An inconvenient sink can turn the cooking process into real torture. And this is not an exaggeration. Scientists have calculated that almost two-thirds of tasks in the kitchen are somehow related to the kitchen sink. How to make it last for many years, and also be comfortable, stylish and functional?

What is the ideal sink for the kitchen: expert advice on choosing a sink, review of prices and materials, manufacturers and photos of popular sink models.

Which sink is right for your kitchen?

To decide which option will be the most best choice for your kitchen, we will make a list of requirements for an ideal sink.

The kitchen sink should be spacious enough. After all, not only plates and cups are usually washed in it, but also pots, pans, baking sheets and other kitchen utensils.

A good sink must withstand high temperatures, accidental impacts and exposure to various household chemicals. At the same time, it is easy to use and maintains excellent appearance with a minimum of effort.

You should only take a closer look at the sink after you have decided on the style of your kitchen. Then it will fit harmoniously into the interior and will be combined with kitchen furniture, equipment and accessories.

Be sure to take into account your family's cooking habits—how often you cook, what ingredients you use, and how many dishes you have to wash daily.

Decide in advance which faucet you want to choose, what items you will keep next to the sink, whether you will install a water filter and a waste disposer.

Contemporary stainless steel model, Blanco

Kitchen sink size and bowl depth

The size of the sink depends not only on personal preference. If you have small kitchen, most likely, you will have to give up a large, capacious sink with two or three bowls. The solution to the problem in this case is . Most often it consists of one large or two small rectangular bowls. They can be located on the same line or at an angle to each other. Such a sink not only allows you to use an empty “inconvenient” corner, but also looks visually more compact.

In addition to the size of the sink, the depth of the bowl is also very important. You should not choose a very deep sink, otherwise you will have to constantly bend over. Unpleasant consequences - constant voltage and pain in the arms, shoulders, and back. If the bowl is too shallow, tall dishes will not fit in it, and splashes of water and grease will constantly fall on the wall or countertop.

According to experts, a depth of 150-180 mm can be considered optimal - it will be comfortable for the housewife and the sink will be quite spacious.

When choosing a sink, it is important to take into account such a criterion as its depth - this is the name for the distance between its front and back walls. This distance should be less than the depth of the base cabinet or cabinet of your kitchen unit.

Kitchen sink shape

Sinks intended for use in the kitchen can have either a completely traditional (round, square, rectangular) or the most bizarre shape. Modern materials and technologies make it possible to realize the bold fantasies of designers and at the same time take into account the recommendations of specialists in kitchen ergonomics.

Classical kitchen sink, usually rectangular or square. You can often find round sinks. Less commonly, sinks with an oval or triangular bowl.

The choice of sink shape is influenced by considerations of convenience. For example, round kitchen sinks, with equal volume to sinks of other shapes, often turn out to be more spacious. In addition, it is worth considering what shape of the sink will organically fit into the interior of your kitchen, complementing it in style.

A good kitchen sink may have one, two or three bowls. Which option to choose depends on your desire and financial capabilities.

A high-quality sink with two or three bowls will cost more than a regular one. Additional bowls are very convenient for washing vegetables, fruits or herbs, and defrosting meat or fish.

A single-bowl sink is easier to clean, but is less convenient for washing dishes and processing food. A kitchen sink with two bowls is much more convenient and functional. Thanks to this they are very popular. A three-bowl sink can become a real work center in the kitchen. As a rule, it has two large bowls and one small one, which is located between them.

Is the sink mortise or counter-mounted?

Sinks made from different materials, can be mortise or overhead.

Built-in sinks"crashing" into kitchen countertop, that is, they are installed in the hole made in it. As a rule, it is recommended to use sinks of this type if your kitchen has a beautiful long common countertop. Built-in sinks can be installed above or below the countertop, as well as flush with it. Choosing the best option depends on the model and your preferences.

Overhead sinks are simply placed on top of the furniture, like a cover. Such a sink is traditionally mounted on a special floor cabinet and, as it were, replaces the countertop. As a rule, such models are best suited for kitchen sets made up of separate cabinet modules.

Some manufacturers offer another type of sink - integrated. Most often they are mounted flush with work surface countertops. Their special feature is the perfect fit of the edges with the tabletop. Unlike the previous two types, the installation of such sinks is quite complicated and requires specific skills.

Which material to choose?

The choice of material from which your sink will be made depends on many things. First of all, it depends on the kitchen design and interior style, the desired characteristics and your budget.

For a kitchen in a modern style, a sink made of stainless steel or composite materials (the so-called artificial stone).

In a cozy country-style kitchen, antique-style metal sinks will look good (sinks made of brass or bronze), artificial stone or ceramics are especially good in such an interior.

Stainless steel sinks

Stainless steel is perhaps the most popular material. Modern sinks made of this metal, produced by well-known manufacturers, are strikingly different from their predecessors in quality and characteristics. True, they cost more.

High-quality stainless steel contains chromium and nickel. They give the kitchen sink a beautiful shine and reliably protect it from corrosion. Many metal sinks have one significant drawback- noise. However, manufacturers offer their own solution to the problem - kitchen sinks made of thicker steel with a sound absorber made of soft materials under the bowl.

A stainless steel sink can have a glossy or matte surface. Sometimes it is decorated with a textured pattern. To make sure that the sink you like is made of high-quality stainless steel, use a magnet. If it's really good steel, the magnet will slide across the surface of the sink.

Ceramic kitchen sinks

These sinks look incredibly stylish and usually have a beautiful, eye-catching design. A high-quality ceramic sink intended for the kitchen is usually very resistant to surface damage and is not afraid of scratches, high temperatures and the caustic effects of household chemicals. You can safely place a hot pot or frying pan on it, or put frozen food on it. The ceramic surface is easy to clean - modern sinks have a special coating that makes cleaning the sink much easier. However, ceramic sinks are quite heavy, relatively fragile and can be sensitive to shock.

Kitchen sinks made of artificial stone

Read more about them in our special review— . From it you will learn about the 5 most common problems that owners of such sinks may encounter, how difficult it is to care for them, what color of stone is the most non-staining, how to choose the right sink and not run into a fake.

The main disadvantage of a composite sink is its rather high price. However, such a minus is more than compensated for by them quality characteristics. Good composite sinks are very environmentally friendly. They will fit perfectly into almost any kitchen interior. Easy to clean. They have a temperature maximum of +280 degrees. They are not afraid of “chemistry” and absorb the sound of pouring water.

Composite sinks are made from stone chips, a special binder based on resins and pigments. Their colors can imitate natural stone in the most bizarre shades. Each manufacturing company composite material called differently. Franke has fragranite, Blanco Silgranit, Teka tegranite, etc.

If you like stone sinks, keep in mind: there are two types of artificial stone - acrylic and agglomerate. The first one is made on the basis of acrylic resins, and it is quite capricious. Acrylic stone is easily scratched, however, it can also be easily sanded, returning the sink to its original appearance. Also, experts do not recommend pouring boiling water into such a sink or placing hot dishes.

A granite composite sink is much stronger and more convenient. So-called granite sinks are very durable, beautiful and a pleasure to use.

How to complement your kitchen sink?

Required element perfect washing- fender or dryer. It can be located only on one side of the sink or on both sides of it. Its function is to serve as a stand for dishes, food or hot pots and pans.

A modern kitchen sink is a real work center, which includes many additional accessories. They can be sold together with the sink. In this case, they are guaranteed to match it in design and technical parameters. However, you can choose them yourself.

Manufacturers of kitchen sinks often supplement them with waste choppers, sets of graters, baskets for washing and drying vegetables and fruits, soap dispensers, as well as cutting boards, the shape of which follows the contours of the sink. All these devices make the housewife’s life much easier and save precious working space in the kitchen.

Where to buy a good sink?

Experts advise buying a kitchen sink from specialized online plumbing stores. Ideal option- if this official store a large company that produces or sells sinks. This not only guarantees quality, but also provides an opportunity to save money. In markets and small shops too often you can find cheap Asian-made sinks, the quality of which, to put it mildly, leaves much to be desired.

Prices

Surely, you are interested in the question of how much a good kitchen sink costs that will serve you for many years.

The price of a sink is influenced by many factors: material, brand, size, number of bowls (main and additional), installation method, non-standard shape and finish, depth of the sink and bowl itself, location of the wing and the ability to turn the sink over so that the wing is on the other side if this is necessary. And this does not include additional accessories!

We analyzed the assortment of several large online plumbing stores. Of course, this is very approximate and generalized data, but you can use it as a guide.

The largest range of prices is for stainless steel sinks. The most budget ones (models with one bowl from economy class manufacturers) cost from 800 rubles. There are many decent options in the range from 2 to 5 thousand rubles. The same Blanco has inexpensive sinks for 2-4 thousand rubles and elite models for 50-90 thousand rubles.

The price of kitchen sinks made of artificial stone is from famous manufacturers in online stores it starts from 7 thousand rubles, the most models are in the price category from 9 to 30 thousand rubles. You can find more budget options and below this price, as a rule, these will be Russian-made models.

Each of us knows how important it is to properly plan the kitchen space, arrange work areas and eating areas in it. Every element of the interior here has a special meaning. Undoubtedly, the comfort of a housewife is ensured by correctly selected and installed sink. This is where women spend a lot of time during, before and after cooking.

Modern sink designs are equipped with additional options and devices that make our lives easier. How to choose this one kitchen accessory What to take into account, you will learn from our article.

What should you consider when choosing?

With limited living space, we strive to save as much space as possible in the kitchen. Therefore, when choosing a sink, we focus on its versatility, for example, the presence of a built-in dryer, cutting board or waste shredder.

But we forget about the main criteria:

• spaciousness;
• resistance to aggressive substances contained in household chemicals;
• strength and ability to withstand a variety of mechanical loads;
• resistance to possible range of temperature fluctuations;
• compliance with the interior and style of kitchen design;
• practicality and versatility.

You can appreciate all the variety of samples offered in the presented photos of kitchen sinks. The main thing is not to get confused and choose the most suitable copy for you. And our selection criteria will help you make the right decision:

• The material for the bowl, which determines the quality of the entire accessory and its performance properties.
• Appearance, shape and dimensions. They depend not only on the wishes of the owner of the house, but also on the size of the room and its layout.
• Design features: single or double, with space for utensils or a cutting board.
• Mounting method, which also depends on the layout and features installed headset. In turn, it determines the saturation of the device with options and the degree of its utility.
• The type of product must clearly fit into surrounding interior kitchens, match the design design.
• The cost of washing can vary widely. It depends on the material used, dimensions, the presence of built-in devices, and the manufacturer.

Variety of materials: advantages and disadvantages

Just a few decades ago, consumers did not have much choice when arranging the kitchen sink area. Now you can choose a material that will satisfy the most sophisticated needs of homeowners.

Stainless steel

To make sinks, special steel containing chromium and nickel is used. Thanks to such additives, the product has the properties of resistance to chemical compounds and corrosive processes.

But remember, if you are offered a stainless steel sink, this is not a guarantee of a good choice. High quality model has a bowl thickness of more than 0.9-1.2 mm. This can be checked using a regular magnet. If it does not attract, then you are dealing with quality steel.

Despite the expected simplicity of washing, it can have a wide variety of surface designs - polished or matte. Models with an anti-graphic surface, which hides minor scratches and drops of water, are popular. You can also find samples with a combined design.

Inexpensive and easy to install, a stainless steel kitchen sink also has the following advantages:

• ability to fit into a variety of interior design styles;
• resistance to harmful compounds and rust;
• safety for humans;
• compliance with hygiene standards;
• long period of operation.

At the same time detergents may cause the bowl to lose its original gloss, and the poor sound absorption of the material will require a special gasket.

Composite models

Artificial stone is used in production. It is based on solid elements and binder fillers. There are acrylic and anglomerate sinks.

Acrylic sinks are made from aluminum trihydrate and acrylic resin. They are very easy to care for, but at the same time hygienic, and tolerate temperature fluctuations well. Also, when using them, there will be no problems with sound insulation, and minor damage surfaces can be easily sanded.

At the same time, very high temperatures can harm the bowl. That is why, in order to avoid deformation, you should not place hot cookware in them.

Anglomerate products are made from natural stone chips with polymer additives. Such sinks are not afraid of short-term contact with high temperatures; they are resistant to mechanical damage and the action of chemical compounds.

You must be satisfied and high level sound absorption, lack greasy stains, as well as design diversity in actual execution. However, when choosing, you should pay attention to the content of stone chips. The more it is in the composition, the stronger and better the quality of the wash.

Natural stone sinks

These are stylish and elegant designs, for the production of which they use, for example, granite or marble. Such a strong material, however, requires additional effort in care. You must regularly treat the surface with special sealants, and after completing the work, the sink must be rinsed.

The product is characterized by resistance to mechanical stress and excellent sound insulation. You can choose a material design that matches any interior style. In design, natural stone is often used to create accents.

Products made of noble ceramics

Earthenware or sanitary-type porcelain is specially coated with enamel. The resulting sample can be designed decorative painting or have a variety of colors.

When choosing this option, rest assured that they will not be damaged. high temperature or aggressive substances, and no special effort is required in care. The advantage is the variety of colors.

But the shortcomings in some cases can be critical:

• such sinks are quite fragile;
• Installation difficulties may arise due to the large mass of the product;
• have a high cost.

Selection of the optimal form

The manufacturer can offer a wide variety of sink shapes. The choice depends on your financial capabilities and specific requests:

Square or rectangular - they are characterized by high functionality and capacity. You will also be offered additional built-in fixtures and accessories.

Round and oval shape– suitable for customers who want to save space in small kitchens. They are very easy to care for and quite hygienic.

A corner kitchen sink will be an excellent option when arranging small apartments, where spatial optimization is important.

A complex pentagonal model, expanded with additional boards and side wings. Its installation will require free space, and therefore should only be installed in large areas.

Design diversity

There will be no difficulties in finding a sink that has the most optimal design for the customer.

On the market now you can easily find the following analogues:

• A simple single-bowl sink without additional accessories.
• One and a half sink with two bowls. They vary in size. The larger one is used when washing dishes, and the small one is suitable for processing vegetables and fruits.
• Double or triple kitchen sink with easy-to-manipulate bowls.
• Model with wings that complement the working plane. They are very convenient for drying or cutting.

Installation features

A sink with a kitchen cabinet is popular among housewives. This overhead model will look optimal in sets that have a separately installed cabinet. It is easy to use and does not require effort during installation and connection.

But you need to be careful - water can penetrate into the gaps between the bowl and the countertop. Therefore, attention should be paid to waterproofing issues.

A built-in kitchen sink is placed into the countertop using the “recessed” method, thanks to which you can solve the problem of combining several kitchen sets with different designs. Here it is important not only to choose the right tabletop, but also to take into account the features and material of the base.

Plastic or stone countertops will pair well with integrated sinks. They allow you to create a common space in the work area. But installation requires installation into the countertop material itself, which is difficult to do without the involvement of specialists.

The under-table model involves installation under a countertop, for example, made of natural stone. This installation method makes the headset more original and guarantees ease of use.

Combination of sink and interior design

If the kitchen area is designed in modern styles, for example hi-tech, minimalism or avant-garde, then you the product will fit made of stainless steel. Tinted steel will complement the retro interior, and artificial stone will complement country or Provence styles.

Classic or urban standard in kitchen design will only benefit if you choose a ceramic sink. Acrylic sinks will surprise your guests who visit a kitchen decorated in modern or avant-garde styles.

Modern materials and accessories allow you to make work area for cooking as comfortably as possible. Selecting a high-quality and convenient sink will not only make the housewife’s life much easier, but will also qualitatively transform the interior of the kitchen.

Photo of kitchen sink

One of optimal solutions To arrange the space there will be a corner kitchen sink. In any kitchen you need to have many items (stove, table for cooking, fridge, sink, etc.), but not all kitchens can boast of having the necessary space for all this. Designers have to resort to tricks and save the available space as much as possible, including by using a corner sink.

Corner sink: advantages and disadvantages

More and more often in apartments standard layout an L-shaped corner kitchen with a sink in the corner. This move has some advantages over the typical placement along the wall in the center:

• space is saved for the countertop and several storage compartments, since a corner sink takes up less space than a regular rectangular one,
• the variety of shapes and colors will allow this design to fit into any interior,
• The space under the sink is large in volume, which allows you to store not only a trash can there, but also household chemicals, large dishes or other necessary items in the kitchen,
• kitchen design with corner sink usually provides greater convenience for the housewife, because no need to travel long distances from the stove to the work table or from the refrigerator to the sink.

There are, however, some disadvantages to this kitchen layout:

• the corner behind the sink often becomes a “dead zone” if the sink is too large (although on this part of the countertop it is appropriate to place decorative items or items that are rarely needed by the housewife),
• repairing plumbing, if necessary, becomes a rather difficult task to perform, since the door of the corner cabinet under the sink is usually much smaller than the space hidden behind it.

When choosing, you should take into account the difficulties that you may encounter when using a kitchen of this type. Otherwise, even replacing water filters will result in a rather difficult task.

Just a few years ago, when choosing a color for a kitchen sink, no one would have thought about red or green. Today, manufacturers can turn a kitchen dishwashing accessory into a design element.

The main question that people ask when choosing an element such as a bright colored sink is how the shade will affect performance characteristics products? And it’s useless to even argue - this is the question that worries consumers in the first place. We found this out by studying large number forums. We have already researched more about how to care for stone sinks.

Colored sinks in the kitchen interior

So how does color “get” into the sink? First of all, you need to decide which one?

Bright kitchen sink: what's what?

If color is decisive for you when choosing a product, then you are willing to pay for it. Let's see who makes kitchen joys brighter and for how much.

Sink type	Manufacturer	Price issue		Note
		Standard. color	With color
Made from artificial stone	Grandfest	3500 and above	The price will not change depending on the color	Bright colors: red, green, blue - on order.
From natural stone	Omoikiri	From 20,000 and above
Coated stainless steel	Zorg Omoikiri	From 15,000 to 100,000 and above	From 15,000 to 100,000
From copper	Zorg Omoikiri	From 40,000 to 200,000 and more		The presence of spraying does not affect the cost of the product
Ceramic	Blanco Franke	From 30,000 and above	color models are 10-15% more expensive	Only some models can be colored; please check with company managers. For example, Blanco glossy white, matte white, glossy magnolia, jasmine, gray aluminum, basalt, black. Franke: white, vanilla, almond, graphite, onyx

Colored sinks in the kitchen - combining the same

If you have already firmly decided that your interior will be complemented by a red kitchen sink, then you need to understand what to combine it with. Of course, as a rule, the opposite happens: first, the style of the space is determined, and then its components and accessories are selected.

Here we decided to turn to textbook on coloristics and imagine which colors go together and which experiments should be abandoned.

The color wheel is the basis of knowledge about harmony in color solutions. Based on simple rules you can choose the best options.

Good combinations between colors:

• in one sector (shades of the same color);
• opposite each other;
• located in the corners of a triangle inscribed in a circle, which can be rotated in any direction

However, this is only a theory; in practice, everything turns out to be much more complicated, so it is worth turning to the opinion of professionals.

Anna Tenitilova

Interior designer

Professional credo: Think globally, act locally.

Colored sinks in the interior of a residential or public space are best used in certain styles, or as a specially designed accent. Nowadays the loft style is very popular in interior design. The red shell may become interesting element and support the brick to match. And for an apartment in the pop art style, a colored sink is a real gift. Pop art cannot exist without bright spots and a splash of color.

I would also like to note that for a kitchen in the Provence style, a delicate green or blue sink will be very useful. Color can be used to support the apron or kitchen facades. The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment with color and look for exclusive solutions.

Natalia Kalinina

Interior designer

Professional credo: Interior designer is not a profession, but a state.

There is no other place in our lives where the influence of color is stronger than ours. own house. And the kitchen is in modern interiors- this is the heart of the house. Correctly selected colors and combinations shape your feelings, awaken happy memories, and even influence the relationships of all family members. The sink occupies one of the central places in the kitchen and its appearance and color scheme are a formative element of the interior style.

However, colored kitchen sinks are a definite tribute to fashion. First of all, they are an object increased exploitation, and secondly, as a design element. If the interior requires bright accent in the kitchen, then in this case it is better to choose a sink in which the colorant is added to the very structure of the object. These are primarily composite options, in which the shade remains for many years, in addition, in case of chipping, they can be restored.