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Adding a sink to the laundry room opens up a whole new dimension in cleaning convenience, letting you easily presoak stained clothes in the same area as the washer and dryer. The sink is bound to go above and beyond laundry duty, too, as the perfect spot for tidying up after kids’ crafts, washing out paintbrushes, or even giving houseplants a good soak. A bit of forethought is wise, however, to ensure that this addition will serve you well, so consider the following laundry room sink ideas that are equal parts functional, stylish, and affordable.
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Locate the laundry room sink as near the washer as possible.
If you have the space and the layout and plumbing to accommodate it, position the laundry sink next to the washer. This will make it less of a hassle to move wet clothes from the sink to the washer. If you’re soaking something large, like a bedspread or a sleeping bag, you certainly won’t want to carry it sopping and dripping across the room.
Opt for a large, deep basin.
Laundry room sinks see a lot of activity, so this is no place to skimp on size. A sink with a basin that’s a minimum of 15 inches deep offers ample space for soaking large items or for craft use, such as dyeing fabrics. With a deep basin, you may even be able to bathe the family pooch. If you need even more functionality and have the room, consider a double-basin sink, such as the Mustee Laundry Tub (available from Amazon), which features two 16-inch deep bowls and is a full 40 inches wide.
Install a functional faucet.
Tiny faucets need not apply! To take full advantage of a laundry sink, select a high-arching faucet with a pull-down sprayer, such as the OWOFAN Pull-down Sprayer Faucet (available from Amazon). Low-profile faucets can block access to portions of the sink, which reduces functionality, and a sprayer is essential for rinsing all parts of the sink.
Alternatively, you could choose a high-arching faucet that comes with a side sprayer, such as the Peerless Tunbridge Faucet (available from Amazon). A side sprayer hose is often longer (20 to 28 inches) than a pull-down sprayer (12 to 18 inches), making it handier for filling buckets or pails on the countertop.
Maximize workspace with a sink board.
Laundry rooms are often on the small side, so a large laundry sink could take up the majority of countertop space, leaving you with little room to sort dirty items and fold freshly dried clothes. The solution is a sink board positioned over the basin when you need an additional workstation. Some sinks come with boards, such as the TORVA Workstation Sink with Board (available from Amazon), but you can make your own out of plywood and paint it to match the cabinets and trim in the laundry room.
Trick out a standard laundry room sink.
A basic standalone laundry sink will surely be more about function than form, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress it up a bit. Camouflage the legs and any supplies you stow below with a pretty sink skirt attached to the base. You can sew it yourself out of a water-repellent fabric in a color that complements your laundry room or purchase an inexpensive self-stick version like the Better Home Mosaic Fabric Sink Skirt (available from Amazon).
Incorporate storage space near the sink.
While you can always stow a cleaning bucket with brushes and sponges under the laundry sink, space there is limited, and you’ll likely need additional room for other cleaning and laundry products. Installing upper cabinets, shelving, or cubbies on the wall above the sink will provide space for laundry supplies. (Bonus idea: Include a basket for the inevitable keys, toys, change, and other incidentals that family members may accidentally leave in pockets.) Even a few inches of space next to the sink can be utilized for storage with a narrow rolling shelving unit, such as Whitmore’s Rolling Laundry Storage (available from Amazon).
Use a drain strainer to prevent clogs.
Unlike other sinks in the house, a lot of lint, mud, and even fur can get washed down a laundry room sink. To reduce the risk of clogging the drain line, rely on a removable strainer, such as one of Fengbao’s Sink Strainers (available from Amazon). With a removable strainer, preventing clogged pipes is as simple as lifting the strainer out of the drain and dumping the contents into the trash.
Find a laundry room sink that suits your budget.
Now that you know the particulars of a laundry room sink and the accessories that make it look and function at its best, it’s time to start shopping for one. And fortunately, there are a lot to choose from, running the gamut from wallet-friendly to fairly fancy. If space is really limited, consider an inexpensive standalone utility sink, such as the El Mustee Utilatub (available from Amazon). Starting at under $100, it can be tucked into a spot with floor space as small as 25 inches by 25 inches. You’ll pay an average of $300 to $650 for a laundry sink that comes preinstalled in a cabinet, such as Transolid’s Laundry Sink (available from Amazon). If you’re going for an upscale look, you could pay $800 or more for a custom-built cabinet with a solid-surface countertop and a drop-in sink.