It’s a kitchen design question as old as time: Double sink or single sink, which is better? Some readers recently started commenting back and forth on the question, and it occurred to me that we’d never discussed and debated this topic in a story. (We did discuss the classic toilet paper over or under question, though!) Above: Illustration of American-Standard kitchen cabinets and sinks from a 1953 catalog.
Of course, each design has its pros and cons. [Above: Illustration from 1953 Crane kitchen catalog.]
Double sink pros and cons:
- Double sinks make it easier to wash on one side, stack to dry on the other.
- Or procrastinators can wash on one side, pile dirties on the other, and get to finishing up when you can. [I plead guilty, but you could guess that already, couldn’t you?]
- On the flip side, double sinks typically are smaller, so you sometimes cannot get a big pot or tray completely into one of the bowls. Jamming a large tray into one side of a double sink kinda runs the risk of scratching or dinging it.
- In the same vein, they can take up more room.
Single sink pros and con:
- Single sinks can be sized larger, so they can fit large pots and pans and trays. [My husband is in the single sink camp for this reason.]
- I guess you could say: They encourage you to clean as you go, because there is no second bowl to pile in the dirties.
- Overall, they likely take up less room, so there is more counter space for prep.
tucker strasser says
We did a custom single sink that was built into our stainless counter top so it is all seamless easy to clean. It is extra deep. We also had a lip molded into the front and side of the counter top so water does not drip off of the front.
http://www.trbimg.com/img-507db95d/turbine/la-hm.upstairs.04-k203s1nc.jpg/586/586×330
Pam Kueber says
Beautiful!
Darby Williams-Barron says
Super smart.
Pam Kueber says
Note, on this one check local building codes, there have been comments on the blog before, as I recall, about steel countertops not being to code in some states.
Mary Jane says
I prefer a double sink. Our home was built in 1780, the kitchen is a 1920’s model. New counter tops installed in the 50’s. Only one sink, so I just updated my single sink to a new Kohler white cast iron and located a white double drainboard sink from American Standard and a custom cabinet (which matches the 1920’s cabinet), to hold my “new” double sink. Now this is the best of both worlds!
Mare Levine says
Wow, that looks amazing
Christine W says
Oh my goodness Tucker, that is one fantabulous kitchen (and counter!)
Ellen says
I have a double sink that I love. I live in a studio apt with no counter space and no dishwasher. A small drain board and an across the top drain board fit perfectly. The other side is large enough for a large pot. The apartment is 70 years old. I’m not sure if the sink is original but its at least 50 years old. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to replace it.
chris shook says
I prefer a double sink, such as a 60/40 split … gives you a larger bowl for larger pots etc. Also, I don’t have a dishwasher, so the other bowl provides me the ability to rinse off my washed dishes and then put them in a strainer so they can air dry a bit before I dry them and put them away.
Pat in PA says
I’ve used a double sink for years, with keeping a drainer in one side and washing in the other. I don’t have a dishwasher, and I generally leave my dishes air-dry. I’ve seen some of my friends get the new large-sized single sinks, and they love them for doing large pots and such, but they also have dishwashers to handle all the little items. If I ever do get a new kitchen, I’m sort of undecided on which one to pick. When I did replace my dinged-up stainless double sink years ago, I made one big mistake…I opted for a rounded-corner bowl rather than a flat, squared-off bowl. Big mistake…things fall over in the sink easily. Live and learn!
Carolyn Goodspeed says
My preference is for a double sink and I believe my house (built in 1947) had one originally. We moved here in 1990 and there had only been one previous owner, who had custom built the house. At some point they decided to add a dishwasher, taking a huge amount of space and leaving a single sink that’s smaller than most. We’ve puzzled over that one for as long as we’ve lived here–how to replace the sink without losing the dishwasher. I still haven’t solved that one! Otherwise, my kitchen is awesome, particularly the original gas range.
Kat says
The counter soace in my tiny 1942-house kitchen (not magazine “tiny”…truly tiny) is so negligible as to be an inconvenience. We have a double sink that takes up much of the only built in counter space. We figured out that getting a dishwasher and downsizing to a deep & narrow single-basin will keep our workspace free of dish clutter and gives us 13 blessed inches extra countertop. Space is what matters to us!
Jacqui says
I prefer a big single farmer type sink, deep and wide. How annoying I found the double sinks, the faucet never long enough to extend into either basin far enough and I’d constantly clank clank pans against the middle section. I thought divided sinks predated dishwashers and were handy in the sense you had one side full of hot soapy water to scrub dishes and the other side to rinse? Single and roomy is the way to go!
CarolK says
Jacqui, I gotta agree with you about the farmhouse sinks -even though they are not mid-century. I did see a nice deep and wide drainboard sink that was linked here, but it would leave 3 to 5 inches of exposed countertop on the right side. Farmhouse sinks may not have been common in old US farmhouses, but they were in the UK.
When I do renovate later this year, I might re-use the cabinet hardware and I would like to save the scalloped wooden valance over the sink. It won’t be totally mid-century, but I do hope that there’s some MCM/MCModest influence.
ineffablespace says
Two separate check sinks if possible. Or maybe a large one with two faucets
Eva says
I have a double sink in my house and I love it. We are renovating a second house (for the past 11 years…) that has a single sink and I have to admit that I do the dishes there immediately while they do tend to sit somewhat longer in the double sink – but I would still go with a double sink if you have the room. In a smaller kitchen I’d take the extra counter space.
Scott says
I fell and love with and purchased the Kohler Delafield (don’t forget to order the trim ring separately, it’s not included) and a Dishmaster after discovering both were still available on Retro Renovation. It’s one of the top things people lose their mind over the first time they first visit my house.
Besides the look, my top reason for preferring a double-basin over a single (which is what I previously had prior to the new countertops in 2014) is I like having the side with the In-Sink-Erator (my original from 1954 is still going strong) quarantined off to one side so food and dishes don’t ever had to go on the same side the ick goes away to. A pretty compelling reason if you ask me.
CarolK says
Scott, you have a 65 year old In-Sink-Erator? I am in awe!