Many 2014 bathroom trends are about big, bold, dramatic design choices. But maybe the most practical and crucial trend this year is much quieter. Overwhelmingly, homeowners are starting to add a second sink to their master bathrooms. While this is a simple change, it’s becoming an increasingly important one in terms of resale value. As master bathrooms become bigger and especially as they become a place where couples go to unwind, having that little extra bit of personal space is becoming highly desirable. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to add a second sink to a bathroom, from big, sprawling double vanities to more compact options that will work in even the smallest spaces.
Double Bathroom Vanities
The go-to way to add a second sink to a master bathroom is to upgrade from a single vanity to a double vanity. Now, in most cases this won’t be a one-to-one swap, but if you have the space, a big, sprawling double vanity is the perfect way to round out a master bathroom. Not only will a hefty piece of furniture give the space a finished quality, but having lots of drawers and cabinets (plus lots of counter space between the two sinks) will give both people using the bathroom their own separate private areas – which is ultimately the whole point of this trend.
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Compact Double Bathroom Vanities
Typical double bathroom vanities are pretty large, starting at about 60″ and scaling up from there to fit larger and larger bathrooms. But since this trend extends to master bathrooms of all sizes, it’s worth noting that double vanities do come in smaller sizes as well, even as low as about 48″, which is about the size of a large single vanity, and occasionally even narrower. Now, these smaller models won’t have quite as much elbow room or storage, but simply having two separate sinks – even if they’re fairly close together – can make it easier for couples to get ready for work at the same time in the morning.
Matching Bathroom Vanities
Double vanities might be the most common way to get a second sink in a master bathroom, but they aren’t always the most convenient option, for the simple reason that they come in a single solid piece. In an odd shaped or smaller master bathroom, there simply might not be room for a large rectangular piece of furniture. Instead, consider opting for two matching single vanities. This not only gives you the functionality of having separate sinks for each person using the bathroom, but allows you to physically separate them. In a small bathroom, that might mean having a few more options for your bathroom layout, while in a large space it can even mean adding privacy or creating more personalized spaces.
Pedestal Sinks
Pedestal sinks offer a nice middle ground between the traditional bathroom vanity and a simpler wall mounted sink. With the exception of a few efficiency-sized models, you won’t really find any bathroom vanities with a smaller footprint, but a pedestal’s fuller shape and classic, iconic look have a more finished look and feel than a simple sink basin. Because they lack any kind of built in storage, pedestal sinks work best with a storage cabinet on either side or in between them, but if you’re more of a minimalist you can get away without.
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Trough Style Sink
If you want a second sink because you and your partner get ready at the same time in the morning and not because one or both of you have habits that irritate each other (like his shaving stubble that he leaves in the sink, or her refusal to wash toothpaste down the drain, or so on), you might not actually need two distinct sinks. You can find long, trough style sinks – which have one faucet on either end but only a single drain in the middle – in both modern and more traditional styles. This will give you and your spouse a little extra elbow room and your own place to brush your teeth, and takes up a lot less space than many of these other options. As a note, this type of sink also works great for a kid’s bathroom, as two or three small children can use it at once without worrying about spills or splashing.
Wall Mounted Sinks
For a really, truly, genuinely, very small master bathroom, you might have to opt for something even more petite. While the smallest bathroom vanities clock in at about 24″ wide and pedestal sinks just slightly narrower than that, you can get wall mounted sinks that are about half that size. Now, not only is this the best way to get two sinks in a small space, it’s also the most flexible, as the sinks sit very close to the wall and can be installed just about anywhere you’re willing to run the plumbing. Plus, while with bathroom vanities or pedestal sinks you probably want to have a matching pair, a petite wall mounted sink can be installed as a supplement to an existing vanity, adding the extra functionality without taking up much space.
Why do you want a second sink in your master bathroom? Do you want a space of your own, more room to get ready in the morning, or just to keep your space on trend? Let me know in the comments!
