Work in the kitchen constantly revolves around the sink. From rinsing food to prep work, cooking and clean up – a sink is needed for most kitchen tasks. So, when designing a kitchen, choosing a sink is one of the most important choices you will have to make. To select a sink that perfectly meets all your needs and matches your kitchen space, here’s what you need to consider.
Number of Bowls
Sinks can include one, two or even three bowls. Single sinks are a common choice in small kitchens as they take up less counter space. However, if you do have more space on disposal, splurging on a versatile double bowl kitchen sink can be a very smart choice. Having two basins on disposal, allows you to perform separate tasks in the sink with ease. For instance, you can wash produce in one basin, and store the dirty dishes in the other.
A double bowl kitchen sink can also speed up the process of washing the dishes. You can simply soap the dirty dishes up in one bowl, and rinse them in the other. Depending on your needs, you can choose between different ratios on how the sink is split, like for instance 50:50 or 60:40. And finally, there are also sinks with three basins – two large ones and a smaller one for garbage disposal.
Materials
The right material for your kitchen sink depends on your budget, your cleaning preferences and the design of your kitchen. Stainless-steel kitchen sinks are one of the most common choices as they can match almost every kitchen style from traditional to modern. They have a sleek glow and are resistant to corrosion which makes them a durable option. However, stainless-steel sinks can become easily stained with water spots and scratched.
Another material option for a kitchen sink is natural stone, most commonly soapstone. This type of material looks especially good in traditional, vintage and industrial style kitchens as it gives the kitchen an authentic period look. However, this is one of the more expensive sink options and may be difficult to maintain as it needs special cleaning products.
A more affordable alternative for a kitchen with a vintage vibe is porcelain. Porcelain comes in a variety of colours, so it’s the perfect choice if you want to make a bold statement with your sink. However, porcelain sinks can chip if you drop something heavy in them and become stained by metal pans.
Type of Installation
Depending on how they’re installed, there are two types of kitchen sinks: under-mount and top mount. An under-mount sink is installed below the countertop. This type of installation provides a no-barrier transition between the countertop and the sink. As a result, under-mount sinks don’t collect dirt and grime around them as top-mount sinks do. What’s more, this type of sink allows for easy countertop clean up, as you can simply wipe any debris straight into the sink.
Then there are top-mount sinks which are installed in a hole in the countertop with the lip of the sink resting on it. These types of sinks are less expensive and are easier to install and replace. However, they lack the sleek, flush appearance of an under-mount sink.
