Bathroom faucets are essential for everyday tasks like washing hands or brushing teeth. In some bathrooms, they serve as the focal point, capturing the gaze of everyone who enters the space and tying the design together. In others, they blend seamlessly into the background, serving the functional purpose, but no more.
If you’re in the market for a new bathroom faucet, you’ll come across multiple styles, designs, finishes, brands, and price points. Among your options, you’ll find high-arc and low-arc bathroom faucets. So, which one should you choose? Is one better? Let’s find out.
What Is A High Arc Bathroom Faucet?
High-arc bathroom faucets, also known as gooseneck faucets, offer an exquisite finishing touch to many bathrooms. As the name implies, high-arc bathroom faucets feature a tall, elegant curve. The spout towers above the sink, usually with about 8 to 10 inches of space.
These faucets are popular in modern bathrooms, offering a clean, contemporary take on traditional bathroom taps. They’re perfect for larger bathrooms with deep, oversized sinks, as smaller, low-arc faucets may look out of place in these scenarios.
The added height of the faucet makes various tasks more manageable, like handwashing a few shirts or washing your hair on wash day.
Pros And Cons
High-arc bathroom faucets add the perfect touch to many bathrooms. Here are a few notable benefits of this design:
- Functional and convenient
- Offers plenty of space for washing
- Available in numerous styles and finishes
- Beautiful, elegant designs
- Excellent water pressure
As beautiful as they are, high arc faucets feature a unique set of flaws, including:
- Water splashing
- Not ideal for tight spaces
- Can be pricey
What is A Low Arc Bathroom Faucet?
Low-arc bathroom faucets feature a slight, low arc. Instead of the high, prominent arch of high-arc faucets, these faucets feature a much lower profile. Due to their smaller, more compact design, these faucets are ideal for small bathrooms.
Low-arc faucets were popular as traditional-styled faucets, so they’re not as common for modern-style bathrooms. That said, a few designs pair beautifully with modern palettes, but they aren’t nearly as plentiful.
Traditional-style low-arc faucets may look dated to some, but to others, this might be the perfect traditional aesthetic. You can find low-arc faucets with modern touches, clean lines, and trending finishes.
Pros And Cons
As you browse through your options, don’t forget to weigh the pros and cons! Here are a few upsides of low-arc bathroom faucets:
- No water splashing
- Perfect for snug spaces
- Widely available in multiple styles and finishes
- Perfect for traditional-styled bathrooms
On the other hand, here are a few potential drawbacks to consider:
- Can be challenging to wash your hair or rinse clothes in the sink
- May not complement modern themes
What Is The Difference Between High-Arc And Low-Arc Bathroom Faucets?
Spray
As you debate between high-arc and low-arc bathroom faucets, it’s essential to consider the size of your sink. High-arc faucets are notorious for clashing with shallow sinks, as they often create splashing. It’s usually best to pair high-arc faucets with deep, larger sink basins, as this will avoid making a mess of water every time you use the tap.
With low-arc faucets, splashing isn’t a concern. However, a low-arc faucet might have too low of a profile to match with expansive sink basins, so that’s something to consider.
Ease Of Use
While bathroom faucets aren’t often used for as many things as kitchen faucets, usability is still a critical defining factor. With a bathroom faucet, you’ll need plenty of space to wash your hands, clean the sink/faucet, and brush your teeth (among other things).
You’ll need plenty of space if you wash your hair in the sink (usually easier than leaning over the bathtub) for hair-only wash days. Or, if you occasionally hand wash clothes in the sink, you’ll need enough space to fill the sink but still have room to work.
While the sink plays a vital role in your space, a faucet can make a world of difference. For example, with a high-arc faucet, you’ll have plenty of room to wash your hair or rinse a few clothing items.
Completing these tasks with a low-arc faucet might be trickier due to the tight space. That said, if you have a compact bathroom and a small faucet to save space, you probably won’t be washing clothes or your hair in the bathroom sink, so it’s not a considering factor.
Height
The height of these faucets is the main thing that separates them, as low-arc faucets have a much more subdued appearance than the eye-catching high-arc models. This is a significant factor to consider when choosing a faucet for your bathroom, as some faucets might not work.
For example, let’s say you have a compact bathroom with a medicine cabinet directly above the sink. In many cases, high-arc faucets are far too tall and will interfere with the cabinet, so a low-arc faucet is the better choice.
However, let’s say you have a massive bathroom with two deep sinks. If you positioned a set of low-arc faucets with the sinks, they might look out of place and too small. With high-arc faucets, it might help fill the space with the eye-catching presence of the impressive height.
Design
Last but not least is the design factor. This is one of the most apparent differences between the two, as each faucet offers something different. Generally speaking, the design of low-arc faucets correlates best with traditional-style bathrooms, while high-arc faucets work well with modern bathrooms.
Of course, you can mix and match the two, as the final design decisions fall to you.
Is One Better?
Choosing a bathroom faucet can be tricky, especially with the number of options available. While it would be easier if we told you which one to buy, every scenario is different, so what we view as the perfect fit might not work for your bathroom. Plus, one isn’t necessarily better than the other when it comes to high-arc vs. low-arc faucets. Each option has its merits.
For example, let’s say you have a small, compact bathroom. In this case, a low-profile faucet is likely your best bet. A low-arc centerset tap might work perfectly, as these models have small footprints and a low profile.
Or, let’s say you have a large bathroom with a wide, deep sink. In this case, a bolder, taller faucet that consumes more space is probably a good fit. You could choose a widespread high-arc faucet, as these faucets take up quite a bit of space with spaced handles and have an impressive silhouette.
However, you should do what works best for you. If you have a smaller bathroom but enjoy the aesthetic of a high-arc faucet, then, by all means, go for it!
5 Things To Consider Before Buying A Bathroom Faucet
- Sizing: Measuring is the most important thing to do before buying a bathroom faucet. This becomes even more important if you have a compact bathroom, as cabinets, vanity sizes, and sink types can affect which size will work best. So, be sure to measure your faucet to ensure it will work, as the tap needs to reach far enough to spray into the sink but not so tall that it will interfere with the surrounding environment.
- Design preferences: Don’t forget to weigh your design preferences! Each type of faucet lends well to different aesthetics, so remember to keep this in mind as you search for a tap. If you have a large, open bathroom, the dominating silhouette of a high-arc bathroom faucet might be best. Or, if you’re tight on space but want an elegant look, consider a low-arc faucet.
- Cutout holes: Many sinks come with pre-drilled holes in the sink deck. If you have a custom sink or are mounting the faucet on the countertop, you might have more customizability here. Even still, be sure you choose a faucet that matches your sink’s layout and cutout holes.
- Mounting style: Bathroom faucets come in several mounting types, including deck and wall mounts. If you have pre-drilled holes in your sink, you’ll probably want to do a deck-mount faucet. However, if your sink and countertop don’t have pre-drilled holes, you could always do a wall-mount faucet to free up counter space.
- Finish: Faucets are available in multiple finishes, including matte black, chrome, stainless steel, nickel, and more. Choose a faucet finish that correlates with your color palette and preferences. Generally, it’s best to mix warm tones with other warm colors, such as warm beiges and tans with coppers and golds. Or, combine cool tones, such as cool gray and silvery metals.