Choosing the Right Sink Design for Your Bathroom

Your bathroom has a personality of its own, aside from the evidence left behind by daily visitors. Disregarding the toothpaste and hair brushes, combs and loose change, it maintains a unique appeal in both form and function. Design elements are derived from hung art, dried floral displays, and even an interesting object or two carefully placed so as not to add clutter. The bathroom fixtures also impart a strong sense of style, with designs ranging from classic wood finishes to post modern copper, brass, and stainless steel.

With the bathtub or shower stall obscured by decorative curtains, and the toilet being… well, the toilet, your greatest opportunity to reflect a personal style is to start with the choice of a sink. When deciding what type of sink to install, keep in mind who will use it most. Children need consideration concerning height and ease of use, and a house filled with women needs considerable more surface room for makeup and grooming. Give a guy a razor, running water, a mirror, and a toothbrush and he’s all set…

Choosing the Right Sink Design for Your Bathroom

Pedestal sinks

This style of sink is most often incorporated into bathroom designs where space is at a premium. The sink covers an area of floor no larger than the dimensions of the bowl, tapering down below to a foot attached to the floor. Designs range from minimalist to scalloped, with fluted ridges translating from the bowl design through the pedestal. Due to size, the choices for faucet fixtures are much less than standard cabinet sinks, but they make up for this with more creative solutions and design elements.

The down size of choosing a pedestal sink, however, is the lack of under storage found in cabinet style sinks. Pairing a pedestal with a wall mounted deep medicine cabinet for grooming items is one solution, as well as utilizing nearby hall closet space for keeping towels, sundries, and other items necessary for comfortable bathroom use.

Cabinet sinks

As old as the oldest homes, cabinet-mounted sinks focus on utility before design in most cases. A walk through any large box store will show little variation when it comes to design, however that doesn’t need to be the case with the assistance of a knowledgeable interior designer with a keen eye. However, cabinet sinks continue to be a design element simply for their storage capacity. Behind the doors of the cabinet sink are extra toilet paper, hygiene products, and the overflow of bathroom reading material that simply won’t fit on the toilet tank any longer.

Cabinets most often come in wood, and more often than not, compressed pasteboard. When shopping for a cabinet sink, be sure to buy one that is constructed of proper wood for long lasting enjoyment and durability. Compressed wood absorbs moisture faster than traditional wood, and will swell and break easily when damaged.

Wall mounted sinks

Found more often in commercial spaces, a wall mounted sink provides a unique solution to a space where even a pedestal sink is too wide. Sinks are made of either ceramics or metals, with the vast majority of designs coming in stainless steel for longevity and a minimalist, universal design appeal. The low profile of the sink allows for more passing room in the bathroom, as well as an extended surface area for keeping water cups and toothbrush tins.

For one last note, consider your sink shelf space and lighting carefully when incorporating a bathroom installation. Shelves should be large enough to accommodate the essentials, but not so large to become a magnet for clutter. Your above-sink shelf and mirror should be well lit, with light deriving from fixtures directly above and to both sides for a reduction in shadows when grooming or applying makeup.