A laundry room sink provides so much more than a place to pre-soak stained clothing. Usually deeper than a kitchen sink, these utility room basins can handle some of your biggest cleaning challenges. Dump dirty mop water here, give your houseplants a deep soak, and rinse off muddy rain boots. The laundry sink may even become your favorite place to give the dog a bath, with these laundry room sink ideas sure to provide some great inspiration.
If you’ve ever had a laundry sink, a laundry room is likely to feel bare without one. Even small laundry room layouts often have enough room for an under-mount utility sink. Check out the following laundry room sink ideas and discover the most functional and stylish options for your laundry room.
1. Creative Compact Laundry Room Sink Ideas
Having a small laundry room doesn’t mean that you have to forget about a utility sink. If you don’t have the counter space or floor space for a big sink, many companies make smaller versions of traditional laundry sink designs. Look for narrow rectangular or small square drop-in sinks that retain the depth that makes a utility sink such a wonderful thing. You can also find smaller versions of freestanding utility sinks if you prefer that style.
Often, you can create room for a laundry sink by switching to a stacking washer and dryer. Fitting side-by-side laundry machines into a small space can be a challenge that’s eliminated with stacking models. Freeing up space for a sink and more storage is always a win.
If there’s room for a cabinet beneath your small laundry room sink, it’s wise to add one to maximize storage. Don’t worry about a small sink and cabinet eliminating any available countertop space. You can DIY a simple wooden sink cover board to convert your sink into a workspace when it’s not in use.
2. Exploring Freestanding Sink Options
Freestanding laundry room sink options include those that are floor-standing and others that are mounted to the wall. Neither sink requires a countertop nearby, which is great if you plan to use your laundry room sink for messy chores that would dirty your counter space.
A freestanding utility sink is usually made of acrylic, stainless steel, or enamel-coated cast iron. These sinks are more functional than attractive, but you can build a faux cabinet beneath them or hide their legs and pipes with a colorful sink skirt.
Freestanding stainless-steel sinks are a great laundry room idea in a home with industrial-style decor. Although they tend to make a lot of noise when water hits their sides, they are stain resistant and easy to clean.
If your laundry area permits, purchase the biggest sink you can afford. Deep and wide are the keywords to follow when shopping for a laundry sink. You will find freestanding laundry tub designs with double basins and others with a single basin. Install the laundry room sink close to the washing machine to minimize dripping when transferring pre-soaked materials to the washer.
3. Innovative Faucet Designs
There are several considerations when choosing the perfect laundry room sink faucet. The best fixture will be resilient, easy to use, and fit into your budget. It’s a bonus if it has a lovely design and matches the fixtures used in your kitchen and bathrooms. Laundry sink tap material options include stainless steel, nickel, chrome, brass, copper, and pewter.
Choose eco-friendly sink fixtures to cut down on water use in the laundry room. These low-flow faucets can help you save money over time, without cutting down on your utility sink’s efficiency. If you have arthritis, look for handles that move easily, or perhaps choose a higher-tech faucet that turns on and off with the touch of a finger.
Keep size in mind when shopping for your laundry room sink faucet. To fully take advantage of your big basin, you’ll need a high-arching faucet design, preferably one with a pull-down or side-mounted sprayer. This laundry sink faucet feature will come in handy when watering house plants or when you’re trying to clean the sink’s corners after a messy craft or cleaning project.
4. Elegant Stainless Steel Solutions
Stainless steel is a great material for laundry room sinks. It’s easy to keep it looking shiny and sanitary. Stainless steel sinks can fit into any style of decor, from rustic to traditional. They come in virtually any size and depth and with one, two, three, or more basins. It’s easy to find square, rectangular, and circle-shaped stainless steel sinks.
A basic drop-in stainless steel sink is one of the more common types found in laundry rooms. As the name indicates, this style of laundry sink drops into a hole that has been cut into the countertop. It has a rim that extends an inch or two onto the countertop and may have a drainboard area along one side. DIY installation of a drop-in sink is relatively simple.
5. Space-Saving Concepts for Narrow Laundry
A tiny, narrow laundry room may not have much room for a utility sink. However, you can often find room for a bathroom sink or a smaller kitchen sink. Even if you must settle for something smaller than a standard utility room laundry tub, you will undoubtedly find any size of laundry sink a welcome addition. In fact, a classic pedestal sink might be the perfect touch in a narrow laundry room decorated in shabby chic style.
Be sure to choose a high-arching fixture for your small sink. A tall faucet fixture will allow room to slip a bucket or house plant beneath it. A tile backsplash is helpful behind a smaller utility room sink, as splashes will happen more frequently than with a bigger, deeper basin.
An under-mount laundry sink is installed underneath the countertop so that the counter completely covers the sink’s edge. Undermount sink designs look particularly good in modern or contemporary homes. Look for a type that comes with a matching cover that can be placed over the basin to provide extra counter space when the sink isn’t being used.
6. Design Inspirations Using Domsjo Sinks
IKEA’s “Domsjo” white ceramic apron front sink developed something of a cult following a few years ago. Homeowners loved its sleek rectangular lines, clean white ceramic surface, and the fact that it was the most affordable farmhouse sink available at the time. While the Domsjo sink is no longer made by IKEA, the company replaced it with a similar farmhouse-style sink called “Havsen.”
Farmhouse-style laundry room design remains popular and the Havsen sink has proven to be as sought-after as the Domsjo. It’s smaller than many apron-front sinks on the market, making it the perfect utility sink for a tiny laundry room.
The Havsen sink also looks great in a larger laundry space, especially for those who prefer to not have a giant laundry room sink. Its single-bowl design still makes it usable for soaking blankets and other large dirty clothes items.
Subway tile makes a lovely backsplash over this style of sink, as it repeats the rectangular white ceramic shape of its apron front. Other farmhouse laundry room design ideas go well with a Havsen sink, including shaker cabinets and floating wood shelves.
7. Optimizing Laundry Room Space
Great laundry room ideas will include as much storage space as possible, with as much of it inside cabinetry as possible. Keep your laundry supplies organized inside a laundry room cabinet unit, either beside a stacked washer and dryer combo or over a standard washer and dryer. A tall wall cabinet can hide your ironing board or a folded drying rack. It’s also a great place to stash mops, brooms, and other tall cleaning tools.
Laundry cabinet features will vary depending on how much space you have under and around your utility sink. A laundry zone located in a mudroom is the perfect place to incorporate lots of laundry cabinet units. Add a bench with cubbies beneath to store shoes, sports equipment, or dog leashes. A laundry closet can be a good place to stash an extra laundry basket or hamper.
If you frequently need to air-dry items that cannot go in the dryer, it’s helpful to install a closet rod over your utility sink. Instead of running a solid panel of cabinets in this zone, leave an open area for the rod to hang over your basin. That way your clothing can air dry while the sink catches any drips.
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FAQs
Why do utility rooms have sinks?
If you don’t have pets or kids, a utility sink may seem unnecessary to you. However, families often praise this type of utility tub. When kids have bedwetting accidents or get sick, a big, deep utility sink is perfect for soaking bedding before washing. These workhorse sinks keep things like muddy shoes, used paint brushes, and dirty mop water out of your kitchen sink.
What is the best sink for a laundry room?
You will have to research the different types of laundry room sinks to decide which will work best in your home. Laundry room sinks come in many different materials, with many different installation styles. Consider what tasks you’ll do at your utility sink and then choose the size and type that fits your purposes. Because laundry sinks are so functional, you’ll likely want to choose the biggest sink that fits your budget and your room’s footprint.
Should I put a sink in my laundry room?
Realtors have mixed opinions on whether a laundry room sink is a good idea. Some feel that buyers don’t notice if the laundry room has a sink or not. They also feel that most buyers would prefer a countertop for additional workspace and laundry room storage. Other realtors praise a utility sink’s usefulness for hand-washing clothing or heavy cleaning tasks.