Six Essentials To Choose The Right Size Kitchen Sink

A common misconception is ‘bigger is better’. But when designing a kitchen its important to keep everything relative, including the kitchen sink. Design Writer for Houzz Australia, Jennifer Ott, provides her top tips on how to pick the right sink size for your kitchen, needs, and budget, below.

In addition to choosing the best material, number of bowls and bowl depth for your kitchen sink, you also have a range of sink size options. An extra-wide kitchen sink will obviously give you more space for food prep and clean up, 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. We’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.

1. Size Your Sink To Your Kitchen

It may seem obvious, but if your kitchen is on the smaller side, consider installing a smaller-width sink. The more modest-sized, yet still deep, single-bowl apron-front sink (known as farmhouse or Belfast sinks) is usually large enough to accommodate most kitchen tasks, but it isn’t a space hog. Benchtop and base cabinet storage areas are likely to be at a premium in a smaller kitchen, so a smaller-width sink will improve overall function too.

2. Size Your Sink To The Window Above It

Homeowners often install a kitchen sink beneath a window, preferably a window with a nice view. But some homeowners overlook how these two elements work together. That’s 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 and vice versa.

3. Size Your Sink To Be A Focal Point

If you choose to go with an extra-wide sink, you’re going to have a difficult time disguising 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, such as copper.

4. Size Your Sink To Your Budget

This might also be obvious, but it’s all too easy to fall in love with a huge, gorgeous, apron-front sink only to find out it’s priced well above what your budget will allow.

Installing all top-of-the-line materials, fixtures and appliances in a kitchen doesn’t make sense for everyone, so it’s helpful to strategise on where you’re going to spend money and where you can save. Personally, I’d rather splurge on my benchtops or kitchen floor than the sink.

5. 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 draining board is a great option. The wider sink allows multiple people to work at the sink simultaneously without getting in each other’s way, and that built-in draining board makes the business of draining and air drying dishes less of a wet mess.

A kitchen 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.

f you need a hand with prepping meals or cleaning up, consider installing two single-bowl sinks instead of one extra-large sink.

If you have the space and budget for it, a dual-sink set-up (or more) is nice for a multi-cook household that does a lot of entertaining. The separate sinks allow several people to work in the kitchen simultaneously. None of the sinks needs to be exceptionally large. One main sink can handle bigger tasks and the others can be sized much smaller. Of course, this configuration has the potential to be costly due to the duplicate plumbing fixtures and installation fees.

6. Consider Fun-Sized Sinks

I love linear sinks. While it’d be difficult to wash dishes in one, they work just fine for fetching a glass of water or emptying 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 rummage through your refrigerator for a cold one. And it doesn’t take up much space on the benchtop, either.

Our custom fully turn-key Wagga House & Land Packages allow you to design a home that suits your lifestyle and budget! From window coverings and sinks, to landscaping, and joinery. Sit down with our local suppliers and fully customize every element in your home to suit your lifestyle and budget. Just another reason why we are considered Waggas best builder. To get started on your dream home contact us today on 0438 692 962 or click here to look at our available turn-key house and land packages.

For more tips from the Houzz experts visit Houzz.com.au