Kitchen Basins: Choosing a Model That Offers Style & Function

The kitchen might be the heart of the home, but the heart of the kitchen is the basin. Work in the kitchen constantly revolves around the basin be it rinsing food, prep work, or cleanup. So, while it might not be as exciting as choosing the colour of your cabinets or the design of the backsplash tiles, selecting the right basin is an important decision.

Considering it’s one of the most frequently used elements in the home, the basin is usually more valued for its function than it is for its looks. But that doesn’t mean there are no stunning sink designs to choose from. By taking your time to browse the range of kitchen basins, you might can something that can enhance both the functionality and beauty of your kitchen at the same time. Here are some factors to consider when shopping for a basin.

Materials

When browsing home improvement stores, you’ll notice that kitchen basins are available in a wide range of materials such as stainless steel, ceramic, polished concrete and even cast iron. Stainless-steel kitchen sinks are some of the most common choices due to being durable, easy to clean, and the fact that they can match every kitchen style from traditional to modern. However, stainless-steel sinks can become easily stained with water spots and scratched.

Another material option for a kitchen sink is polished concrete. Due to its rustic-like appearance, this type of basin looks especially good in traditional, vintage, farmhouse and industrial style kitchens as it gives the space an authentic period look. However, polished concrete sinks tend to be some of the more expensive models and may be difficult to maintain as they require special cleaning products.

If you have a vintage, retro or farmhouse kitchen and need a kitchen sink that has an old-timey appeal, a more affordable option would be ceramic. The great thing about ceramic basins is that they are available in a variety of colours. This way, besides being practical, a ceramic sink can also function as a statement piece for your kitchen. The only downside to ceramic basins is that they can chip if you drop something heavy in them and get easily stained by metal pans.

Type of Installation

Depending on how they’re installed, there are two types of kitchen basins – under mount and top- mount. An under mount basin is installed below the countertop and is held in place by heavy-duty clips and caulk. The rim of an under mount sink isn’t visible as it rests against the counter. For this reason, under mount sinks can only be used with solid countertop materials such as quartz or natural stone. Because this type of installation provides a no-barrier transition between the countertop and the basin, under mount basins don’t collect dirt and grime around the rim. Additionally, under mount sinks can save more counter space than top-mount sinks.

Top-mount basins, or also called drop-in, are installed in a hole in the countertop with the rim of basin resting on top of it. Because they are easier to install and less expensive, these sinks are the most common type found in kitchens. The only downside is that they lack the sleek, flush appearance of an under mount sink.

Size

When it comes to figuring out what size of sink you need, it can be helpful to think about how you’re going to use the sink. Do you have a dishwasher or will you be the one washing the dishes? Do you use large pots and pans? And then, there’s also the available space to consider. Will a bigger sink take up a lot of space in your kitchen counter and thus affect food preparation?

If you have counter space on disposal, a double-bowl basin can be a highly convenient option. Having two bowls allows you to multitask by using one bowl for food prep and the other for washing dishes and utensils. And if you wash your dishes by hand, a double-bowl sink can make the task easier. You can simply soak and wash dishes in one bowl, and rinse them clean in the other. Depending on your needs, double-bowl sinks can be split in a 50:50 or 60:40 ratio. Triple-bowl sinks are also an option. These sinks feature two large bowls and a smaller one to be used as garbage disposal.

Faucet Style

Of course, there’s more to the basin than just the bowl. You also need to pick a complementing faucet. Just like bowls, faucets are available in a variety of material – from stainless steel and polished nickel for modern spaces to brass for vintage and farmhouse kitchens. Then there’s also function to consider. Though many attractive faucets feature two handles, a single-lever style faucet is more practical in the kitchen as it allows you to adjust the water temperature much faster. And this can be very convenient when cooking.