Kitchen Sink Styles
When it comes to kitchen remodeling, the sink is one of the most important features. Without a quality sink, a kitchen will never feel quite complete. It’s the heart and soul of every kitchen, as it’s the place where you prepare food and the place where you clean up afterward. Your sink sets the stage for the entire kitchen, so you have to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.
The sink is also one of the most customizable parts of your kitchen, so it can really express your personality with its styling and configuration. Fortunately, there are quite a few different styles to choose from whether you’re looking for something more retro or something more sleek and contemporary. Take a look at the most popular kitchen sink styles.
Farmhouse Sinks
Also known as an apron sink, a farmhouse sink is one of the most popular styles available. The front of this sink is exposed, and it features a deep basin that can fit large dishes and pots. It’s rectangular in shape and is installed with the rim underneath the countertop, allowing for easy access.
In terms of style, the farmhouse design is considerably vintage as the name may suggest. It pairs well with a more country-style kitchen as it focuses on retro utility rather than contemporary sleekness. This style also requires professional installation, as setting up an undermount sink shouldn’t be attempted without proper experience and training.
Undermount Sinks
While the farmhouse sink is technically one form of these, undermount sinks slightly differ in their design. They feature an undermount installation, so your countertop will be above the sink itself, leaving no exposed edges. Cleanup is easy because of this, as there are no cracks or lips for anything to get caught in, so you can wipe food waste directly into the sink.
While their use is convenient, their installation is not. Undermount installation is quite difficult, so leave it to a professional to have it done properly. Additionally, undermount sinks can only be installed on nonporous, solid-surface countertops. The look is sleek and trendy, though, so the effort can be more than worth it if you’re going for a contemporary design in your kitchen.
Top-Mount Sinks
Think of a top-mount sink as the opposite of an undermount sink in terms of installation. Instead of an undermount installation, a top-mount sink has edges that will hold it up after it’s put directly into the counter’s sink opening. Considering that it takes just a few seconds to get the sink in place, it’s by far the easiest installation. Of course, hooking up all the plumbing will take about an hour, which is still far less time than the other options.
Top-mount sinks are the most popular style by far, and that’s not just because of their easy installation. These sinks are also easy to use as well. While the edges make it a bit more difficult to wipe food waste from the counter directly into the sink, the basin itself can be quite deep with plenty of room for pots and plates. Opt for stainless steel, and you can enjoy an easy installation complete with a durable material. If you’re more interested in style, cast-iron and porcelain options are available as well.
Corner Sinks
If your kitchen has a unique layout, you may need a corner sink. Corner sinks fit well with L-shaped counters and can be remarkably efficient when you’re trying to set up a work triangle. Generally, they’re designed to save space by dedicating corner areas to the sink rather than a massive section in the middle of a counter or island.
Their specialized shape is also often used to create a secondary sink space in addition to the main sink. For example, you may have a sink on your main counter and corner sinks on your kitchen island. Of course, if you have a small kitchen, corner sinks may be ideal just to save as much counter space as possible.
Bar Sinks
Perhaps you’re not even looking for a primary sink for your kitchen. If you want something a bit smaller for a bar area, there are specialized bar sinks available. Maximizing counter space as much as possible, these sinks are notably small, but they’re deep and spacious enough for prep tasks like cutting and washing fruit.
Bar sinks are also quite versatile, as virtually every previously mentioned style has a bar sink counterpart. That means you can find an undermount bar sink or a top-mount bar sink. The only uncommon version would be a farmhouse bar sink, as the smaller size effectively defeats the purpose of a farmhouse sink.
Bowl Configurations
No matter which kind of sink you opt for, you’ll often have the choice between several bowl configurations. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so it really comes down to your personal needs in determining which is best. The three primary configurations are single, double and triple bowls.
The primary differences in each configuration are exactly what you’d expect from the names. Single bowls have a single wide-open basin like what’s typically found with a farmhouse sink. These tend to be deeper than other types and can easily fit large pots and pans within. Double bowls are useful for simultaneously working on separate tasks. To give each sink enough room, the entire sink setup tends to be a bit wider, though it’s not as wide as the triple bowl. The triple configuration doesn’t feature three full-size sink basins, however, as the third is typically just a small sink situated in between the two larger basins.
Find New Kitchen Sink Styles With Kitchen Solvers
If you’re ready to browse available kitchen sink styles, the experts at Kitchen Solvers can help you find one you’ll be satisfied with for years. Our design team can help you maximize utility and style when choosing your next sink, and our installation team can get it set up and ready to go in no time. Contact us today to get started on building the kitchen of your dreams.
Also be sure to check out our blogs, Choosing a Modern Sink for Your Kitchen and Kitchen Remodeling: Don’t Forget the Sink for more information on different sink options for your kitchen.
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