Would you like your kitchen to make a great first impression? Do you love the classic look of bronze finishes combined with affordable prices? The most popular finishes today are more durable than ever, so now is a great time to think about adding oil rubbed bronze fixtures to your kitchen décor. Updating your style can help you create a welcoming atmosphere in your kitchen as well as providing you with a faucet that resists corrosion and discoloration.
Oil rubbed bronze is available from several different manufacturers and in many different models. Each of these choices has its own advantages, but all can help you create an inviting, warm ambience. Here is a chart that lets you compare all of the options at a glance:
What Types of Faucets are Available in Oil Rubbed Bronze?
Generally speaking, the lamppost designs and high arc faucets are the most likely to come in this material. These two designs have an antique aesthetic that harmonizes well with the old-fashioned look of the oil rubbed finish. The gooseneck spout design gives you plenty of clearance for doing sink tasks, as well as offering plenty of reach and options such as pull-out and pull-down spray features. There’s a lot of versatility with these designs.
In contrast, the lamppost shape is exactly what it sounds like. The spout is shaped like an upside-down L, often with a slight lift at the spout end to allow more clearance. Because many lamppost designs have shorter spouts, they may be more suited for use as your kitchen’s secondary faucet. In some cases, this style of spout doesn’t swivel, which puts some more limitations on how many tasks you can use them for. Really these aren’t the most practical choices for use as your primary faucet.
You will also see that some of the more imaginative or novelty designs use an oil rubbed bronze finish. Faucets that are designed to look like an old-fashioned well pump, and at the other end, modern designs that use state-of-the-art technologies such as motion sensors or touch activation, are all available in this material. One of these options is sure to be a practical choice that will also upgrade your kitchen’s overall look and style.
When you buy a genuine bronze kitchen faucet, the sealant used is extremely important. When bronze oxidizes over time with exposure to moisture, it turns greenish, which is not what most of us are looking for! To keep the classic oil-rubbed look, you really do have to thoroughly rub oil on the finish on a regular basis.
Advantages of Kitchen Faucets in Oil Rubbed Bronze Finish
The biggest selling point of this finish is the way it can improve the aesthetic in your kitchen. Oil rubbed bronze is a great choice for décor that uses a dark or warm color palette. The tone of the finish will blend in well with the rest of the kitchen, and yet it’s eye-catching enough to be a focal point. What better way to show off your kitchen to its best advantage? This type of fixture will always make a great first impression.
In today’s market, many faucets in oil rubbed bronze come with a lifetime warranty, meaning that they offer the best possible return for you initial investment. In general, these faucets are made of solid metal, often brass, making them durable enough to withstand the constant use they will get in a busy household.
Another plus is the fact that oil rubbed bronze is very low maintenance. Unlike with glossier finishes, fingerprints and water spots do not show up as readily even when the faucet gets a lot of use. You won’t feel like you need to polish the faucet every time you walk past it, freeing you up to do the other chores on your list. The finish adds a touch of luxury and elegance to your kitchen, but you don’t have to work hard to maintain it.
How to Choose the Right Faucet in Oil Rubbed Bronze
If you are considering upgrading your kitchen by installing a faucet with an oil rubbed bronze finish, you need to follow some steps in order to narrow down your choices. This is how to make sure you’re getting the best possible faucet for your kitchen.
- Look at the installation point on your sink. Many oil rubbed bronze faucets weigh over 7 pounds, and can even exceed 10 pounds in some cases. You will need a strong installation point to handle this kind of weight in the long term without breaking down, so make sure the installation point can support the faucet you choose. You may need a plumber to help you with this.
- What is your budget? This type of faucet is available at a range of prices to fit most people’s budgets. Decide how much you are willing to spend and eliminate all the choices that exceed this amount.
- What is the best design for your home? Look at how much space is available and buy a fixture that’s tall enough, slim enough, or has the right amount of clearance between your sink and the backsplash or wall.
- What kind of shape is your plumbing in? If you have an old house, you may need fixtures that are not currently standard to work with the older plumbing. A lot of manufacturers can provide adapters if you need something that is not of the current standard.
- What kind of warranty comes with the faucet? The best of these faucets are sold with a limited lifetime warranty on both materials and craftsmanship.
The more information you have, the better success you will have. When you’re considering a particular model, make sure you read our review here of that item to see if it’s really the best one for your needs.
Prices of Oil Rubbed Bronze Faucets for Kitchens
These faucets are among the costlier fixtures that you’ll see in the marketplace these days. Genuine oil rubbed bronze faucets can cost more than $600 if you buy a basic fixture, and one with all the bells and whistles can easily cost you more than $1000. For this reason, many people opt for an oil rubbed bronze finish only, instead of a solid bronze faucet, thereby saving themselves as much as half the price on Amazon.
You can find a good quality faucet of this type for around $350 on average. This should be enough to get options such as pull-down or pull-out spray and a lifetime warranty on the finish.
Kitchen Faucets in Oil Rubbed Bronze: Reviews
Moen Brantford One-Handle High Arc Pull-down Kitchen Faucet
Both dark and light accents on this oil rubbed finish are brought out by tumbling, giving this faucet an antique style that looks good in a variety of décor settings. The pull-down spray feature is lightweight and smooth, providing good coverage of the sink area.
The one-lever control is tight-fitting but easily adjusted allowing you to set the temperature and water flow just where you want them. The spray wand docks securely in the spout when not in use. This model is very easily installed as it comes with quick connect installation features. All in all, it’s great value for the price.>>Check out Amazon for more discounts<<
Delta Foundations Two Handle Kitchen Faucet with Spray
This kitchen faucet is an excellent choice if you prefer oil rubbed bronze to have a darker look. Because of the side spray that is included with this faucet, the installation will cover 4 standard holes.
The spout design is the classic gooseneck shape, and the fixture uses two handles for better precision in temperature control. The side spray can be installed on either the right or left hand side of the spout, which is a great selling point if you happen to be a lefty! On the whole, this faucet is a good deal for the money you pay.>>Check out Amazon for more discounts<<
Delta Linden Single Handle Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet
This faucet is the best choice for you if you like overhead levers on kitchen faucets. The design of this model will make it a dominant focal point in your kitchen décor, in the best possible way. The pull-out spray wand extends smoothly, and the spray head has a good-sized trigger toggle to control the flow of water.
The flow rate of this model is standard at 1.5 gallons per minute, but the stream setting allows you to increase this to 2 GPM. The faucet uses a single hole installation, but includes a 10 ½ inch cover plate in case you have other installation holes that need covering.>>Check out Amazon for more discounts<<
Kohler Cruette Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet
The spout on this faucet rotates a full 360 degrees, and the pull-down spray feature gives you all the versatility you need. You’ll also get plenty of clearance as the spout is 16 ¾ inches tall.
You have the option of using one or three installation points with this model, depending on your needs. For undermount sinks, the one point installation works really well. Installation is easy, but be warned that you may experience dripping with this faucet if your tap water is hard.>>Check out Amazon for more discounts<<
Delta Pilar Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with Touch2O Technology
This model features a beautiful tall arc and a separate control handle. The Touch2O technology means that you can activate this beautiful oil rubbed bronze faucet with just a light tap. Tap it once more to turn it off. This faucet uses a 2 point system.
Touch the faucet on any part of the spout or handle to activate the flow of water. The pull-down spray head is a good size and the flow control on the back is user friendly. The spray wand is held in place using MagnaTite technology. The biggest issue with this faucet is that it needs batteries in order to operate.>>Check out Amazon for more discounts<<
Moen Camerist Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet with Pullout Spout
This elegant and luxurious faucet includes a pause button that allows you to stop the water flow temporarily. Of all the oil rubbed bronze faucets available for kitchens, this may well be the best one! Because it uses Hydrolock quick connect installation, you’ll be able to hook this up to the supply lines easily and quickly.
The LifeShine finish is guaranteed to continue looking as good as new for many years to come, and with 68 inches of hose you’ll be able to get good coverage of the sink area. The only drawback of this faucet is that its handle is a little bit on the short side. Otherwise, this is a faucet that will really deliver on its promises, making it a good choice for your kitchen upgrade.>>Check out Amazon for more discounts<<
Not everyone will choose oil rubbed bronze when buying a kitchen faucet, but it does have a timeless and classic style that never gets old. Take a look at our thorough reviews and see if this is the type of kitchen faucet you’re looking for. You can get started on choosing the perfect faucet today!