Bathroom Sinks: Knowing Your Options

The options in bathroom sinks for today's consumer covers a broad spectrum of materials, colors and styles. Knowing your options can help you make the best choice for your bathroom sink.

“The sink is often the focal point of the bathroom,” says licensed architect, Travis Miller, of RemWhirl LLC in Crosslake, Minnesota. “If you have a theme you are trying to convey in your bathroom you will want to select a sink that solidifies that theme.”

When it comes to all the options available for bathroom sinks, even an expert like Miller suggested that narrowing down the choices can be a daunting task. “You have unlimited choices for color, size, shape, style, and material,” he says.

With that in mind, explore some of the general guidelines below to get you a little closer to a final decision.

Bathroom Sink Materials

Understated elegance is created by mounting a porcelain fixture on a granite top. Photo courtesy of RemWhirl LLC

Porcelain has been a time-tested favorite for bathroom sinks. Its smooth glossy finish gives it a clean molded look. Although it has been often used in the most utilitarian bathroom settings, today it has made its way back into the lineup as one of the most fashionable bathroom sinks available. Shiny white porcelain is being molded into a variety of shapes that fit perfectly into the sleek styling of many modern bathrooms.

Ceramic and natural stone materials are also used to create beautiful sink bowls and vanity tops. Marble has long been a favorite because of its unique natural colors and look of elegance. Man-made materials such as cultured marble and Corian provide an affordable alternative to expensive natural stone.

Glass has also entered the bathroom sink arena in recent years. Glass bowl sinks are appearing in all colors and textures. A hand-painted glass sink can certainly create that centerpiece effect that Miller mentioned.

The metals – copper, bronze and stainless steel – also have migrated from the kitchen into the bathroom. Copper and bronze can add an old world feel to a bathroom, while stainless steel gives a sterile modern look. Even cast iron has made a showing in the catalogs of bathroom sinks, bringing its own rugged beauty to the space.

Styles of Bathroom Sinks

The pedestal sink is a standard that never quite leaves the bathroom scene. It is ideal for tight spaces and can hide the plumbing behind its slim porcelain base. There's been a resurgence of the bulkier antique look in pedestal sinks in recent years, but sleek minimalist designs remain available.

The hottest trend in bathroom sinks is the bowl sink. The material can be glass, ceramic or metal, but it distinguishes itself by having

Glass bowl sinks provide the ultimate in versatile design. Photo courtesy of RemWhirl LLC

its base set on the vanity counter rather than being recessed into the countertop. It adds a very eye-catching feature to your bathroom décor and creates a tremendous amount of artistic possibilities for sink designers.

Running a close second to the bowl sink are the geometric designs done in white porcelain. Styles can range from self-rimming set-in sinks to the over-counter type, or individual basins fastened to the wall. One can also find them setting on a simple console stand.

The vanity sink attached beneath a countertop of marble, granite or ceramic has not lost its standing as one of the most common in bathroom sink styles. You will often see a contrasting bowl color set into a vanity top, which adds interest and attracts attention to the vanity area of the bathroom. Floral patterns and metallic trims inside the bowls are also used to give a unique finish that can add a splash of personality in the middle of a solid color vanity top.

Making Your Selections

When making your selection of sinks for the various bathrooms throughout your home, there are several things to keep in mind, according to Interior Decorator, Carlene Anderson, of Redstone Interiors [http://redstoneinteriors.com/] in Crosslake, Minnesota.

White undermount sinks provide the perfect contrast to natural stone. Photo courtesy of RemWhirl LLC

“Your powder room is the perfect spot to accent your bathroom with a touch of elegance for your guests,” Anderson says. It is usually the smallest of your bathrooms, and also the one that is most likely to be seen by visitors to your home.

For your children's bathrooms, the focus should be on more practical issues, like easy cleanup. A smooth durable countertop with an undermount sink would be a great choice for their bath.

The master bath should be well suited for both the practicalities of everyday use, and the relaxing environment you are attempting to create in your personal sanctuary. Your choices here should also be a continuation of the overall décor theme of your home, and especially the master suite itself.

The selection process for choosing the plumbing fixtures for your home can be a bit overwhelming at times. Nowhere is this more apparent than when picking out a bathroom sink. But options are a good thing, particularly for homeowners who know what they want. Whatever the vision or theme there's a bathroom sink out there that fits perfectly.