5 steps to choosing your perfect kitchen sink

Size and shape

If you’re simply replacing an existing sink, then you won’t have much control over the size of your sink. However, if you’re remodelling your sink you can make some significant changes to suit your needs.

Some people need a large area for their sink, particularly if they’re looking at two bowls, or a separate waste disposal section. And remember, it’s not just about width, it’s about how deep you want your sink to be, too.

Take advice on where pipes will need to go and what space that would leave you, before settling on the best size space for your sink.

One bowl, or two?

The number of bowls your sink needs, depends on your cooking style and how the kitchen will be used by your household. If you do a lot of home cooking with plenty of fresh veg or items that need additional prep over the sink, then two bowls would probably work best.

Although, there are a lot more accessories for sinks now, which allow you to make a single bowl more versatile. This could be useful if you often use your sink to soak larger pots and pans as double or triple bowl sinks don’t tend to be large enough for the biggest of accessories.

Food waste disposer

This is an option that’s becoming a more and more popular. And why not? After all, when you’re clearing up after a family meal, no matter how hard you try, bits of food always end up in the sink! And, how about when you’re prepping? A waste disposal unit in your sink could be very helpful.

Food waste disposers can be fitted in most types of sink, either a part of the waste area of a single bowl, or for more. If you prefer to keep your food waste disposal away from the washing area, you could opt for a three-bowl sink, with one of them small and shallow, and kept only or food waste disposal.

Of course, you’d have to feel as though you would get the use out of it. And that the unit would fit beneath your sink. But, it’s one of those sink details that once you have one and use it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it!

Sink material

This matters for the look of your kitchen and for how hardwearing you need your sink to be. You have a few options:

• Ceramic
• Stainless steel
• Granite composite
• Natural stone

If the aesthetics of your kitchen sink matter the most, then you need to go with the one you think will look best. When it comes to the ceramic or stone sinks, you have a variety of colour options, so it’s a good option to make a statement.

However, if you are a busy bee in the kitchen and lots of cleaning of all kinds of things gets done in your sink. Not to mention if you have kids running around throwing things in there, you might want to make your selection based on the sturdiness of the material.

Who’s going to do the washing up!

Once you’ve made all of those decisions and your perfect sink has been fitted, it’s probably going to be a well-used piece of equipment. But, are you willing to let the rest of the family get their grubby hands on your lovely, shiny new, perfect sink!

Perhaps if they promise to wash their hands elsewhere before they touch your perfect new one?