The 5 Best Types Of Sinks To Make The Most Of Your Small Kitchen

Smart sink choice is, arguably, one of the best ways to make the most of a small kitchen. You need a sink, of course, but if you go too large you eat up precious counter space needed for chopping ingredients or packing lunches. But, it's also important to choose a functional sink that allows you to wash dishes and rinse produce. 

Typically, a small kitchen has a footprint under 150 square feet. Galley kitchens could also fall into this category since their long, thin design often necessitates clever space solutions. And, of course, there are kitchens in truly small dwellings (say, tiny houses or notoriously teeny New York City apartments) for which space-saving innovations, like corner sinks, can be a real asset.  

The five types of kitchen sinks leading the pack when it comes to saving space include single basin sinks, drainboard sinks, single workstation sinks, bar sinks, and corner sinks. These, combined with features like offset drains and under-mount installation, can help you optimize your limited space. Since these broad types encompass diverse sink styles, which you choose for your kitchen depends mostly on how tiny your kitchen really is.

The go-to solution for teeny kitchens is often the single basin sink. You get one bowl and nothing else — no dividers, for example. Thankfully, manufacturers are pretty clued into the fact that if a homeowner has just one sink, they need to get as much functionality out of it as possible. So in many cases, the bowl is deep and wide. Any downsides to a single basin sink? There's no way to separate utensils used for raw meat from those used for, say, vegetables, nor can you easily rinse dishes washed by hand. And, you'll need to put your drying rack on the countertop.

They're also one of the most widely available types, coming in a wide variety of materials and price ranges, music to the ears of those sticking to a strict kitchen renovation budget! For example, a Kraus 23-inch single bowl sink runs about $150 from Direct Sinks. And, since this is a type of sink and not a style, you can get a single basin sink in your favorite design, be that farmhouse or drop-in. For example, Magnus Home Products sells a 24-inch single bowl fireclay farmhouse sink in nine colorways starting at $475. If you have the room to go up to 27 or 30 inches, you absolutely should. Coming in at 30 inches long, Delancy by American Standard is manufactured from long-lasting cast iron with a deep bowl, making it worth the almost $650 price tag.

If you've ever stayed with European relatives or friends, you might have seen this type of sink before. Drainboard sinks are more popular across the pond where homes are typically smaller than they are in the states, and many people still wash all their dishes by hand. For those living in attached homes or condos with diminutive kitchens, this type of sink offers a nifty way to get around one of the core problems of single basin sinks: having to put a space-hogging drying rack on your counter next to it. A rim at one end of the draining area stops water spilling onto your countertop. This, combined with slight slope to the entire fixture, directs any water back into the sink. 

We absolutely love the 1955-inspired single bowl drainboard sink from Florida-based NBI Drainboard Sinks. It comes in six colors, including white, grey, and black, starting at $725. For something more affordable, IKEA has an option that's industrial and even more compact. Their VATTUDALEN stainless steel single bowl top mount drainboard sink is about $140 and comes with a 25-year warranty.

Workstation sinks have actually been around for decades. But, the versions of old were simple, consisting of a cutting board and colander at most. They are, however, finding renewed popularity in today's home kitchens. This is mostly because manufacturers are putting lots more effort into aesthetics and a pick-and-mix approach to functional accessories. Need more counter space to chop veggies? Choose to add a removable cutting board. Want to separate your washed berries from that bundle of herbs? Opt for two or more baskets or bowls. Essentially, your sink becomes part of your countertop and functional work surface. However, they can be larger in length than a regular sink to accommodate all the extra appendages, so make sure to measure carefully prior to purchasing. 

One compact option, is this 23-inch stainless steel undermount workstation sink by Dcolora selling for about $250 on Amazon. Notable accessories include a wooden cutting board, sink bottom protector, and a dish drying rack that rolls up. If you'd like something a little larger, the gray-hued Kinbrook 28-inch single bowl workstation by STYLISH sells at Wayfair for about $480.

As the name implies, bar sinks are typically used more as a secondary sink. They're most commonly fitted into home bars, kitchen islands, or butler pantries to aid meal preparation (they're also sometimes called prep sinks). However, since they function exactly as a single basin sink, there's no reason they couldn't be installed as the main sink in a particularly pint-sized kitchen. But, before you jump online and start shopping for one, you need to be aware of the compromises you may have to make. Since they typically range from about 9 to 18 inches wide, you may have trouble fitting large dishes inside for hand washing. You also may not have enough sink space if you want to wash large volumes of fresh fruit and vegetables. Bar sinks are probably only a real option, as a primary sink at least, for people who don't cook much at home and have a dishwasher. 

Since this is a teeny sink, why not go for something a bit flashy material-wise? The 15-inch Atlas Collection undermount prep sink, starting at around $500 at Signature Hardware, is finished in matte gold stainless steel. The other fun thing about this option is it comes in shapes other than rectangular — a round or oval sink, for example, might fit better into an awkward spot. For an earthier option, Perigold sells a 16-inch diameter slate bar sink in various shades for just under $550.

Like the bar sink, corner sinks are typically reserved for use in the very smallest or most awkwardly laid out kitchens.  Keep in mind, you'll want to use this type of sink with a pull-out faucet to make it easier to reach. Fair warning: corner sinks have significant downsides. For one, corner sinks are usually installed where two countertops join, potentially compromising their strength. Having to reach so far back to clean behind the sink can be a pain, too, especially for those with shorter arms.

But, by inhabiting an unused corner, they save so much space you might even be able to squeeze in two sinks, like the Gravena 43-inch stainless steel undermount corner kitchen sink by Ruvati, which sells for just under $600 at The Sink Boutique. And, there's no denying they add a quirky vibe to any kitchen. The Homary 25-inch quartz single bowl unit, at Walmart for a little more than $400, is a good example of a statement-making sink.