steel taps. The raw concrete-coloured floor echoes the grey marbled worktop, adding to the overall visual contrast.

The black and white duo

The most classic duo remains the combination of black and white. This door handle model is a design illustration of that! Perfect for fitting on the doors of your wet rooms, this ultra-trendy black and white handle elevates the style of your décor. With a few turns of the wrist and a little tooling (screwdriver, fixing screws), you can install your handle in just a few minutes!

You can have fun combining other finishes and textures to refine your interior décor! Pair coloured handles to introduce pink into your kitchen, or crystal handles on industrial furniture! Why not choose grey concrete furniture knobs to decorate the low cabinet under the bathroom sink? 

In conclusion, matching door handles to the taps plays an important role in the design of your interior. Let us make the most of these functional fittings to create a harmonious décor in the kitchen and bathroom!  

A door handle is an easy-to-install decorative ally, available at reasonable prices. By following these simple tips and exploring the products available on the Millahandles.fr shop, you can combine comfort and style at home!