Bathrooms in manufactured homes may not be spacious enough as you would want them to be because of the compact design of this type of homes. However, a small bathroom does not have to feel cluttered or limiting.
You can easily make the most of the limited bathroom space by going small on items that occupy large spaces such as tubs and sinks.
When space is at issue, choosing a given size and type of sink can either break or make your bathroom.
Standard sinks found in small and averagely-sized bathrooms measure about 16″ to 20″ in diameter.
Most of the triangular sinks you would find in such bathrooms come with dimensions in the region of 19″ W x 24″ H and 16″ W x 23″ front to back. The depth is usually between 5″ to 8.”
Let’s Start Off With 2 Bathroom Sink Questions…..
Bear these questions in mind when choosing a sink for your not-so-big bathroom:
1. What Is the Traffic Like?
One individual or a small family of about 3 people won’t use the bathroom more frequently, so you will be fine with just one small sink.
A large family means more people hence high traffic.
This will call for not one but two sinks that are larger than most of the small-sized options you will find in the market.
2. What’s The Layout of Your Bathroom?
The layout of your bathroom determines the size of the sink you should buy because it also influences the size of the clearance around other items.
The most conducive layout should permit at least 760mm from the front edge of any fixture – toilet, basin, bath, shower, etc.
A layout that supports small toilets and showers will certainly permit small sinks. Nothing looks outlandish like trying to install small sinks in a bathroom with a supersize layout.
Related: Drain Shopping Tips
4 Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Sink for A Small and Average-Sized Bathroom
1. Design or Type of the Sink
The first and most important factor to consider is the type or design of the sink. Different types of sinks come in different designs. Your choices will be limited to just eight types of sinks:
- Drop-in Sinks
- Undermount sinks
- Vessel sinks
- Pedestal & Sinks
- Console Basin & Leg Combination Sinks
- Wall mount sinks
- Corner sinks
- Bathroom vanity tops
2. Best Designs for Small-Sized Bathrooms
Just three types of sinks are suitable for the smallest bathrooms out there:
- Console sinks
- Wall mount sinks
- Corner sinks
Console Sinks
Console sinks are a cross between wall-mount sinks and pedestal sinks minus the countertop. They come with exposed plumbing that assists in mounting them and the countertop to the wall.
They are often supported by four or two legs, but they can also stand on four legs.
The crossbar below them serves as a wiper or towel bar. If you are looking for sleek sinks that will synch with the modern aesthetics in your small bathroom, this is one of the best types of sinks you should consider.
Note that this type of sink does not come with a countertop. However, you will bump into models with shelves underneath them for storing your necessities.
The cost of this type of sink seldom falls below $200. Most of the sinks of this type you will find on Lowes, Home Depot, and Amazon fall in the brackets of $400 and $1,000.
High-end options can be as high as $2,000. This makes them some of the most expensive types of sinks you could ever lay your hands on.
Kingston Brass is one of the top suppliers of console sinks.
Most of their products are combos made from vitreous china or ceramic with two or four legs:
Kingston Brass Vitreous China 47 in. Double Console Table and Pedestal Legs Combo – Cost: $480
Dimensions: 47.75″ W x 19.3″ D x 33.9″ H
The simple and elegant design of this sink helps it achieve two things –
- compactness for a small bathroom and
- the ability to complement any type of décor you have in your space.
Kingston Brass 25 in. Ceramic Console Sink (8 in. in 3-Hole) with Stainless Steel Base in Matte Black – Cost: $500
Dimensions: 25-3/16 in. (L) x 22-1/16 in. (W) x 31-1/4 in. (H)
If you are looking for a compact and long-lasting sink that’s not prone to cracking and chipping easily, this is one of the best options you can choose.
The stainless-steel and solid ceramic construction make it both hardy and stain-resistant.
Related: What Causes Bathroom Sink Cracks?
Wall Mount Sinks
This type of sink is great for bathrooms where storage isn’t a major issue and the homeowner doesn’t require bulky vanity.
They are installed against the walls of the bathroom. Because the space immediately below them is largely left empty, this type of sink gives your already small bathroom a larger feel.
It is recommended that you leave the plumbing concealed inside the wall to give the space a clean look. There are pedestal models that imitate the appearance of wall-mount sinks.
Wall-mount sinks also happen to be some of the cheapest sinks out there, perfect for a small bathroom.
You can find products as cheap as $100, like these models from Barclay Products:
Barclay Products Eden 450 Corner Wall-Mount Sink in White – Cost: $94
Dimensions: 17-3/4 in. W x 18-3/4 in. D x 6-1/8 in. H
A compact wide edged sink with ample storage space for soap and your bottles of sanitizers. The solid vitreous china construction is a guarantee for durability.
Barclay Products Corner Wall-Mounted Bathroom Sink in White – Cost: $89
Dimensions: 15.87 in. W x 19.87 in. L x 8 in. D
This is the perfect wall-mounted compact sink you can install in your bathroom to take advantage of the empty space we often leave in the corner of the room. With your sink in the corner, it is hard to know it even exists in the room.
The above are some of a tiny crop of wall-mounted sinks you could find in the market.
However, most wall-mounted sinks you will find on Amazon, Lowes, and Home Depot come with price tags in the range of $100 and $250.
This range is within the means of most homeowners. Even the most high-end options seldom go past $350.
3. Best Designs for Mid-Sized Bathrooms
If your bathroom falls between small and large, these bathroom designs can be appropriate for you:
- Drop-in Sinks
- Undermount sinks
- Vessel sinks
- Pedestal & Sinks
Of course, your choices will still depend on the specific layout and size of your bathroom in addition to your personal preferences.
Average-sized bathrooms are often referred to as small full-size bathrooms.
For a bathroom to qualify as a small full-size bathroom, it must be at least 36 to 40 ft (square feet – note that the height is not a factor here).
Drop Sinks
This type of sink has no other defining feature other than being a self-rimming.
The best thing about drop-in sinks is that they come in a diverse style.
Installation is easy – just drop one in a pre-cut hole with slightly larger dimensions and it will fit perfectly, ready to hold water.
If you find options that are perfect for your bathroom, you will benefit from the lack of lips between them and the edge of the countertop which tend to trap debris.
A typical drop-in sink will cost you between $200 and $1,000 to install – this includes the cost of the sink, transport, and the fee you’ll pay to the installation guy.
Most of the drop-in sinks you will find on Amazon, Lowes, and Home Depot cost between $30 and $150. This makes them some of the most affordable sinks out there for an averagely-sized bathroom.
KOHLER suppliers some of the best drop-in sinks in the market today. Here are some of their products worth considering:
KOHLER Memoirs Stately Drop-In Vitreous China Bathroom Sink in White with Overflow Drain – Cost: $154
Dimensions: N/A
This is part of the Memoirs collection, KOHLER’s family of sinks with a stately design that draws inspiration from some of the finest traditional furniture and architecture.
If you are looking for a stylish yet compact drop-in sink, you might want to consider this product.
KOHLER Archer Drop-In Vitreous China Bathroom Sink in White with Overflow Drain – Cost: $122
Dimensions: 19.43 in. W x 22.63 in. x L 7.87 in. D
The timeless appeal of this sink combined with its compact size makes it perfect for a mid-size bathroom with any type of décor.
KOHLER Memoirs Classic Drop-In Vitreous China Bathroom Sink in White with Overflow Drain – Cost: $190
Dimensions: 10 in. W x 19.125 in. L x 7.25 in. D
Yet another vitreous china drop-in sink with pre-drilled homes that further ease the already easy drop-in way of installation.
Undermount Sinks
This type of sinks comes with clean lines and puts emphasis on the look of the rest of the countertop. They are mounted beneath the countertop. There is no rim between them and the countertop.
The best thing about this type of sinks is that they come in an array of sizes that can be installed in any mid-size and large bathrooms. Here, we will take a glimpse at the models that are fit for a mid-size bathroom found in averagely sized manufactured homes.
The biggest benefit with undermount sinks is that they don’t collect dirt as often as the types with crevices between them and the countertop. This means you will spend less time cleaning your undermount sink.
According to Home Advisor, an undermount sink costs between $170 and $2000 to install inclusive of the cost of the sink, transportation, and labor.
Most of the undermount sink options you will find on Amazon, Home Depot, and Lowes costs between $30 and $150. As you can tell, they are some of those sinks you’d easily buy even on the tightest budget.
KOHLER supplies some of the high-quality undermount sinks in America, and these two are some of their outstanding products:
KOHLER Caxton Vitreous China Undermount Bathroom Sink in White with Overflow Drain – Cost: $79
If you fancy round sinks then you will love this product although it isn’t a perfect circle; it’s more of an oval with decorative edges.
The best part is that the maker ships it in diverse colors to match a range of decors. It will require a counter-mount or wall faucet.
KOHLER Archer Vitreous China Undermount Bathroom Sink in White with Overflow Drain – Cost: $129
This is an undermount member of the extended Archer family of different types of sinks supplied by KOHLER.
Its boxy rectangular design could complement other members of the Archer suite you may already be having in your bathroom.
Pedestal Sinks
The defining feature of this type of sink is the pedestal on which the perches on instead of hanging flush on a countertop.
Pedestal sinks are good for all sizes of bathrooms; you just need to be particular with the size.
The biggest advantage of the pedestal sink is its sleek and space-saving design.
Much of the sides of the sink are left empty because they stand on a pedestal rather than depending on the countertop for support.
This design is also its biggest flaw – the user has to install a separate counter on the wall to place the soap and other toiletries.
Most of the pedestal sinks you will find in major home supply stores, whether web-based or physical box, costs between $50 and $250.
American Standards supplies some of the best pedestal sinks in North America. They include:
American Standards Evolution Pedestal Combo Bathroom Sink in White – Cost: $117
Dimensions: 18.25 in. W x 11 in. L x 6 in. D
This company’s Evolution line of sinks consists of products designed with space-saving in mind. The near flawless vitreous china finish is resistant to stains.
American Standards Boulevard Pedestal Combo Bathroom Sink in White – Cost: $228
Dimension: 12.5 in. W x 17 in. L x 5 in. D
If you can’t add a full vanity in your small or mid-size bathroom, you can opt for this elegant pedestal sink.
The best thing is that the maker supplies it complete with a mounting kit.
The faucets that accompany this type of sink often mount on the wall but it is not uncommon to find them installed in such a way that they are rising up from the countertop.
Vessel/Countertop Sinks
Vessel sinks are some of the most popular types of sinks in all sizes of bathrooms.
They are installed to rest on top of the counter.
If you want to make a bold design statement, this is the best type of sink for you.
Countertop sinks are usually a very practical type of basins to choose from. They tend to be more spacious than most other types of sinks.
The most compact countertop sink looks bigger than its comparable model of another type, say, pedestal or undermount. The fact that they rest on the counter helps prevent water from spilling and splashing all over the place.
Pricewise, this type of sinks is very much like most other popular types of sinks. Most of the models you will find on Home Depot, Amazon, and Lowes cost between $40 and $200.
VIGO makes some outstanding countertop sinks perfect for small and mid-size bathrooms:
VIGO Russet Glass Vessel Bathroom Sink in Red with Seville Faucet in Oil Rubbed Bronze – Cost: $204
Dimensions: 17-7/8 in. L X 13 in. W X 4 in. H
The solid tempered glass construction of this sink serves two purposes –
- it makes the sink scratch-resistant and
- makes it an absolute gem of a sink that doesn’t need to complement the décor in your bathroom.
They are supplied together with their own faucets and mounting hardware, all handmade.
VIGO Titanium Handmade Glass Round Vessel Bathroom Sink in Slate Grey – Cost: $79
Dimensions: 16.5 in. L x 16.5 in. W x 6 in. H
Like most sinks from VIGO, this sink is hand-painted and polished with tempered glass which makes them scratch-resistant and easy to clean.
Install one above the counter in your bathroom to save on space and bring a contemporary look in the space.
4. Faucets
It is easy to overlook the importance of faucets when shopping for compact sinks for your bathroom.
Most homeowners don’t remember to consider the type of faucet that would work with their sink options until it’s too late.
It is recommended that you buy these items together because faucets don’t fit on just any type of sink. If you wish to buy the sink first before faucets, remember to consider the mounting type, finish, and color.
The right type of faucet can work flawlessly with your sink and even compliment the décor in your bathroom.
Related: How To Remodel A Mobile Home Bathroom
Conclusion
Choosing a sink for your small mobile home bathroom can be as easy as ABC, just understand the layout, your needs, and the dimensions and choose sinks that will work for the specifications.
The most preferred types of sinks for small bathrooms are console sinks, wall-mount and corner sinks.
You still can find the right size of sink for your small and mid-size bathroom from other types of sinks.