One of the most important rooms in the house, the bathroom fuses practicality with personal luxury. At its center, the bathroom sink is often the focal point of the room, poised for decades of daily use. Therefore, choosing this fixture is an important task. There are many choices and styles available. Choose one that works best for your bathroom space and personal taste. As you go through the selection process, keep other influential factors in mind, such as your preference in bathroom faucets, your overall bathroom theme, and the design and style of coordinating fixtures, such as the toilet and tub.
The process of shopping for a bathroom sink can be dizzying, but knowing that every model will fall into one of the following general categories is a good way to get started. Here's a quick rundown of what's out there.
When it comes to sink rims, you will either find an undermount sink or a self-rimming one. Undermount sinks are rimless and designed to portray depth. They are installed beneath the countertop. Self-rimming sinks are more ubiquitous than their rimless cousins. These models are mounted above the counter and have a visible ring.
If you're looking for a space-saving model, try the pedestal, console, wall-mounted, or vanity top sink. Pedestal sinks are freestanding sinks without accompanying countertops. They fit nicely in corners and small bathrooms. Console sinks are similar to pedestal sinks but include a small amount of counter space for those who can't do without their toothbrush and soap holders. Wall-mounted sinks do not even have bases. These space-savers mount directly to the wall, so you can use the space beneath them for storage racks or make the room appear clutter-free. Finally, vanity top sinks are smaller than vanity sinks. Both models are single furniture pieces built directly into countertops, but the latter is mounted to an accompanying cabinet with or without drawers.
The last model we will cover is one of my personal favorites for its old world appeal. Vessel sinks sit above the counter like large bowls or vessels, with pre-drilled holes for faucet mounting.
Renee writes for CalFinder a responsible contractor referral service specializing in providing homeowners with FREE bathroom remodeling estimates. You can find more articles like these on the CalFinder Bathroom Remodel Blog.