Coloured Kitchen Tapware: Black, Gold, Nickel, Gunmetal and Chrome

If there is one thing I have learned from renovating my own kitchens and helping customers choose products in our showroom, it is that tap colour changes the whole feel of a kitchen. Coloured kitchen tapware has moved well past being a bold extra. Perth homeowners now ask for matte black, brushed gold, gunmetal, brushed nickel and chrome by name, and each colour works for a different reason. This article looks at the colours we see working in Perth kitchens, how they pair with cabinetry and benchtops, and what to think about before you choose.

I also spoke with Greg von Einem, National Marketing Manager at Linkware Australia, for extra insight into what is driving colour choice in tapware. I have combined Greg’s comments with what we see every week at our Guildford showroom, so you can compare the colours without turning this into a full technical finish guide.

Why Coloured Kitchen Tapware Is Still Popular In 2026

Coloured kitchen tapware is still popular because it gives the kitchen a clear design direction without changing the whole room. A tap is a small fitting, but it appears in a high-visibility spot above the sink. If the colour works with the cabinetry, sink, handles and benchtop, the whole kitchen feels more considered.

Greg describes the Australian market as much broader than it used to be. Chrome, brushed nickel, matte black, gold and gunmetal all hold a place, while aged brass, copper and white remain smaller parts of the market. That matches what I see here too. Customers still want practical taps, but they also want the colour to feel intentional.

“Matte colours are impacting Chrome as they tend not to show finger and watermarks like Chrome.”

That point matters in a kitchen. Between wet hands, cooking, cleaning and Perth hard water, the tap gets handled all day. A colour can look great in a photo, but it still needs to work in a real home.

Kitchen Tapware Colours And Where They Work Best

The best kitchen tap colour depends on the room around it. I always suggest looking at the cabinet colour, benchtop, sink, splashback and handles together before locking anything in. A tap can blend in, create contrast or add warmth, but it should not feel like the only item in the kitchen using that colour.

Matte Black Kitchen Tapware

Matte black tapware works best when you want contrast. It looks sharp against white cabinetry, pale stone-look benchtops, timber tones and simple subway tiles. It also suits industrial-style kitchens with darker cabinets, concrete-look surfaces or black handles.

The practical upside is that matte finishes tend to hide fingerprints and light water marks better than glossy chrome. I would still avoid harsh cleaners, especially on coloured coatings. Use a soft cloth and follow the manufacturer’s care instructions so the finish keeps its look.

Brushed Gold Kitchen Tapware

Brushed gold tapware adds warmth. It works well with white, cream, soft grey, timber and stone-look benchtops. In a plain kitchen, a brushed gold kitchen mixer can make the sink area feel more finished without needing a loud splashback or dramatic cabinet colour.

The trick is restraint. I like brushed gold most when it is repeated once or twice, such as in handles, lighting or a nearby accessory. If every detail is gold, the kitchen can feel overdone. If the tap is the only gold item, it can look accidental.

Brushed Nickel Kitchen Tapware

Brushed nickel tapware is one of the safest coloured tapware choices for a kitchen because it is soft, neutral and easy to live with. It pairs naturally with stainless steel sinks, grey benchtops, white cabinetry and timber-look finishes.

In the showroom, brushed nickel is often the colour people choose after seeing it in person. It has more warmth than chrome and less contrast than black or gunmetal. That makes it a good option if you want something current, but not too bold.

Gunmetal Kitchen Tapware

Gunmetal tapware suits kitchens with darker finishes, charcoal cabinetry, concrete-look surfaces or black appliances. It gives a kitchen depth without the same sharp contrast as matte black.

I see gunmetal as a strong choice for modern kitchens where the palette already has darker tones. It can look heavy in a very small or low-light kitchen, so I would balance it with lighter cabinets, a pale benchtop or good natural light.

Chrome Kitchen Tapware

Chrome tapware remains the classic option. It works with almost every kitchen style and usually pairs easily with stainless steel sinks, appliances and cabinet handles. Chrome is also a good choice if you want the tap to feel clean and familiar rather than colour-led.

The trade-off is cleaning. Glossy chrome shows water spots faster, especially in Perth homes with hard water. If you are happy to wipe the tap more often, chrome is still a reliable, long-lasting colour choice.

White Kitchen Tapware

White kitchen tapware is still more niche, but it has a place in light, minimal kitchens. It can work with white cabinetry, pale stone-look benchtops, timber shelves and Scandinavian-style colour palettes. It is usually chosen for softness rather than contrast.

White also needs more care. Marks and discolouration tend to show faster than they do on darker or brushed finishes. I would choose it only if the rest of the kitchen is simple enough to support the look and you are happy with regular cleaning.

Practical Notes Before Choosing Coloured Kitchen Tapware

Colour matters, but the kitchen still has to work every day. Before you commit, think about water marks, cleaning, handle colours and how the tap looks beside your sink. For a deeper finish-by-finish comparison, read our guide to tapware finishes. That article covers chrome, brushed nickel, black, gold and gunmetal in more detail.

Colour	Best Kitchen Fit	Pairs Well With	Practical Note
Matte black	Modern contrast	White cabinets, timber, stone-look benchtops	Hides light marks better than glossy chrome
Brushed gold	Warm feature colour	White, cream, timber and soft grey	Works best when repeated once or twice
Brushed nickel	Soft neutral look	Stainless sinks, grey tones and timber	Easy to live with in most kitchens
Gunmetal	Darker modern schemes	Charcoal, black, concrete-look finishes	Balance with lighter surfaces if the room is small
Chrome	Classic kitchen style	Stainless sinks and most appliances	Shows hard-water spots faster
White	Light minimal kitchens	Pale cabinetry, timber and stone-look surfaces	Needs more regular cleaning

Perth Water And Daily Cleaning

Perth’s hard, mineral-heavy water can leave white marks on glossy tapware. Matte and brushed finishes often hide those marks better, but no finish is maintenance-free. Wipe the tap with a soft cloth, avoid abrasive pads and check the product care instructions before using any cleaner.

Mixing Tapware With Handles And Lighting

You do not need every metal in the kitchen to match. A brushed gold tap can work with black handles, and gunmetal can work with stainless steel appliances. The safest method is to pick one main colour, then repeat it once or twice so the room feels planned.

Seeing Colours In Person

Photos can make tapware colours look warmer, darker or shinier than they are. I have seen plenty of customers change their mind once they put a tap beside a cabinet sample or sink in the showroom. If you can, compare the colour under real light before ordering.

For more product-specific buying advice, our Kitchen Tapware Buying Guide covers mixer types, features and practical selection tips.

Coloured Kitchen Tapware FAQs

These are the questions I would answer before choosing a coloured kitchen tap, especially if you are trying to match a new tap with existing cabinetry, sinks or handles.

Which Kitchen Tapware Colour Is Right For Your 2026 Renovation?

The right kitchen tapware colour comes down to the feel you want and how much contrast the room can handle. Choose chrome if you want a classic finish that works with almost anything. Choose brushed nickel if you want a softer neutral. Choose matte black for contrast, brushed gold for warmth, gunmetal for darker modern kitchens and white for a light, minimal look.

My best advice is to choose the tap after you have settled on your cabinet colour, benchtop and sink. Bring samples into the showroom if you have them. Seeing the colours together removes a lot of guesswork.

You can see our range of kitchen tapware in Perth at our Guildford showroom, or browse online and arrange Perth Metro delivery.