Sink, faucet, and lighting

Undermount sinks

These look good and let you wipe countertop spills into the sink. "In terms of material, I probably do 10 stainless-steel sinks for every one enamel," Alderman says. Pull-out faucets with integrated sprayers help with the dishes. Hands-free faucets are becoming more widely used by busy cooks and those with arthritis or limited mobility.

Fit and finish

"Even in this economy, I still have clients splurging on the $400 faucet," says Alex Stevens, a certified kitchen designer in Los Angeles. But other pros encourage restraint. Pot-filler faucets installed over the range or cooktop are an example. "In my mind, these faucets basically solve a problem most people didn't know they had," says Duo Dickinson, an architect in Madison, Conn.

Efficient, effective lighting

High-efficiency LED was chosen by 54 percent of NKBA kitchen designers in 2010, according to that trade group. Designers advocate a multilayered lighting plan. "Task lighting under the cabinet is optional, but it's a great addition if there's room in the budget," Case-Underwood says.

What sells

Fixtures that work

Buyers emphasize function over form. "You can go absolutely crazy with faucets and spend a fortune, but you're not going to recoup that cost," Hamilton says. He adds that the big farmhouse sink that was widely used five years ago has fallen out of favor because people realize that it's not as functional as a double sink.

Adequate lighting

Most open houses take place during the day, so buyers are more likely to be impressed by natural light. "Undercabinet lighting is a nice accent feature, especially in expensive homes," Hamilton says. "But will it make or break the sale? Not necessarily."

Bottom line

Faucets are a great place to save money because price had little to do with performance in our tests. Those that cost as little as $80 had a lifetime warranty against leaks and staining. Unless the faucet is chrome, make sure it has a PVD (physical vapor deposition) finish. When it comes to sinks, thicker and more expensive stainless-steel models performed similarly to thinner ones. But pay attention to depth, which can range from 6 to 12 inches. Deeper bowls contain splashes but require more bending for kids and shorter adults.

Unless you like preparing food in your own shadow, we think undercabinet lighting is a must. Install one fixture for every 4 feet of counter space. Those we tested with fluorescent bulbs are energy efficient, easy to find, and inexpensive. LED undercabinet fixtures tend to have discreet, low-profile housings but are more expensive and more difficult to find.