Amazing Kitchen Sink Ideas

Updated November 2026

The best kitchen sink ideas start with how you cook and clean. A ceramic butler or Belfast sink suits a traditional or Shaker kitchen; an undermounted stainless steel or stone sink gives a sleek look; a copper or brass sink makes a statement. Then choose the size, the number of bowls and the mounting style to fit.

Kitchen sinks are a focal point of good kitchen design. They see their fair share of use in a busy family kitchen, so it’s worth doing some research to choose wisely. Browse the ideas below, then use our questions to narrow down the right sink for you.

Kitchen sink ideas by style

Butler and Belfast sinks

A deep white ceramic sink that sits half in and half out of the cabinets is the classic choice for a Shaker kitchen or a period home. Fluted fronts, a bridge tap and a wooden or marble worktop complete the look.

Copper and brass sinks

A hammered copper or brass sink is a real statement piece. It looks especially good against dark painted cabinets and marble, and it ages over time to a warm patina.

Stone and marble sinks

A sink carved from marble, granite or concrete can be made to match the worktop, so the two read as one piece. Rough-cut and sculptural stone sinks suit rustic and contemporary kitchens alike.

Stainless steel sinks

Stainless steel is hard-wearing and the easiest material to keep clean. An apron-front stainless sink suits an industrial-style kitchen, and an undermounted double bowl with a drainer grooved into the worktop gives a clean, modern look.

Double sinks

Two bowls let you wash up in one and prepare food in the other. If you are planning a kosher kitchen, you will need two separate sinks, and the material must be easy to clean properly.

DIY and budget sink ideas

You don’t always need a new sink to change the look. A fabric sink skirt in place of a cupboard door, a new tap in brass or nickel, or a new splashback behind the sink can all freshen up an existing kitchen. Open shelving or a wicker basket beside the sink adds storage without new cabinets.

How to choose your kitchen sink

Your style of kitchen will guide the style of sink, but practical questions matter just as much. Ask yourself the following.

How much cleaning am I happy to do?

Materials such as porcelain are prone to stains and scuff marks, so they need regular cleaning with a mildly abrasive cleaner. If you don’t want that upkeep, choose stainless steel, which is much easier to keep clean.

Will I have a boiling water tap?

If you plan a boiling water tap such as a Quooker, check with the sink maker that the material is suitable, as some ceramic and porcelain sinks are not ideal for very hot water. Our guide to how Quooker taps work explains more.

Will I be washing large pots and pans?

If so, make sure the sink is large enough and allow room for a drainer if you want one. If you would rather the sink didn’t take up as much worktop, choose a deeper bowl instead. Many makers offer sinks with a 50% deeper or double-depth bowl, which are a good alternative to a wide sink.

Will it be the focal point of the kitchen?

If the sink sits under a window or in the middle of the island, spend time getting the design right. This is not the place for a standard sink and tap; choose one that matches the quality and style of the rest of the kitchen.

Which type of mount should I choose?

It’s surprising how much difference this makes. For a sleek look, choose an undermounted sink. For a traditional Period English or Shaker look, choose a butler-style sink that sits half in and half out of the cabinet. For an industrial look, an inset stainless steel sink is right.

Planning the cabinet around your sink

Choose your sink early, because the cabinet beneath it is built around its size and depth. Our solid wood kitchens are made to order to your measurements, so we can make the sink unit to fit the sink you choose. Each kitchen is hand-painted in any Farrow & Ball or Little Greene colour, made in 10–12 weeks and delivered fully assembled.

Cabinetry starts from £1,180 per metre for our Cottage range, £1,818 for Town House and £2,372 for Manor House, including painting and VAT. Our guide to what a kitchen costs explains the rest of the budget.

The White Kitchen Company’s kitchens are made in solid wood with no MDF, hand-painted in any Farrow & Ball or Little Greene colour and made in 10–12 weeks, so the sink run can be planned around the sink you choose. Complete kitchens start from £11,808; see our kitchen prices.

Kitchen sink questions

What is the difference between a butler and a Belfast sink?

Butler and Belfast sinks are both deep, white ceramic sinks. Traditionally a Belfast sink has a built-in overflow and a butler sink does not, though today the names are often used for the same thing.

Which sink material is easiest to keep clean?

Stainless steel is the easiest kitchen sink material to keep clean. Porcelain and ceramic sinks show stains and scuffs and need regular cleaning with a mildly abrasive cleaner.

Should my sink go under the window or in the island?

A kitchen sink under a window gives you daylight and a view while you wash up. A sink in the island lets you face the room, but you will see the washing-up from the rest of the kitchen. Many people put the main sink under the window and a small prep sink in the island.

What are some cheap DIY kitchen sink ideas?

Cheap DIY kitchen sink ideas include swapping a cupboard door for a fabric sink skirt, fitting a new tap, adding a new splashback, or putting open shelves or baskets beside the sink.