We, women, spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It is essential that kitchens designed to be comfortable, pleasant, and perfect. All the aspects like storage, cabinets, hobs, chimney, and sink should be chosen wisely. Choosing the best option based on utility, comfortable, and budget is a daunting task. Today I am sharing with you how to choose the best kitchen sink and help you in easing out the choices.
Kitchen Sink Research
Kitchen Sink Materials
The kitchen sink comes in a lot of different materials. Some of the most popular options stainless steel, cast iron, fireclay, and granite. Glass, marble, copper, ceramic and soapstone are some of the not very popular materials.
- Stainless steel: I like these since they are durable, cost-effective, look elegant and trendy, have multiple style options. Being the most popular option, you must be cautious about buying a gauge 16 or 18, which is the best quality. A 300 series steel is the best option to go for. They are easy to clean but can leave water stains, and some find them to be noisy.
- Copper: Gives a classy look and is anti-bacterial. The best gauge to buy is 14-18. Copper sinks are expensive.
- Stone: Made of granite or marble they are very heavy but durable. Proper installation is essential to avoid damages.
- Acrylic: Acrylic sinks are low cost, lightweight, and trendy. These sinks come in a variety of designs and colors.
- Enamel Cast Iron: Enamel coated cast iron sinks have an aesthetic appeal. These look classy and have a long life but are heavyweight. Due to their weight, it is difficult to install. They come in a variety of colors.
- Fireclay: Fireclay sinks are not very popular and are a premium option. They do not stain or scratch and have no reaction to acids. They can easily crack as compared to other materials. These are heavyweight and require cabinets that support them. They come multiple color options white, off-white, blue and black.
Styles of Kitchen Sink
Want to choose the perfect style of the kitchen sink? Here are some aspects simplified to help determine the best sink for your home.
Single Bowl:
This comes with just one bowl. Single Bowl is a preferred choice when space is a constraint as they are available in compact sizes. These offer more space for larger sized pots, pans, and utensils. The cleaning process is quick as there are fewer edges. I recommend having these installed with a drainboard.
Double Bowl:
As you guessed it right, these come in two bowls. You get the flexibility to choose the size of the bowls or them corner fitted with one bowl on either side. Some benefits of the double bowl are, you can do multitasking, use up one sink, and still keep the other free. You can have variations in sizes of 50/50, 60/40 or 80/20.
To make your life simple here is a comparison between the two sinks.
| Features | Single Bowl Sink | Double Bowl Sink |
| Space | Spacious for larger pots & pans | Difficult to clean larger utensils due to less space |
| Utility | Not possible | Multitasking possible |
| Cleaning | Easy. Less corners to clean | More number of corners to clean |
| Size | Easy to fix in compact kitchens | Difficult to fit in smaller kitchens |
| Variety | Range of sizes | Few options in configurations |
| Cost | Affordable | Expensive |
Under-mount Bowl:
I have come across a lot of women who cannot go to bed without cleaning their kitchens. For all those who want the ease to clean kitchens, especially after a long day under-mount, the sink is for you. The sink is installed below the kitchen platform and is supported.
The logic is to clean swipe all the kitchen waste and dirt particles. It goes off directly into the sink since there are no corners. You will require a skilled professional to install under-mount sinks. They are difficult to uninstall too. We do not plan to change our kitchen sinks very often, so the difficulty in the installation should not be a significant concern.
Top mount Bowl:
Top mount or drop-in sinks just fit on top of the kitchen counter. They are low cost, modern looking, and easy to install. These are a good option when the budget is a constraint. Top mounts come in different material options like stainless steel, cast iron or even ceramic. Difficult to clean as food particles can quickly get stuck in the corners.
I have a top mount sink, and the edges require constant cleaning.
Here’s a comparison of the two:
| Features | Undermount Sink | Top mount sink |
| Installation | Difficult to install | Easy to install |
| Cleaning | Very easy to clean | Difficult |
| Faucet | No space. Have a cut in the platform | Space for faucets |
| Appeal | More aesthetically appealing | Less appealing |
| Cost | Expensive | Cheaper |
| Uninstall | Difficult to uninstall | Easy to uninstall |
If you can slightly pull up your budget, then I recommend opting for Undermount sinks. We do not plan to change our kitchen sinks very often, so the difficulty in the installation or uninstallation should not be a significant concern.
Farmhouse:
Farmhouse sinks are stylish, elegant, beautiful, offer a lot of variety and a premium option in sinks. They are usually more comprehensive and more in-depth than our standard kitchen sinks. This makes cleaning easier. Farmhouse style kitchens come in a lot of materials like fireclay, copper, stainless steel, and granite. The fireclay is one of the most popular types of equipment in farmhouse sinks. The farmhouse does not have a countertop and does not add strain to your back while cleaning dishes. I love these sinks, and they look beautiful. You can opt for it if the budget is not a constraint.
Before finalizing the material and style, one needs to understand the utility, functionality, durability, frequency of use. Even consider the size of pots and pans used. Lastly, it has also to match the overall look of the kitchen decor.