The Pros and Cons of a Farmhouse Sink

Beautiful, timeless, and offering a touch of country charm, farmhouse sinks are currently a top choice for modern kitchens. Porcelain farmhouse sinks seamlessly fuse classic style and superior levels of functionality. They're perfect for homeowners who want more space for soaking and washing dishes, and the clean aesthetics of sinks that sit flush with their cabinets.

Also available in stainless steel, copper, bronze, and other materials, farmhouse sinks are both deeper and wider than other kitchen sinks, and they're built for meeting the needs of cooks, cleaners, and general homemakers with busy to-do lists.

However, before you choose one of these options for your home, it's important to understand the pros and cons of a farmhouse sink.

Farmhouse Sinks Can Add Both Aesthetic and Intrinsic Value to Your Home

The right farmhouse sink can be the centerpiece of your kitchen design. Imaging having an all-white porcelain sink sitting in stark contrast to dark mahogany cabinets or granite countertops and tiles. If you've ever wanted a kitchen that's rendered in rosy peach, lavender, or other soft hues, an all-white porcelain sink will coordinate seamlessly.

Farmhouse sinks are a popular choice among vloggers and other social media personalities who regularly photo film their work in their kitchens. Just as these sinks are an appealing option to you, they're guaranteed to capture the attention of potential buyers should you ever put your home on the market. Best of all, if you opt for an upgraded, all-copper farmhouse sink, your new sink will bring a fair amount of intrinsic value with it.

Con: White Porcelain Farmhouse Sinks Can Be a Challenge to Keep Clean

When lauding the beauty and benefits of all-white porcelain farmhouse sinks, many people omit the fact that these fixtures aren't impervious to stains. If you leave a few sauce-covered dishes sitting in your sink, you can expect to see slight discoloration everywhere your favorite condiments have landed. This can be especially problematic for cooks who enjoy liberally using colorful spices like turmeric, cumin, paprika, and cayenne.

The good news is that it's usually possible to buff stains out with a damp sponge and a small amount of baking soda. Baking soda can lift unwanted colors without scratching, etching, or otherwise damaging porcelain. However, these efforts do require a little elbow grease. More importantly, if you put colorful foods in your sink all of the time, you'll have to scrub your sink often.

The good news is that white isn't your only option in porcelain sinks. You can find options in light blue, dark blue, beige, gray,  and more. With a stainless steel model, keeping your farmhouse sink clean will prove infinitely easier. If you opt for an all-copper sink instead, you can enjoy the benefits of natural antimicrobial properties and the gradual formation of a gorgeous patina.

Pro: You'll Have More Room for Washing Dishes, Produce, and More

Apart from being stylish, farmhouse sinks are incredibly functional. They're perfect for cooks with large baking sheets to scrub, massive Dutch ovens, and large families to feed and clean up after. You won't have to waste time attempting to angle awkward dishes in, and you'll have more room for rinsing recently purchased produce, kitchen linens, and other items.

A kitchen staple in the 1600s, farmhouse sinks were once even the preferred spot for bathing babies and small children. No matter what your passions or preferences are, your farmhouse sink will be large enough to accommodate them.

Moreover, going bigger with your sink could mean less water waste when washing or rinsing dishes which is perfect for homeowners seeking green, sustainable solutions.

Con: Having a Deeper and All-Around Roomier Sink Means Having Less Counter Space

The drawback in having a larger kitchen sink is that it comes at the sacrifice of valuable counter space. This might not be a big issue if you have a roomy kitchen and need larger elements to fill it up and balance room aesthetics.

However, if you're scrambling to find adequate work area for your normal in-kitchen activities, a farmhouse sink probably isn't the best design. Properly allocating space is one of the keys to building a truly functional kitchen. 

Pro: There Are Tons of Options to Choose From

Among the many benefits provided by farmhouse sinks is access to a vast selection of eye-catching options. In addition to having an ample array of sink materials and colors to pick from, you'll find single-basin and double-basin designs as well as extra-wide options and options that come with or without sideboards.

Depending how you want you sink installed, there are additionally drop-in and under-mount styles.

Con: There's a Greater Risk of Chipped and Broken Dishes

Having a deeper kitchen sink means that your dishes will have longer to fall. This shouldn't be the problem if everyone in your household is careful when loading dishes in. If you have a few careless teenagers in residence or helpful, well-meaning toddlers, having a deeper sink could mean losing a few pieces in your most coveted collections and having to fish broken bits of glass out from time to time.

A farmhouse sink can be a stylish addition to any kitchen. However, it's important to carefully consider the pros and cons of a farmhouse sink before committing to this style. With the right materials and design, the benefits of having a farmhouse sink often trump the potential drawbacks.

To find out more about farmhouse kitchen sinks or to start planning your kitchen remodel, contact Edesia Kitchen & Bath Studio, Inc. today.