We discussed the ins and outs of selecting a bathroom vanity last week - but a vanity is only one component of the many many bathroom selections that need to be made in a bathroom new build, remodel, or refresh project.

Today, I want to talk a little bit about the options for sinks and faucets, because there ARE a lot of options!

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Sink Options

For much of the building boom in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, the bathroom sink was most often a rimmed ceramic sink set into a laminate counter, on top of a 31”ish high vanity cabinet. 

Now, there are virtually limitless options! Here are a few of the most common ones and the pros and cons of each

Pedestal sinks

A pedestal sink is exactly what it sounds like, a freestanding sink mounted on a pedestal base.  These do not have storage, and some have very little space around the sink bowl to put things down.  This makes them best suited to powder rooms or guest baths where there isn’t a lot of need for space for toiletries to live in an accessible location.

Pros: 

Don’t take up much physical or visual space so are ideal for small bathrooms

Tend to be cost effective since you are not buying cabinetry, countertop AND a sink.

Cons:

Lack storage

Depending on the style, they may or may not have ANY landing space to hold soap, or a toothbrush, and even those with SOME surface, don’t have much. 

Wall hung sinks

These are again, exactly as named - a sink. Hung on the wall. No cabinet, no legs, no pedestal.   Commercial restrooms often have a utilitarian version of these as they are easy to make ADA compliant, but there are home versions that are more decorative in nature as well.

Pros:

Huge space saver - corner models available 

Easy to access with a wheelchair

Clear space under the sink for easy floor cleaning or space to store a step stool or storage basket or trash bin

Similarly space saving and cost saving as pedestal sinks

Cons:

Same downsides as a pedestal sink

Console sinks

These are wall hung sinks supported by front legs. Usually, but not always, these involve a sink set into a counter atop a metal leg frame.  And they often have a more vintage feel, though there are some modern styles. Lucite legs anyone?

Pros:

Airier feel than a traditional vanity cabinet.

Counter space

Sometimes these have a cross rail that can double as a towel bar, and/or a lower storage shelf

Cons:

No concealed storage

Gallery of console sinks below (click on image for link)

Vessel sinks

These are a sink bowl that sits on TOP of the counter like a bowl - connected with the drain through the counter to the plumbing.

Pros:

Highly decorative, often very artsy.  Can be made of any number of materials - metal, ceramic, glass, or stone.

Cons:

Raises the height of the sink for deeper styles

In some cases, creates a less visible space around the sink that can be difficult to clean 

Undermount sinks

Undermount sinks are most often made of metal or ceramic and are attached to the underside of a solid surface counter like quartz or stone. The thickness of the stone is visible and forms  the top edge of the sink. These are the most common sinks these days, and come in a variety of shapes, materials, and depths. 

Pros:

Easy cleaning - can sweep debris from the counter right into the sink.  

Easy to find in a style that works with the design

Stone fabricators often offer the sink as part of the counter fabrication, resulting in some modest savings

Cons:

They do take up cabinet space making the immediate area below the counter in a vanity cabinet unusable for storage. NOTE: every type of sink, of course, has at least plumbing, and often the depth of a sink bowl, that will impinge on storage space below the sink.

Other sink considerations 

Shape - oval or round and square or rectangular are the most common choices.  Oval tends to be more classic, rectangular, with its angular lines leans toward more modern. There are also highly decorative variations with fluting or scalloped edges, or hand painted sinks.

Size - both length and width and depth need to be considered.  A shallower sink might create more storage below, but also more splash back from the faucet. 

Length and width are especially important depending on the depth of the counter or vanity and the space requirements of the faucet selected as well as how much counter vs sink space you want for the tasks at hand. 

Bear in mind that even an undermounted sink takes up space where it attaches to the counter and limits how close a faucet can be placed, and the vanity cabinet has structural elements to be mindful of clearing as well.

Faucets

There are also a variety of bathroom sink faucet types to choose from.

Wall mount 

Faucets that extend from the backsplash wall behind the sink.  These can be very traditional or vintage looking or very sleek and modern depending on the design.

Pros:

Great look

Easier to keep clean 

Frees up countertop space

Cons:

More complicated to change or retrofit as plumbing is entirely in a wall (nonissue if the back side of the wall is accessible)

Counter mount

Single lever control - this style requires only a single counter hole for the plumbing

Two handled control - available in widespread (8” apart) or centerset (4” spread). We usually recommend widespread over centerset for the most upscale look. Widespread requires 3 counter holes for plumbing,

For vessel sinks a special taller faucet may be needed if doing a counter mount - always check the height and shape and length of the spout relative to the height of the sink to make a choice that will function properly!

Other faucet considerations

Faucet handles can be round, lever, or x shaped.  Lever are the best for universal design - easiest to operate for all ages and abilities. X shaped are a nice look for modern farmhouse or vintage styles.  The builder round “cut crystal” plastic knobs of yore need not apply 😂.  They are a PITA to keep clean and harder to grasp.

There are also touch free versions of bathroom faucets that can be activated with tapping or proximity sensors.  I think these are more useful in a kitchen where your hands are likely to be covered with something gunky from cooking, but they do offer a more germ free option for a bathroom as well.

Faucet finishes are always a topic of debate - what’s “in” and what’s “out”.  If you want classic style with no possibility of it looking “of an era” down the rod, the safest choice is polished chrome, which has been around forever and holds up well.  

Polished nickel and natural brass are also timeless, elegant options - though natural brass is a living finish and will require more attention to keep it looking like new.  

Matte black and satin gold and mixed metal finishes are currently trending and there are some beautiful options. Are they here to stay? Possibly.  I’d say using them in a powder room where you are only dealing with one faucet and it’s easy to change it out is the safest choice.