A Foot Pedal for the Kitchen Faucet That’s Worth the Upgrade
If you’ve ever turned off your kitchen faucet with messy hands and immediately thought, there has to be a better way- you’re not wrong. Having previously had a touchless faucet in our last home (that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t), installing a foot pedal at the kitchen sink is now my gold standard. It’s one of those smart upgrades that feels subtle, but completely changes how the faucet functions. We added one to our kitchen last year and it’s quickly become one of my favorite behind-the-scenes decisions. It keeps the faucet perfectly clean, improves workflow, and makes everyday tasks feel easier without changing the look of the kitchen sink vignette at all. This is my honest review of our foot pedal kitchen faucet system and why I definitely think it’s worth the upgrade.
Before we dive in, this pedal / hands-free system has nothing to do with our water filtration system. Check out that post for more on our filtered drinking water. We have reverse osmosis and I go into greater detail about that in another blog post. This is more about how we use our kitchen sink, wash our hands, wash the dishes, and the functionality of our sink faucet. I hope it’s helpful! Let’s get into it…
What Is a Foot Pedal Kitchen Faucet
A foot pedal kitchen faucet allows you to turn your water on and off using your foot instead of your hands. We installed the Principle Faucets Step2 Foot Pedal Faucet Adapter System. It installs at the base of the sink cabinet and works with your existing faucet. That means no bulky commercial look and no need to replace the faucet you already have and love.
Why I Wanted a Foot Pedal Kitchen Faucet
This is one of those upgrades I’ve been considering for practical reasons for a while now (especially after my newfound love of baking sourdough). In our last home, we installed a touchless kitchen faucet, and it was glitchy. Sometimes it worked great, but 50% of the time it was a struggle to get it to turn on… the censor wasn’t very sensitive. I knew there had to be a better option, so I stared researching. Having lived with this for months now, I’d never go back. Here’s why…
It Keeps Everything Cleaner
Hands covered in raw chicken, sticky sourdough fingers, soap on your palms… with a foot pedal kitchen faucet, you never touch the handle or levers. That alone is the biggest game changer. My faucet and sink area stays so much cleaner, and is more sanitary. I’m not constantly wiping down hardware throughout meal prep.
It Makes Everyday Tasks Easier
This sounds small until you experience it. Turning water on and off while washing dishes becomes effortless, and it also allows us to conserve water (a serious issue here in Utah). I can quickly rinse produce, fill pots, or wash my hands while toggling the flow on and off. Once you get used to the system, it feels intuitive and much faster.
It Works With a High End Kitchen Aesthetic
This was my biggest concern. I did not want anything that felt industrial or out of place in our residential kitchen. This pedal system is discreet. You can barely see it under the sink on the toe kick. Check out the floor level view below. The pedal sits where only you know it exists, and it comes in multiple finish options. I’m fairly certain it goes unnoticed in our kitchen.
Why A Kitchen Sink Pedal Is Worth the Investment
This is not a trendy upgrade. It’s a functional one that improves how your kitchen works every single day. If you cook often, entertain frequently, or simply value thoughtful design that supports real life, this foot pedal faucet addition is worth every penny. Here are some of my pros…
- Works with your existing kitchen faucet
- Keeps faucet handles clean and sanitary
- Simple and intuitive to use
- Durable and well made
- Invisible from a design standpoint
- Available in classic finishes (to match your existing plumbing fixtures)
Choosing a Finish
Because the foot pedal kitchen faucet system is hidden, you don’t need to style around it. That’s actually one of my favorite parts. It allows the faucet itself to remain the star, while the pedal goes unnoticed. Whether you have a traditional bridge faucet (like mine) or a more modern gooseneck silhouette, this system doesn’t interfere with the aesthetic at all.
My suggestion for choosing a finish it to match your existing plumbing fixtures OR choose the option that best blends with your cabinetry color, so it visually disappears into the background of your kitchen sink vignette. In our case, my two best choices were polished nickel (to match our fixtures) or matte black (to blend into our dark kitchen cabinets). While I’m typically not a fan of matte black, this felt like the best option to virtually “disappear” beneath our toe kick.
Questions?
Happy to! We have this kitchen faucet by Rohl (in polished nickel), and we installed this foot pedal operator from Principle (in black)… use TUESDAY25 for 25% off. Additionally, we use this water filtration system.
Installation is straightforward and easy for a plumber. If you’re experienced in plumbing DIY, it will also be a breeze. Emmett had ours installed in a couple hours.
This system is designed to work with your existing kitchen faucet, making it an easy upgrade without having to replace plumbing fixtures.
I think the sanitary benefits are by far the best. You avoid touching the faucet with dirty hands, which keeps bacteria from spreading. Being a germaphobe, it’s been a dream! I don’t worry as much about cross contamination from raw meat or bacteria.
Related Posts
Interested in more kitchen renovation tips, my designer favorites, and recommendations? I’m going to share some reader favorites below…
- How I Designed a Classic Kitchen That Still Feels Timeless
- Overlay vs Inset Cabinets: What’s Best for Your Kitchen
- The Kitchen Dimensions Every Designer Knows (And You Should Save)
- 10 Budget-Friendly Ways to Instantly Refresh Your Kitchen
- How to Install a Hidden Kitchen Trash Can
- Cabinetry Hardware Placement Guide (With Easy Examples)
- Easy Smart Home Kitchen Cabinet Lighting Ideas
- An Honest Review of the GE Cafe Range
- My Top Paint Color Picks for Dark Kitchen Cabinets
- How to Replace & Upgrade Your Cabinet Doors
I love products that make life easier, and are equally as thoughtful when it comes to design. This kitchen sink foot pedal does exactly that. It doesn’t ask for attention. It just works better than the alternative (a touchless faucet). If you’re in the middle of a kitchen renovation or simply looking for a smart upgrade that improves daily life, this is one of those details you’ll appreciate every single day! It also allows you to choose the best faucet for your kitchen, without worrying about functionality. It’s practical and genuinely useful…once you install one, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. I honestly can’t think of any cons with this system. I’m happy to answer any questions in the comment section below.
How do you adjust the temperature of the water? Is that still with the regular faucet?
This is interesting, but how do you control temperature? Are the faucets turned on all the time with the foot pedal controlling flow?
Happy Monday Sarah! You’re not the first I’ve seen install a foot pedal this year, and I’m all about it! The functionality has got to be next level. I’m the person that washes my hands constantly while cooking, and I hate having to touch my faucet handle with stuff on my hands- let alone the constant wiping of hardware. What a fantastic solution! My in-laws are renovating their kitchen this year, and I may have to let them know about this. Definitely would consider this for my kitchen! Does it work for both hot and cold water? Or just cold?
We are lucky that our touchless faucet works well, but if I were to switch it would be to this. I don’t like the faucets that you can touch anywhere to turn on the water – I don’t want to touch the faucet at all. The other day I had a knife in my hand and dirty hands – I waved the knife in front of the sensor to get water and appreciated that I could do so. A foot pedal would definitely be a great tool.
Oh! I just bought this as well and plan to install it when I have my kitchen reno’d in June. Can’t wait – seems so practical!
I learned something new! I have never seen this mechanism before. But how can you adjust the temperature of the water without using your hands? And the cost for this fixture? Thanks.