Black Kitchen Sinks: Styles & Types

When planning a kitchen build or renovation, dare we say that many of us don't consider a black kitchen sink? And yet a black sink offers a unique and stylish choice in modern kitchens. In addition, black kitchen sinks are great for hiding scratches and stains. 

In this article, we’ll look at some of the benefits of black kitchen sinks, as well as look at some common materials black sinks are made from, plus factors to consider when choosing a sink.

Black kitchen sinks - a modern aesthetic

Many of us are used to seeing stainless steel sinks with a chrome-coloured surface, or else older style ceramic sinks, usually in white. Black sinks aren’t what you’d traditionally expect to see in kitchens, however they’re becoming increasingly popular. 

Black sinks are favoured by some, for the following reasons:

• Black sinks offer a very sleek contemporary look that works well in a variety of kitchen designs. Due to their unique look, they tend to draw a little more focus than a white or chrome sink.

• Black sinks are good for hiding scratches and stains on the sink’s surface, whereas light-coloured ceramic kitchen sinks can show up dirt and stains more easily, especially if that dirt becomes embedded into scratches.

• Black sinks are available in heat resistant materials, which is important, as a sink needs to withstand hot liquids during food prep and dishwashing.

• Black sinks coordinate well with many common kitchen appliances, like black fridges, cooktops, dishwashers, microwaves, rangehoods and so on. So if you’re being intentional about the look of your kitchen, then matching appliances and cookware with your sink is a good option.

Styling your kitchen with a black sink

Black sinks can work well in a variety of kitchen designs. Here are some ideas:
Black on black: Black sinks will blend in seamlessly with a black benchtop and/or black kitchen wall tiles.

Black on white: Create eye-grabbing contrast with a black sink on a white benchtop. If you have white tiles behind your sink, consider using black grout for an extra pop of contrast.

Black sink with marble benchtop: Black sinks work beautifully with marble benchtops, particularly if there are black veins within the marble’s pattern.

Black sink on wood benchtop: Wood benchtops have a rustic, traditional feel, and yet still look very stylish with a black sink. Fine wood cabinetry with a black sink also hints at a modern, Japanese aesthetic, which is appealing to many. See some examples here.

Black sinks with colourful tiling: A black sink can accompany colourful, patterned or plain kitchen tiles, whether they be in the benchtop or on the wall behind your sink.

Black sinks and lighting choices:  A black sink will absorb light in your kitchen, so consider this in your lighting design. Warm lighting will look particularly good with your black kitchen sink, as otherwise the black can look a little cold. When choosing lighting for a sink area, ensure that the wattage is sufficient, so that you can comfortably see what you’re doing. For sinks on a kitchen island, pendant lights work well, as they will be more of a feature of your kitchen design. If your sink is against a wall or near a window, downlights will be more suitable.

Black Sink Materials

A range of materials are used to produce black sinks. Common ones you’ll encounter are granite, quartz & resin composites, and stainless steel. Let’s look a little closer at the features of black sinks made with these materials.

Granite composites

Black kitchen sinks made from granite composite (usually just called ‘black granite’ sinks), offer a range of benefits. Firstly, granite is very durable and resistant to damage from heat and scratching. Their colour is said to stay stable throughout the sink’s life.

A granite sink can take a reasonable amount of impact, so won’t easily be chipped by pots and pans, and it offers insulation from sounds, so the noise of dishwashing is reduced. Finally, they contain antibacterial properties, which is helpful in a food preparation area, and they are stain resistant and easy to clean.

Example: Oliveri Santorini black sinks

Quartz or Quartz/Resin composites

Black sinks made of a quartz and resin composite are highly durable, resistant to stains and scratches, and also provide insulation from noise.

Examples: 

• Phoenix 5000 Series of black sinks
• Seima Oros black sinks

Stainless steel 

High-quality stainless steel sinks offer long-lasting performance as well as resistance to everyday wear and tear. They have a high heat tolerance, and the black exterior coating ensures that spills and stains don’t remain on your sink. Some stainless steel sinks include soundproofing pads to minimise noise.

Example: The Phoenix 4000 Series in Brushed Black 

Choosing a kitchen sink

A kitchen sink is both a prominent element of your kitchen’s design, as well as an essential plumbing fixture. This is why it’s important to consider the kitchen sink in your overall vision for your kitchen, as there are both aesthetic and practical implications that come with the sink you choose. 

When choosing a sink, a range of factors must be considered, including where you plan to locate the sink, the size of the sink, whether you opt for a single bowl or double bowl, whether your sink will include a drainage board, whether your sink will have a curved or angular bowl, whether you mount it on your benchtop or beneath, and more.

Sink considerations

Sink size: You’ll need to ensure the sink is the right size for your kitchen benchtop. If you’re having a new kitchen benchtop made, then you can ensure the benchtop is cut accordingly, however if you are replacing a sink, you need to find one that matches the existing hole in the benchtop.

Single or double bowl: Most people find a double bowl sink to be most practical, as each bowl can serve a separate purpose during food prep or at dishwashing time. However, it may not always be possible to have more than one bowl, especially if you have a small kitchen.

Sink configuration: You need to consider where your sink will be positioned in your kitchen. 

One option is placing your sink on a kitchen island, so that you face out to the room when using it. Another is having the sink face a wall or a window. In some cases, a sink may need to be in a corner position. 

It’s also a good idea to consider which side of the sink you would prefer dirty dishes to accumulate, so that you can decide on configuration accordingly.

Drainage board: If you mostly use a dishwasher, you might not need a drainboard, but if you do a lot of dishes in your household, a drainboard can be really useful as it helps prevent water pooling up around the sink area. There are sinks available with a drainboard on either the right or left side of the sink, so you can choose, according to your preference.

Waste disposal: If you plan on using a waste disposal unit, you’ll need to consider this when choosing a sink. A unit can be attached to both a single or double bowl sink, but you need to consider available space beneath the sink, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead.

Tapware: Some sinks come with a tap hole included, or else you can choose to have a tap sit separate to the sink. You also need to consider if you are using a separate water filter, as this may also impact your configuration.

In terms of tapware colour, many will opt for matte black to match their black sink, however white, chrome, or brushed copper, nickel, gold or brass can also look very stylish.

Then there is the question of the tap’s functionality, and whether you want your tap to have a pull out spray nozzle, and so on. See our kitchen tapware range for inspiration.

Topmount or undermount: Topmount sinks have the lip of the sink placed on top of the benchtop, and undermount sinks sit beneath the benchtop. Either style is available in black, in a range of materials, including steel, granite and quartz composites.

Undermount sinks can offer a streamlined look in a kitchen, as the kitchen bench is not interrupted by the lip of the sink. However, undermount sinks are usually more expensive and complex to install. (A cabinetmaker needs to create a substrate beneath the benchtop for the sink to be supported by, and precisely cut the benchtop to size so that there aren’t imperfections.)

Topmount sinks are a little easier to install. The hole cut into the benchtop for the sink does not to be as precise, as the lip of the sink can cover slight imperfections. Top mount sinks are also easier to replace than undermount sinks. 

Other advantages of a topmount sink are that the lip of the sink can take a bit of battering from pots and dishes, whereas with an undermount sink, the benchtop itself may sustain damage, and a benchtop is much harder to replace. Also, with water often gathering around the edges of the sink, a benchtop is better protected from moisture with a topmount sink. (Topmount sinks are recommended for wooden and laminate benchtops.)

Finally, topmount sinks are easier to clean, as there’s less chance of grime building up beneath the sink and the benchtop. However, with a well-executed undermount sink installation, and fastidious, regular cleaning, dirt build up beneath the countertop shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Colour: There are many sink surfaces to choose from, including stainless steel, copper, porcelain, granite and composites. Stainless steel and porcelain sinks are popular choices, but your visitors aren’t likely to comment on your sink choice in the same way they would with a black sink. A black sink is a little more striking and will draw attention. 

Black sinks can look good with  a range of benchtop surfaces, including wooden, laminate, marble and engineered stone benchtops, and tiled benchtops.

Caring for your black kitchen sink

Avoid using harsh and abrasive cleaners or cleaning tools on your black sink. Most black sinks include either self-cleaning properties, or else a coating designed for dirt and grime to easily be wiped off it, so very strong chemicals aren’t required, (in particular, avoid cleaning agents that include citrus or other acidic cleaning agents, which may damage the surface coating). After using your sink, it’s a good idea to wipe its surface dry, as this prevents mineral deposits and water spots.

Black sinks at Cook & Bathe

Black kitchen sinks offer a practical yet arresting design choice for your kitchen. Made in a range of durable materials, your black kitchen sink should maintain its stylish look for a lifetime. Available in a range of sizes, including topmount and undermount sinks, single bowl & double bowl options, plus sinks with drainage boards, you’re certain to find the perfect black kitchen sink in our black sink collection. Explore our popular black sinks today!

• Oliveri Santorini Black Series (moulded granite composed of 80% granite and quartz particles and 20% acrylic resin particles)
• Phoenix 4000 Series (stainless steel with brushed black exterior coating)
• Phoenix 5000 Series (Quartz and Resin composition)
• Seima Oros series (natural quartz)