There’s no denying that the kitchen is often the heart of every home. With so many tasks performed in this vital living space, it’s becoming increasingly important to ensure all the tools are optimized for the homeowner’s lifestyle and routine. And while some kitchen essentials haven’t evolved very much with time, others have changed leaps and bounds along with advancements in technology. In short, the right kitchen tools can mean the world of a difference to the homeowner.

Handy hands-free faucets

Whether it’s messy meal prep, hand-washing in the sink, a complicated science project or other household tasks completed in the kitchen, the faucet is typically cited as one of the most used small kitchen appliances in the home. It goes without saying that hands-free technology has made these essential tools better and more effective than ever.

Now, with the simple touch of a wrist anywhere on the hands-free faucet, water can be activated on or off, helping to get work done faster while leaving behind less mess. These new faucets offer far more fun, and a convenient way of setting water in motion .

A local watering hole

There’s nothing more satisfying than a cold, refreshing glass of water. With people trying to cut down on the use of disposable water bottles, more households have moved to filtration systems and dedicated beverage faucets as a means to getting their daily dose of H2O. With various styles available, these handy faucets can be added as a compliment to existing sink configurations or even paired with a prep sink for secondary use.

Not only do these handy faucets work with many filtration systems including reverse osmosis systems, but some brands have even begun to introduce a hands-free option so the faucet acts as a sensor and water starts flowing instantly and effortlessly just with a tap.

Get your fill

There are some conveniences for the kitchen that can be overlooked at times. Take the pot filler for example. This seemingly decorative accent to the wall above the stove burner or on the counter as a deck-mount not only hints to one’s decorative style and culinary process but also lends a helping hand with kitchen duties. Love spaghetti night but hate carrying the pasta pot from one end of the kitchen to the other for fear of dropping it everywhere? Not anymore.

Find pot filler faucets in deck-mount (countertop) and wall-mounted options both of which feature articulating arms which can make filling pots or pans simple and faster as the flow rate is almost double that of a kitchen faucet.

Thanks to the growing addition of smart products such as these in the home, it’s finally time for families to claim back quality time and enjoy most what the kitchen was meant for: cooking, eating and spending time with loved ones and friends.

Krystin Lee is the public relations specialist at Masco Canada Limited. Masco is the Canadian plumbing division of Masco Corporation and represents numerous brands including Delta, BrassCraft, Brizo, Delta Commercial, and Hansgrohe. www.mascocanada.com.