Types of bathroom sink: choosing the best sink materials

By Benjamin Clarke | Published on 7th December 2021

Getting the right sink or basin for your bathroom or ensuite can be a real challenge, especially because there's so much choice available these days. A basin is a prominent part of the bathroom and is one of the main features that will be noticed as soon as anyone enters the room, so it's important that it looks good. However, as the bathroom is an incredibly high-traffic area, you cannot choose a basin based solely on style over substance - it needs to be durable and stand up to the busy rigours of day-to-day life.

In this article we'll look at the main materials used to manufacture the most popular bathroom sinks as well as the different styles of basin available, allowing you to make an informed decision on what to get for your bathroom.

Sink materials

Below we list the most common types of materials that bathroom sinks are made from.

Ceramic
Ceramic is the most common material you'll find in basin manufacture. Coming with a very glossy finish, they're very easy to clean (and keep clean) and are always available in a massive variety of shapes and sizes. A ceramic sink is a timeless choice for a bathroom basin and will never disappoint.

Resin
A low-cost option that is easy to manufacture, resin sinks are ideally suited to wall-hung vanity units because of their light weight. Lifting units off the floor look very stylish and make it easy to keep the bathroom clean, so resin sinks fit perfectly into this type of bathroom design.

Stone
Stone sinks always look classy and tend to have a higher price tag to match. They usually need to be supported by some sort of countertop due to their heavy weight, so you'll need to ensure you've got space before making this decision. Stone sinks will often need sealing every so often to maintain the quality of the finish. This higher level of maintenance will make them unsuitable for some.

Glass
Glass bowel-shaped sinks are another very stylish choice for bathrooms and have become increasingly popular in recent years. Like stone sinks, they do need the support of a countertop in order to sit comfortably in a bathroom. The translucent nature of glass sinks does mean that keeping them clean is very important i you want to keep the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom.

Metal
Bathroom sinks with a metal finish can give a really unique and eye-catching appeal to a bathroom. Stainless steel and aluminium sinks can come is a range of colours and provide a industrial chic if installed correctly. It's important to note that metal sinks can easily look a bit dull and scruffy if they are not regularly cleaned and buffed. Keep them looking their best however and you can make a real design statement.

Solid surface
Solid surface sinks (such as from Corian) are popular because of their seamless design that makes all lines look very clean and stylish. This minimalist style of basin gets rid of rims or joins, which is great for keeping your bathroom hygienic. They also look fantastic because of their continuous surface and hidden mountings.

Types of sink

Below we list the most popular types of bathroom sink available.

Pedestal
The most common type of bathroom sink is a pedestal basin that has a stem from the bottom of the sink to the floor providing vital support. They hide the pipework and are another choice you simply can't go wrong with if in the market for a new bathroom basin. The semi-pedestal sink ha become a more popular choice, with the stem not going down to the floor. This helps give the illusion of more space and makes the floor easier to clean that with a traditional full pedestal basin.

Wall hung
Wall hung everything is a trend that has come on leaps and bounds in bathrooms across the UK. The wall hung basin is attached to the wall and has no stem at all. You'll normally see these with a chrome trap underneath and, like the semi pedestal, they make the floor easy to clean and help to declutter the overall look of the space.

Vanity
Similar to wall hung basins, except these types of sink are sat into a vanity unit. The sapce underneath a sink is often overlooked and vanity sinks make great use of the space for storage of some of the things you keep in your bathroom, helping to keep clutter out of sight.

Corner
If you've got an ensuite or a small under-stairs cloakroom, corner sinks are an invaluable way of maximising space and squeezing the ability to wash your hands or face in a very small room. These can be wall hung or as a pedestal and work brilliantly in creating a useful function without jutting out too much in an already-tight area.

Recessed
More and more popular these days, recessed or semi-recessed basins are another great way or maximising space and eliminating clutter. Normally installed into a countertop/ledge or narrow cabinet, these types of sink usually have the back edge integrated into the bathroom furniture while the front is curved and protrudes slightly from the ledge or cabinet. These give a nice coordinated style to a bathroom and feel as if the sink is moulded into the furniture.

Countertop
Touched upon with our mention of stone and glass sinks, all types of countertop basins are in a bowl shape and sit on top of a counter or work top. As they are not specifically designed to save space, countertop sinks are available is a range of shapes and sizes and can really be a focal point of a large, contemporary bathroom if space and budget allow.

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