Sinks seem to be one of the most basic things in the home, office, hotel or any establishment. While there are several different types of sinks that have their own names, many people often refer to them by the common name, which is sink. Little do they know, however, that different types of sinks have their own name and their own set of pros and cons.

There are 7 different types of sinks available on the market today. You can choose any of them depending on the available space in your bathroom and who will use it.

1. Countertop sink

As its name suggests, this sink is designed to sit above the counter. Most bathrooms in theaters and hotels only have countertop sinks. Sinks of this type are also known as vessel sinks.

Advantages: These sinks are fully exposed above the counter unlike drop-in and other sinks. Thus, they are able to create a strong statement in your bathroom and turn heads. Also, these basins are quite deep and therefore can hold a lot of water.

Cons: Since the sink sits entirely above the counter, great care must be taken when finalizing the counter height to ensure the sink is at the desired height and not above or below.

2. Top Mount Sink

This sink is also designed to sit on top of the counter. However, only the edge of the sink sits above the counter, while the rest sits below. The border can be thin or slightly thicker depending on your choice.

Advantages: Sinks in this category can go well with countertops made of almost any material, including wood and laminate. This is simply because the entire cutout is covered by the sink and therefore the chances of the counter getting water damaged becomes nil.

Cons: With such a sink, it is not possible to clean the water from the countertop directly into the sink.

3. Sink under deck

Sinks of this type are placed entirely under the counter, including the rim.

Advantages: The water spill on the counter can be cleaned directly in the sink.

Cons: These sinks are usually very expensive and their mounting is only possible with a solid surface such as stone.

4. Wall sink

Wall mounted sinks do not need a countertop to rest on. They can be fixed directly on the wall while giving a minimalist feel to a room.

Advantages: Since this sink doesn’t need any counter, it can save you quite a bit of floor space, making your bathroom look bigger.

Cons: In the absence of a counter, there will be no storage space unless you install some cabinets.

5. Lavatory sink

These slim, streamlined, and elegant sinks are often seen in hotel and restaurant bathrooms.

Advantages: These sinks are very appropriate for vanities or bathrooms with little space since they take up very little space.

Cons: The drawback of this type of sink is that it is only suitable for vanities. It is very shallow and therefore cannot hold water.

6. Pedestal sink

Wall mounted sinks with their own pedestal are called pedestal sinks. They are also known as freestanding sinks, since they do not need to be mounted on a wall or countertop.

Advantages: Freestanding sinks hide any plumbing and also look very aesthetically pleasing.

Cons: These sinks are often expensive compared to other sinks. Also, cleaning around a pedestal sink can be quite tricky due to the gap between the pedestal and the wall.

7. Semi-recessed

If your bathroom has limited space but you still want some storage space, you can go for a semi-inset sink.

Advantages: Such a sink is placed in the front part of the countertop, which allows you to have much shallower furniture. This will free up floor space and give you enough storage space to store your cosmetics and other bathroom essentials.

Cons: Since there is no counter around the front of the sink, the chances of water splashing onto the floor are very high.

Each sink has its own set of pros and cons. Depending on the space available in your room and your style, you can choose a sink after evaluating its pros and cons.