Wash Your Hands of Bad Sinks: 4 Trends to Try

This year’s BALA winners show some of the best trends in bathroom and kitchen sink design.

1. Under-mount sinks are the more polished option in both bathrooms and kitchens.

This year’s winners almost exclusively chose under-mount over top-mount sinks in kitchens and baths. Under-mount sinks lend themselves to polished styles and clean lines and work with almost all, if not every, design style. Home owners comment that these sinks aren’t just sleeker but function better than top-mount sinks – crumbs on kitchen counters can be brushed in without getting stuck on the lip or seam of a top-mount sink.

2. Farmhouse kitchen sinks are here for the long haul.

It’s no secret: the all-in-one cozy, stylish, rustic chic farmhouse style continues to be popular with designers and home owners. Often showing up through interior barn doors and material choices like wood plank walls, this style also brings with it the farmhouse sink. Three projects below show how farmhouse sinks can be beautifully incorporated into different styles:

3. A second, smaller sink is great for kitchen prep.

Many of this year’s winners incorporated a second prep sink into the kitchen. These sinks are often smaller and help alleviate kitchen congestion. They also allow cooks to separate meats from contaminating other prep items like vegetables.

4. Unique sink materials and shapes make a statement in the bathroom.

Stones, woods, and metals can all help transform a boring half-bath into a space that will be the envy of all your guests. Take a look at some examples below:

Alexandra Isham is Design Program Manager at NAHB and can be reached at aisham@nahb.org.