Laundry Taps: How to Choose the Right Tapware for Your Renovation
Let’s be honest for a second. The laundry often gets the short end of the stick. It’s the room where the hard work happens. The sorting. The soaking. The scrubbing of muddy footy boots on a Saturday morning.
But here’s the thing.
It doesn’t have to feel like a dungeon. In fact, we are seeing a huge shift in Australian homes right now. The laundry is becoming an extension of the kitchen. It’s getting the love it deserves. And the hero of that space? It’s the tap.
We’ve helped thousands of people at The Blue Space transform their renovations from "it’ll do" to "wow." We know that picking the right hardware makes or breaks the usability of the room. You use this item every single day. So it needs to work. Perfectly. Every time.
It can get confusing though. There are hundreds of options. So, we’re going to break it down for you. No nonsense. Just straight advice from our team to you.
What actually makes a laundry tap different?
You might be thinking, "Can’t I just grab a bathroom basin mixer and be done with it?"
Please don’t.
The biggest mistake we see is people installing a tap that is too low or too short for the trough. A bathroom mixer is designed for washing hands. Laundry taps are designed for filling buckets. They are designed for soaking massive sheets. They need clearance. Height is your friend here. You need a spout that sits high enough so you can jam a 10-litre bucket underneath it without scratching the chrome off the nozzle.
It’s about reach, too. The water needs to land in the middle of the sink, not splash against the back edge.
Where does it work?
Laundry tapware isn't just for that dedicated room at the back of the house anymore. We are seeing these fixtures pop up in all sorts of interesting spots.
The Mudroom: If you have a chaotic household with kids and dogs, a heavy-duty tap in the mudroom is a lifesaver for washing off boots before they hit the hallway runner.
The "Euro" Laundry: This is huge in apartments. The laundry is hidden behind bi-fold doors in a hallway or bathroom. Because it’s visible when open, the tapware needs to look just as good as your kitchen mixer.
Outdoor BBQ Areas: Many of our customers use durable laundry mixers for outdoor prep sinks because they are built to handle big platters and greasy grills.
Breaking down the types
Okay, let’s look at the actual hardware. You have a few main categories to choose from depending on your plumbing setup.
1. The All-In-One Mixer
This is the most popular choice. It’s a single spout with a handle that controls both flow and temperature. They look clean. They are easy to wipe down. If you are doing a full renovation and can move the pipes, we usually recommend this style.
2. Wall Top Assemblies
This is where the taps are mounted on the wall, separate from the spout. You have a hot tap and a cold tap. We love wall top assemblies for Hamptons or farmhouse-style laundries. They have that classic, tactile feel. You turn them, and the water flows. Simple.
If you go this route, you will need to pair them with separate spouts. The benefit here is customization. You can pick a super long spout if you have a massive farmhouse sink.
3. Washing Machine Sets
You cannot forget the washing machine. It needs water too. In the old days, you’d have ugly brass taps sticking out of the wall above the machine. Not anymore. Modern washing machine sets, often called "stops," are designed to look sleek. Some of them are just quarter-turn levers that look like mini designer taps. They sit neatly on the wall and don't ruin the vibe.
4. Accessible and Health-Conscious Options
If you are planning a "forever home" or renovating for elderly parents, leverage is key. We stock accessible taps that have longer handles. You can turn them on with an elbow or the back of your hand. It makes a huge difference if grip strength is an issue.
Also, check out lead-free taps. It’s a growing category. If you use your laundry tap to fill water bottles or drinking bowls for pets, this is a smart, health-conscious switch to make.
Why the right choice matters (The Benefits)
It might feel like a small detail. But getting this right pays off.
It makes chores faster: Seriously. A pull-out spray nozzle can rinse a muddy soccer jersey in ten seconds flat. A static tap takes twice as long and makes twice the mess.
It saves your back: A high-arc spout means you aren't bending double to rinse a rag.
It boosts resale value: We see it all the time. Buyers look at the wet areas. If they see a cheap, plastic tap, they wonder what else was done cheaply. If they see a stunning brass mixer, they assume quality throughout the house.
Choosing your finish
This is the fun part. The colour palette for tapware has exploded in the last five years. You are not stuck with plain silver anymore.
The Classics
If you want something that will never date, chrome taps are the king. They are shiny, hard-wearing, and match everything. For a more industrial or commercial look, stainless steel tapware is incredibly forgiving with fingerprints.
The Warm Tones
We are obsessed with these right now. Brushed brass taps and gold taps bring instant warmth to a room. They look amazing against white subway tiles or navy blue cabinetry. If you want something a little softer, almost like a piece of jewelry, look at champagne taps. They have this subtle, pinkish-gold hue that is just stunning.
For an earthier, more rustic vibe, bronze taps are a fantastic choice.
The Modern Edge
Want drama? Go dark. Black taps create a sharp, graphic contrast. They look incredible in modern, monochrome homes. On the flip side, white tapware is coming back. It disappears into a white splashback for a super minimal look.
The New Neutrals
If black is too harsh and gold is too blingy, this is your sweet spot. Brushed nickel tapware is like chrome’s sophisticated cousin. It has a warm, grey tone. Then you have gunmetal tapware. It’s moody. It’s dark grey. It hides water marks really well.
Brands we trust
We don't stock just anyone. We’ve been in this game long enough to know which brands cause headaches and which ones last a lifetime. Here is who we stand by.
The heavy hitters
You can't go wrong with the Australian icons. Caroma taps and Dorf taps are legendary for a reason. They are built for Australian conditions. Clark taps are another staple, known for being solid and reliable.
The design leaders
If style is your number one priority, check out Phoenix. Their designs are often award-winning. Meir is famous for their matte black finish—it's practically bombproof. Nero offers incredible value for money while looking super high-end.
The innovators
We love what Methven taps are doing with water flow technology. It feels soft on your hands but still has power. Greens tapware is another favourite of ours for clever engineering.
The unique styles
Building a Hamptons laundry? Turner Hastings makes beautiful bridge taps that fit that aesthetic perfectly. Modern National does amazing vintage-look hardware. For something a bit different, Indigo taps have some really distinct, tactile handles.
And we can't forget Fienza, Oliveri, Seima, and Suprema. All of these brands offer massive ranges, so you’re almost guaranteed to find the shape you want.
Other considerations (The "Gotchas")
Before you hit "add to cart," there are a few practical things our team wants you to check.
Check your pressure
Some of those fancy European taps require high mains pressure. If you have an old gravity-fed system, the flow might be a trickle. Check the spec sheet. It’ll tell you the minimum kPa required.
2. The handle clearance
This is a classic trap. You buy a mixer where the handle pushes back to turn on hot water. But you install the tap too close to the wall. Result? You can’t get full hot water because the handle hits the splashback. Look for "cold start" taps or models where the handle moves forward only.
3. The Pull-Out Spray
We touched on this earlier. If you can afford the upgrade, get a pull-out spray. Being able to pull the nozzle down to rinse the corners of a square sink is a game-changer. It stops grime from building up in the corners.
4. Matching the washing machine stops
If your washing machine taps are visible, please make sure they match your mixer. Don’t put a Brushed Brass mixer next to chrome stops. It clashes. Most of the brands we mentioned above, like Fienza and Nero, make stops that perfectly colour-match their mixers.
Final advice from the team
Don't overthink it, but don't rush it either. The laundry is a high-traffic zone. It needs to handle heat, chemicals, dirt, and heavy use. Investing in a quality brand means you aren't replacing a leaking cartridge in twelve months' time.
We’ve seen laundries transform from places you hide to places you want to show off. A great tap is the crown jewel of that transformation. It catches the light. It feels good in your hand. It just works.
If you are still stuck or trying to match a specific colour tile, reach out to us. We love this stuff. Seriously. Send us a photo of your mood board, and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a good quality laundry tap?
If you’ve spent thousands on renovations and are tempted to cut costs by opting for a cheaper tap, think twice. A poor quality tap can undermine the overall look of a new laundry and mean that you end up compromising on functionality. If you invest in a higher quality tap, you’ll be paying for better design, longer warranties, additional functionally, and most importantly, longer lifespan. When searching for the perfect laundry tapware, it’s important to pay attention to the material it’s made of. One quick way to tell if a tap is of high quality is by inspecting its weight, a high-end piece should be heavy and solid.
What size are washing machine taps?
The size of most laundry washing machine taps or "stops" measure around 20 to 27 mm. However, the size should be calculated according to your chosen installation. The mounting position of your laundry washing machine taps won’t just impact stylistic choices but will have a huge effect in terms of size. Wall-mounted taps are located above the sink whereas bench-mounted taps are attached directly to the sink or countertop.
How can I hide my laundry taps?
Often you can hide your washing machine taps by storing them in cupboards and under benches. Do this with cords and power points too for an ultra sleek, streamlined look. However, if this isn’t possible, it’s not the end of the world. As previously mentioned, exposed laundry tapware can really enhance the whole room so don’t be afraid to show it off!
How durable are matte white basins?
Matte white basins are made from high-quality materials that are resistant to everyday wear and tear. With proper care, they will maintain their beauty and functionality for years to come.
Can matte white basins fit into any bathroom size?
Yes, matte white basins are available in various sizes to fit both large and small bathrooms. Their neutral colour helps to make smaller spaces feel larger and more open, while their elegant design enhances the overall aesthetic of any bathroom.