A sink area is a high-use zone of most kitchens, so it’s important that you think about where the most convenient placement of your sink is. But it’s not only location you need to think about. In this article we’ll look at the factors you need to consider when deciding how to configure your kitchen sink so that it works best in your kitchen design.
Where do you want your sink to be?
When deciding on your kitchen sink configuration, the first thing to consider is where you ideally want your sink to be. For example, you might want to look at your garden while you do the dishes, in which case, you could place the sink below the window. Alternatively, you might prefer to face out to the room when using the sink, so you might place your sink on a kitchen island or breakfast bar. If you have a very small kitchen, where countertop space is at a premium, you might want the sink to take up as little room as possible, and situate it in a corner.
So think about where you want your sink, and after that, you can start looking at the practicalities—these may solidify your choice, or even change your mind about your desired sink location.
Your kitchen, how you use it, and your budget
Ask yourself the following questions to help you come up with the best location for your sink.
How many dishes do you use?
If you’re a mad cook, it’s likely you’ll own and use loads of pots and pans of various sizes, and will need a decent-sized sink to wash them in. You’ll also need ample space to rinse off produce, pour out liquids and so on. In this case, a wide sink with a deep basin will be helpful. Even better, a double sink, with at least one deep bowl.
If you barely ever cook, then a single bowl sink might be perfectly adequate.
Where will the dishes pile up?
It’s a good idea to consider this question, as you don’t want piles of dishes interfering with other kitchen activities. For example, if you enjoy making filter coffee and chatting to people at your breakfast bar, it’s unlikely you’ll want dirty dishes sitting in the way. Therefore, you might prefer to have a sink at a distance from the social zone.
Similarly, you probably don’t want your dish pile in the way of cooking activities, like using the stovetop or airfryer. You get the gist. Think of the zones where things might clog up, and consider a configuration that prevents traffic jams as much as possible.
How close are you to other high use areas of the kitchen
A sink placed close to a cooktop can be convenient, as you can easily pour out hot liquids and strain pasta etc., without travelling with hot pots across your kitchen. However, you still want to ensure you have enough space between the two, so that two people can use both areas in tandem.
How much do you want to engage with other people when using the sink?
If you have your main sink on a kitchen island, then you will be doing the dishes facing out into the room, and dirty dishes will be stacked there at times. In this case, you might prefer to put the main sink on a countertop, and consider a small bar sink for your countertop.
Alternatively, if you choose to have your sink facing out to the room, then having a servery window or raised benchtop in front of your sink will help to hide dishes. You can still chat to people, without them being privy to dishes clutter.
What’s your budget?
If you’re renovating an existing kitchen, it’s likely the plumbing is already in place. Changing the location of the sink will require the expertise of a plumber, which comes at a cost.
A change to the sink location might also mean you need to change the existing countertop, or put in a whole new countertop. Changes to the cabinets beneath the sink may also be required.
If you don’t have much of a budget for changes, then putting your new sink into the same position as the old one is an economical solution.
Do you have a dishwasher?
If you have a decent-sized dishwasher, it’s likely that you can clean most of your dishes with that. Therefore, you can consider a smaller sink area. In saying that, if you have heaps of space to work with, both a dishwasher and a large sink or double sink are optimal.
What else is in your kitchen?
Regardless of how big your kitchen is, you still need to be economical with space. Kitchens easily fill with stuff, including bags of shopping, kitchen appliances, pots, pans, dishes and so on. So when choosing a location for your sink, and sink size, also consider the other stuff you want to keep in your kitchen.
Available area for your sink
Though we might desire a certain type of kitchen sink, the reality is that it must fit into the space we actually have. So, counter depth, sink and basin length, and basin depth will all be factors to consider.
Countertop depth
Generally speaking, countertops are built wide enough to at least fit a reasonably-sized sink (this is measured from the splashback to the front of the countertop). If your counter isn’t deep, a butler sink (apron front sink) might be a good option, as they extend to the very edge of the countertop, so you don’t need to allow space for the sink lip and countertop area in front of that lip. Also, if your area lacks depth, consider sinks with a pre-drilled tap hole, so then you don’t need to allow extra space to install your own tap hole behind the sink.
Sink length and Basin length
When choosing a sink, remember that the sink length will be greater than the basin length, (you need to account for the thickness of the sink’s sides).
Basin depth
Deep basins are popular, as they allow you to clean larger pots and pans, and there’s less splashback from the base of the sink. However, some people prefer a shallower sink, as it is easier to reach into and clean. If you want a deep basin, measure the dimensions of your largest cooking pot, and also your largest chopping board, and make sure your sink is big enough in both width and depth to allow you to wash these items.
Double sink
A double sink is a very practical option, as it allows you to complete more tasks at once. For example, you might fill one side of the sink with dish liquid and water for washing, and use the adjacent sink for rinsing. Alternatively, you might like to keep one sink available for pouring out liquids, while you have the other sink on the go for washing. You also might want to install a garbage/waste disposal unit in one of the sinks.
When it comes to double sinks, you can choose models that include a large sink and a smaller adjacent sink (a 60/40 basin split), or with two sinks of equal size (a 50/50 split).
Drainer
Some sinks come with an integrated drain board, or ‘drainer’, which is a place where you can rest dirty dishes prior to washing, or clean dishes post washing. The drainer is usually at a slight angle that allows water to drain back into the sink. They can be either flat or corrugated. Corrugated versions allow for a little more water to drain away from the dishes rather than pool beneath them, which means dishes dry out faster.
Integrated drainers are available with the drainer to the right side of the sink, to the left, and there are also versions with a double drainer, so you get the advantages of a drainer on both sides.
A one or two-sided drainer can be indispensable for kitchen users who prefer dishes being dealt with in a designated sink area. Of course, a drainer takes up more room in your kitchen, so if you have limited bench space, it might not be an option.
How to measure up for a kitchen sink
If you’re in the market for a kitchen sink, you’ll need to get out your tape measure and work out how much space you have available.
Measure cabinet width: Beneath the sink, in the cabinet, measure from one side to the other. This tells you the maximum allowable width for the sink, as it will need to sit within this cabinet. (Note, a drainer may extend beyond this on the countertop, but the sink itself can’t exceed the cabinet width.)
Measure depth of countertop: The countertop depth is measured from the front of the countertop to the rear backsplash. Remember to allow space for installation of the faucet at the rear (unless you choose a sink with a pre-drilled tap hole), as well as room for the countertop edge at the front (unless you opt for an apron front sink).
Measure the sink opening: If you're replacing an existing sink, measure the length, width, and depth of the current sink or the cut-out area in the countertop.
Check for space for plumbing: Remember, you will need to allow clearance space for plumbing beneath the sink. If there’s plumbing already in place, then this may determine the depth of sink you choose, unless you can afford to hire a plumber to make changes. Additionally, if you want to add a waste disposal unit, or need space for other things beneath the bench, such as a rubbish bin, then factor those into your decision.
Bring these measurements along with you when you visit your nearest Cook & Bathe showroom, and we can show you what options are available.
Drain placement
Sinks come with different drain placements, including rear placement, centre placement, or off-centre placement. The placement of the drain has implications when it comes to plumbing.
- A rear drain placement will mean the plumbing will sit at the rear of your under sink cabinet. This means you may have a little more space at the front of the cabinet for things like a rubbish bin. For maintenance, rear plumbing can be a little harder to get around, but not impossible.
- Centre placement of a drain is common. The water in your sink will drain out at an even rate, and undersink repairs are a little easier, as the plumbing fixtures are more central. This also allows space to potentially put a water filter in behind the central plumbing.
- Off-centre drain placement is a good option if you have clear plans for your under sink area, and need the plumbing to sit on one particular side, or in one corner. Again, this can be a little more difficult to maintain, as the plumbing will be closer to either the rear or side of the undersink cabinet, however this is no big deal for a plumber.
Tap hole
Some sinks come with a pre-drilled tap hole, for easy placement of the faucet. Others don’t include this, and therefore the hole will need to be cut into the kitchen cabinet. If choosing the latter, ensure you allow enough space for the hole when measuring up and choosing a sink size.
Also think about what kind of tapware you want with your sink. If you have a double sink, you have the option of having a tap on each sink, which will require a tap hole in the kitchen bench on each side of the sink. Alternatively, one central tap that can swivel between both sinks is a popular choice.
See Kitchen Tapware for options.
Sink Types
Each type of sink will create a slightly different aesthetic in your kitchen design, as well as come with its advantages and disadvantages. We won’t go into what materials you can choose from for your kitchen sink (we’ll leave that for another article), but here’s a brief note on the types of kitchen sinks available.
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Top-mount sinks (also called drop-in sinks): These sinks are very common and are probably the easiest to install. They have a raised edge that sits at the top of the countertop, and you can place them on the cut-out hole in the countertop.
An advantage of these is that the countertop doesn’t need to be perfectly cut, as the sink covers up any imperfections. Sealant is recommended to ensure moisture doesn’t get in between the countertop and the sink edges. - Flush Mount Sinks: These are also a type of top-mount sink, however they don’t have a raised edge. Instead, the edge is flat, so that when it is installed, it ends up level with the countertop. This makes for a seamless appearance.
- Integrated Sinks: These types of sinks are actually moulded into the countertop, rather than being separate. This creates a continuous surface, however if there are any issues, you need to deal with removing and repairing the entire countertop—not just the sink.
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Undermount Sinks: These are sinks that are installed beneath the countertop. This creates a seamless look in a kitchen, allowing for the countertop to continue right up until the sink edge.
For an undermount sink, your cabinet maker needs to cut the benchtop perfectly to allow for your chosen sink, so you’ll need to ensure you’re certain what sink you want before this happens. - Butler (apron-front) sinks: These sinks have an exposed front panel, rather than the front of the sink being covered by cabinetry. They often appear in farmhouse style kitchens, however have become popular in kitchens with a more modern aesthetic too. An advantage of butler sinks is that water won’t accumulate on the benchtop at the front of the sink, so there’s less chance of getting wet when doing the dishes. They also have quite deep and wide bowls, which is extra useful for cleaning large pots and pans.
The round up…
As you can see, there are a range of factors that come into choosing a configuration for your kitchen sink. Take the time to think about how much you will be using your sink, where you ideally want to be located when at the sink, how much space you can spare for the sink, and how much budget you have to get the perfect kitchen sink installation.
For any enquiries on kitchen sinks, tapware etc., then contact the staff at Cook & Bathe. We know a whole lot about sinks, and can likely help you make a good decision on what will be the best sink for your kitchen design. Or visit our showroom and see and touch our sinks to get a better idea on the size and feel of our sinks.
