Out of all the rooms in your home, you may spend the most time in the kitchen. It’s a gathering place and the heart of all things cozy. Your design imbues it with your unique personality, and your kitchen sink can become a focal point and even a work of art that serves a functional purpose. Here’s what’s trending as you plan your remodel.
The Kitchen: The Heart of Your Home
You come home from work and toss your keys and mail on the table. You help your kids with your homework there, write holiday gift lists, have late-night heart-to-hearts over tea, and, of course, gather for meals lovingly prepared within. This sacred space replaces the hearth as the heart of your home and should reflect your personality and style.
Importance of Kitchen As a Focal Point
Your kitchen sink draws attention by its very existence. It serves a prominent role, but you determine the style. Ask yourself the following questions to transform your kitchen sink into a focal point that will make you smile each time it draws your gaze:
- What’s my home’s overall interior design aesthetic? Bohemian? Mid-century modern? Industrial? Traditional? Your kitchen sink should complement the overall theme.
- What’s in my closet? What’s my personal style? Funky? Laid-back? Classic? Use your preferences to guide the vibe of your remodel.
- How can I best marry form and function? While most kitchen sinks get the job done, folks with large families — or careers in the catering business — might appreciate the added convenience of a large corner sink for soaking dishes with a smaller prep sink on the kitchen island.
12 Kitchen Sink Trends of 2024
Here are 12 kitchen sink designs to consider as you remodel your kitchen.
1. Apron Sinks
An apron sink is also known as a farmhouse sink. It looks fabulous in kitchens designed in a rustic style, with plenty of black and white matte paint and recycled mason jars holding various dry ingredients.
These sinks feature an enlarged front that extends beyond the cabinetry below, guarding it from accidental splashes. Fewer food flecks fly and embed themselves against the wall while washing dishes. They’re larger than conventional sinks and ideal for soaking pots and pans.
2. Workstation Sinks
If your counter space is limited, a workstation sink may be your best friend. These designs feature built-in ledges that support cutting boards, utensil holders and drying racks. You can chop carrots on the surface, placing a bin beneath to catch the scraps for easy transport to your compost bin.
You can purchase workstation sinks with all accessories included or buy them separately. Many have numerous customization options, letting you adapt them to your lifestyle.
3. Undermounted Sinks
Traditional sinks are secured in place using the outer rim of the countertop. Undermounted sinks are secured with clips and silicone from below, allowing the countertop’s lip to protrude beyond the sink opening.
The result is a modern design that’s super easy to clean. No more crumbs getting stuck under the lip of the sink. Instead, you can wipe them directly into the bowl for easy disposal. Many people with granite and quartz countertops prefer them as they don’t break up the look of the stone.
4. Corner Sinks
Corner sinks come in multiple designs, but all provide one important benefit. They save space on your countertop while providing room for an extra basin.
However, some corner sink designs require custom cabinetry. Many manufacturers produce them in trapezoidal or oval shapes without attached faucets to maximize placement flexibility.
5. Drainboard Sinks
If wet countertops plague you, a drainboard sink could be your solution. These designs feature a sloped drainboard surface that directs water from recently washed dishes and cups into the basin instead of letting it splash.
Drainboard sinks are the ideal solution for small households that don’t use the dishwasher very often. If you tend to wash your plate immediately after eating, this kitchen sink may be for you.
6. Integrated Sinks
Integrated sinks are common in bathrooms, but manufacturers make them for kitchens, too. This all-in-one design features a kitchen sink built directly into the countertop surface, using the same materials.
Integrated sinks work well with marble, granite, quartz, stainless steel, terrazzo or hammered copper. They provide a seamless look and are easy to clean due to the lack of a sink lip.
7. Illuminated Sinks
Illuminated sinks create a striking appearance after dark. They contain embedded LED lighting that emits a glow. Some feature illuminated faucets that turn on a light when you run the water, while others have LEDs embedded into the basin itself. They’re a stylish, if slightly pricey, alternative to a night light.
8. Prep Sinks
Prep sinks are small sinks usually located on a bar or your kitchen island. They’re smaller than the traditional kitchen sink and come in different shapes, typically rectangular, although the length and width may vary. They’re perfect for when you have more than one cook in the kitchen needing to wash their hands or for rinsing veggies as you chop them without dripping water all over the floor.
9. Natural Materials
Stainless steel is the most frequently used kitchen sink material, but others are making a splash. For example, marble sinks integrate with marble countertops to show off the natural veining. You’ll also find sinks made out of stone, terra cotta and bamboo.
10. Sustainable Materials
Sustainable materials are those that tread lightly on the natural environment. They might create little, if any degradation when gathered or be recyclable or reusable.
For example, granite kitchen sinks can last for decades. After this time, material suppliers can crush them into smaller pieces to use in gravel, garden pavers, and walkways. They can also be formed into recycled composite countertops.
11. Pull-Down and Pull-Out Faucets
Sprayers provide flexibility for washing dishes but require an additional hole in the kitchen sink’s lip. However, the pull-down and pull-out faucet trend eliminates this need, keeping everything all in one while letting you switch from a solid stream to a spritz at the touch of a button.
12. Hands-Free Faucets
How do you wash your hands after handling raw chicken? Touch-free faucets eliminate the need to frequently disinfect the faucet handle while cooking. This kitchen sink trend lets you simply wave your hand in front of the sensor to produce a stream, preventing you from touching surfaces when your fingers are covered in ickiness.
Conclusion
Your kitchen is the heart of your home. Remodeling with these kitchen sink trends in mind keeps your pad up to date while increasing functionality. Ask yourself the right questions and mindfully explore what you need to design the space of your dreams right down to the kitchen sink.
Author bio: Cora Gold is a home writer and editor of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She writes about home inspiration for sites including The Cottage Market and The Simplicity Habit. Connect with Cora on LinkedIn, Pinterest and X.