The kitchen may be highly trafficked, but don’t forget the other central hub in the home: the bathroom.  It’s the room all guests ask for and a place for a homeowner to relax after a long day.  If you’re renovating the bathroom, it’s important to not overlook any details, especially the sink.

With a wide variety of styles and materials, there’s plenty of room to be creative and find the sink that will have everyone looking forward to washing their hands.

Self-Rimming

The safest and oldest style is having the sink sit on top of the counter.  By cutting a large hole into the countertop, you can drop the sink into place and secure with caulk.  This is a great option that allows homeowners to mix-and-match different countertop and sink materials.  However, it’s important to know how difficult it is to keep the rim of the sink clean.

Vessels

If you really want to bring the wow factor to your bathroom, consider the vessel sink.  This growing trend provides a bold standout by having the sink sit on top of the countertop.  With a variety of materials to choose from, (glass, stone, ceramic and certain metals), you can be creative with different styles and colors.  However, if you consider a metal sink made from cooper and stainless steel, be aware that they are easy to scratch.  Also, glass vessels are gorgeous, but with fingerprints and possible mineral deposits, you’ll want to use a soft towel to wipe down after every use.

Pedestal

Having a pedestal sink is a fun design for a bathroom that doesn’t need a lot of storage space.  Some materials to choose from include porcelain, vitreous china, copper, glass and stone. Also, don’t limit yourself to traditional models. There are square or rectangular shapes, semi-circle or other creative designs to choose from.

Wall-Mount

This vintage design is great for half baths and powder rooms.  These sinks keep the floor area open when space is at a premium and are height adjustable for children and those in need of wheelchair access.  Most wall-mount sinks are not designed for countertop space, but you can find different styles that provide additional length.  Also, some wall-mounted sinks have built-in storage compartments.  And if you’re not a fan of the exposed piping, consider covering it up with a concealed arm or wall support.

Undermount

This dominating trend provides a smooth and clean appearance that is perfect for today’s modern design.  Unlike self-rimming sinks that sit on top of the countertop, these sinks are mounted underneath with clips.  You’ll also enjoy how easy it is to keep the sink clean without having the rim area on top of the countertop.