Most sinks function in a similar manner. However, they vary tremendously in appearance. In this section we list and explain some key design factors for you to consider as you shop for a sink.

Style

Style generally refers to an overall look and feel of a room. Style can reflect a tone like casual, formal, or traditional. Style shows influences from around the world, like French Country, Japanese, Swedish, or Tuscan. Style also expresses your unique vision, like shabby chic. A sink is one element of an overall design. It is important to get the elements to work in together, so you probably don't want to use a Japanese-style sink if the other style elements of your room are Swedish. There are also certain elements of a room that traditionally relate closely to each other. A bathroom sink and its faucet should have a close design relationship. The bathroom sink usually also relates closely to the toilet. The type of metal found in the faucets is also often used for towel bars and for the inside doorknob to the bathroom door. For kitchens, the sink usually relates to the kitchen counters, and may relate to the appliances, as well. A stainless steel sink can pick up the design element of the stainless steel doors of a high-end refrigerator.

Materials

The material of your sink should complement the overall design of the room. The sink may be the only time a material is used in a room, like a tempered glass sink in a bathroom or a soapstone sink in a kitchen. One the other hand, the sink may be one of many places a material appears, as when the sink, toilet and bath are made from the same material with the same finish, purchased from a single manufacturer. You can find more information about the top sink materials in another section of this guide.

Color

The colors of your sink should relate to other colors in the room. This does not mean that the colors have to be the same, but it does mean that they should be complementary. If you don't have an understanding of colors and decorating, we recommend working with an interior decorator. Even if you can't afford to hire a decorator to design your room, many decorators are willing to be paid for an hour or two to visit your home, examine your room and hear your ideas, and discuss several color pallets/combinations that might work for you. Sinks that are covered in enamel often come in a wide range of colors, particularly if they are produced by one of the major manufacturers. A word of caution: colors vary from one manufacturer to another. If you were to purchase a French Vanilla colored sink and toilet from two different manufacturers, chances are the colors would not be the same. Having two fixtures that are close in color but not identical usually does not look good. Also, it is best to not choose color off of a computer screen, as the representation may be inaccurate. Go to a showroom or home improvement store to see the colors from the manufacturers you are considering. Try to get swatch samples of the colors you are considering to take home with you.

Finish

Many of the same issues we just discussed for color apply to sink finish. An antique copper finish from one manufacturer for a sink may look very different from a finish of the same name from another manufacturer that is selling towel bars. If you are trying to match metal finishes from different manufacturers, simple finishes on pure metal are easiest to match.

Support

Kitchen sinks are usually built into the counter. Bathroom sinks have a variety of methods of support. The support method of your bathroom sink needs to fit in with the style of the room and it needs to fit with the room available. Bathroom sinks may be supported by a countertop, a pedestal, multiple legs, or a vanity. Bathrooms sinks may also be hung on a wall, which is a popular space-saving technique for smaller bathrooms.