Have a Think Before Choosing a Kitchen Sink
Here's how to pick the right size sink for your kitchen, needs and budget
Jennifer Ott
24 November 2017
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
In addition to choosing the best material, mounting type and number of bowls for your kitchen sink, you’ll have to pick from a range of size options too. An extra-large kitchen sink will obviously give you more space for food prep and cleanup, and you might prefer it over the confines of a smaller sink, but bigger sinks typically cost more and can take up valuable real estate in a small kitchen.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry. I’ve pulled together kitchens that feature various sink sizes, along with tips to help you figure out the perfect sink size for your cooking and cleaning needs.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry. I’ve pulled together kitchens that feature various sink sizes, along with tips to help you figure out the perfect sink size for your cooking and cleaning needs.
Size your sink to your kitchen
If your kitchen is on the smaller side, consider installing a smaller sink. An oversize, triple-bowl model would have overwhelmed the charming kitchen shown here. This more modest-size single-bowl farmhouse sink is large enough to accommodate any kitchen task, but it doesn’t take over the room. Countertop and base cabinet storage areas are likely at a premium in a smaller kitchen, so a smaller sink will improve overall function too.
If your kitchen is on the smaller side, consider installing a smaller sink. An oversize, triple-bowl model would have overwhelmed the charming kitchen shown here. This more modest-size single-bowl farmhouse sink is large enough to accommodate any kitchen task, but it doesn’t take over the room. Countertop and base cabinet storage areas are likely at a premium in a smaller kitchen, so a smaller sink will improve overall function too.
Size your sink to the window above it
Homeowners often install kitchen sinks underneath windows, preferably a window with a nice view. But some homeowners overlook how these two elements work together. Now, that is not to say your sink and window need to match widths exactly, but it can look odd to have a super-wide sink set below a skinny window or vice versa.
Homeowners often install kitchen sinks underneath windows, preferably a window with a nice view. But some homeowners overlook how these two elements work together. Now, that is not to say your sink and window need to match widths exactly, but it can look odd to have a super-wide sink set below a skinny window or vice versa.
Size your sink to be a focal point
If you opt to go with an extra-wide sink, it’s going to be difficult to disguise it. My advice is to take the opposite approach and make your wide sink a focal point. Repurpose an interesting salvaged sink or consider an unusual material, like copper.
Browse kitchen sinks and taps
If you opt to go with an extra-wide sink, it’s going to be difficult to disguise it. My advice is to take the opposite approach and make your wide sink a focal point. Repurpose an interesting salvaged sink or consider an unusual material, like copper.
Browse kitchen sinks and taps
Size your sink to your budget
This might be obvious, but it’s all too easy to fall in love with a huge, gorgeous sink only to find that it is priced well above what your budget will allow. Very few of us can afford to install all top-of-the-line materials, fixtures and appliances in a kitchen, so it’s helpful to strategise what you are going to spend money on and where you can save.
Personally, I’d rather splurge on my countertops or kitchen floor than the sink.
This might be obvious, but it’s all too easy to fall in love with a huge, gorgeous sink only to find that it is priced well above what your budget will allow. Very few of us can afford to install all top-of-the-line materials, fixtures and appliances in a kitchen, so it’s helpful to strategise what you are going to spend money on and where you can save.
Personally, I’d rather splurge on my countertops or kitchen floor than the sink.
Size your sink based on your needs
If you’re an avid cook who prefers hand washing dishes to running the dishwasher, a large divided-bowl sink with an integrated drainboard is a great option. The wider sink allows multiple people to work at the sink without getting in each other’s way, and that built-in drainboard makes the business of draining and air drying dishes less of a wet mess.
A sink this size will require an extra-wide sink cabinet and will take up quite a bit of space, so it’s best for a generous-size kitchen.
If you’re an avid cook who prefers hand washing dishes to running the dishwasher, a large divided-bowl sink with an integrated drainboard is a great option. The wider sink allows multiple people to work at the sink without getting in each other’s way, and that built-in drainboard makes the business of draining and air drying dishes less of a wet mess.
A sink this size will require an extra-wide sink cabinet and will take up quite a bit of space, so it’s best for a generous-size kitchen.
Instead of one extra-large double- or triple-bowl sink, consider installing two single-bowl sinks. The larger sink by the window here is ideal for washing large pots and pans, while the smaller prep sink in the island works well for hand washing and food prep. Because these sinks are set apart, a traffic jam in front of the sink is less likely.
More on choosing a sink
More on choosing a sink
If you have the space and budget for it, this is a nice setup for a multi-cook household that does a lot of entertaining. Three separate sinks allow several people to work in the kitchen simultaneously. None of these sinks needs to be exceptionally large, but this configuration still has the potential to be costly due to the duplicate plumbing fixtures and installation fees.
Fun-size sinks
I love these linear sinks. While it’d be difficult to wash dishes in one of these, they work just fine for fetching a glass of water or dumping out abandoned drinks when the party’s over. You can also fill one with ice and stash cold drinks in it, a nice alternative to keeping an unsightly cooler in the kitchen or having guests search through your refrigerator for a cold one. And it doesn’t take up much space on the countertop.
TELL US What’s your ideal kitchen sink setup?
MORE
A Run-Through of Kitchen Sink Materials
I love these linear sinks. While it’d be difficult to wash dishes in one of these, they work just fine for fetching a glass of water or dumping out abandoned drinks when the party’s over. You can also fill one with ice and stash cold drinks in it, a nice alternative to keeping an unsightly cooler in the kitchen or having guests search through your refrigerator for a cold one. And it doesn’t take up much space on the countertop.
TELL US What’s your ideal kitchen sink setup?
MORE
A Run-Through of Kitchen Sink Materials
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Kitchens
The Key Measurements You Need to Know to Design Your Kitchen
Understanding spatial relationships, building dimensions and work zones will help you get the ideal kitchen setup
Full Story
Kitchens
The Most Common Kitchen Design Problems – and How to Tackle Them
By lwkkitchens
Check out these common problems, expert tips on avoiding them and some inspiring spaces that have got things right
Full Story
Kitchens
How Do I... Select a Kitchen Countertop?
By Niki Bruce
Get to know the different types of countertop materials and how to use them
Full Story
Kitchens
How Long and How High Should Your Backsplash be?
By tidgboutique
Not many give it a thought but it's worth a closer look to give your kitchen that finished look
Full Story
Kitchens
Key Measurements to Consider When Designing Your Kitchen Island
By Anne Ellard
Gather your friends and family to cook, eat and chat around a perfectly proportioned kitchen island
Full Story
Kitchens
10 Tips to That Ergonomic Kitchen That's a Dream to Cook In
The modern kitchen needs up-to-date design pointers for the right measurements, placement and more
Full Story
Kitchens
How to Store Kitchen Tools and Cutlery
By tidgboutique
Find out the ideal width and depth of drawers, get ideas for vertical storage and see how to work with existing cabinets
Full Story
Kitchens
Where to Splurge and Where to Save in Your Kitchen Reno
Who doesn't want to stay on budget when renovating, and still have a an amazing kitchen?
Full Story
Kitchens
How to Get Your Pullout Waste and Recycling Cabinet Just Right
By tidgboutique
Personalise your kitchen waste storage with the right bin configuration and pullout system
Full Story
Kitchens
5 Sustainable Kitchen Countertop Materials to Consider
These materials are manufactured with sustainability and health in mind
Full Story
I really like a double sink, with dishes washed in one and rinsed in the other. A good sink set-up makes a dishwasher redundant, as it's easier and faster to wash the dishes by hand than to rinse them, stack the dryer and then empty it.
Or is that just me?
I like the 1 + 1/2 option, to have a second sink available if one is in use, compared to one really large one. I only wash by hand what really can’t go in the dishwasher. @Annie Cass, a good quality dishwasher only requires solids to be scraped off and uses less water than hand washing plus they generally have capacity for a days’ worth of dishes, so no mess on the bench. The narrow sink on the bench seems to have very limited use and would be hard to reach.
Like a large sink for my large platters and rinsing my cast iron cookware. Do prefer everything else in the dishwasher. After years on tank water agree with @mcgri0 they use less water. Once ran the outlet hose into the sink to check.