While the look of your kitchen does matter when choosing a sink, you should also think about what your needs are. See our guide to the sizes and styles available.
With so many styles available, here’s what you need to know how to choose the right kitchen sink:
Ceramic
Ceramic sinks are chemical, stain and heat resistant, but can chip easily and should be dried after use to avoid limescale marks. Many come in the Belfast style (below).
Classic kitchen workstation, £445, Brass and Traditional Sinks
Stainless steel
Steel cleans well with ordinary detergent - but scratches easily, so avoid scourers and neat bleach. Buffing with a dry cloth after use will help maintain the finish and avoid limescale build-up. Comes in a variety of designs – from circular to square.
VQ40FN sink, £329, Smeg
Composite
Composite sinks are made from rock or quartz crystals and resin, and are resistant to scratches, stains, heat, chemicals and colour-fading. They are easy to clean with normal detergents and water, and come in a range of colours and designs.
Lausanne sink, £321, Astracast
Corian
Corian is a solid surface material that’s stain-resistant and durable. It can be formed into any shape so can be used to create a sink that joins seamlessly to the worktop. Available in over 70 colours, it’s easy to clean with soapy water.
Corian sink, £300 per linear m, Corian
Copper and wood
These are unusual options. Copper sinks develop their own patina with age, but you can seal them to maintain your chosen finish. Teak is the most popular choice for wood sinks as its natural oils repel water.
Etienne copper sink, £1,250, The Eclectica Partnership
If you thought buying a shower tray was simple, think again.
You’ll want as much showering space as is possible to squeeze into your bathroom, but the size and shape of a tray can impact the position and size of other fittings, and can vary in cost depending on what material it’s made from and what sort of screen is required.
Check out our top tips for buying the right shower tray.
SQUARE
This standard shape is a versatile option – sizes range from 76sq cm to a more luxurious 90sq cm – and it can be positioned in a corner, along a wall or even in the middle of the room.
Cast stone resin tray (W76cm x D76cm x H5.5cm), £39.98, B&Q
PENTAGONAL
This tray fits neatly into a corner and is designed to take up as little floor space as possible – the ideal choice if you want to squeeze a separate shower enclosure into a compact bathroom.
LA Genta low-profile pentagonal shower tray (W90cm x D90cm x H3.5cm), £120, Bathroom Heaven
QUADRANT
Thanks to the curved front of this design, there’s a little more showering space than the pentagonal tray but it needs a curved shower screen, which is more expensive than a flat screen.
Quadrant acrylic capped stone resin tray (W80cm x D80cm x H3.5cm), £109, Flight range, Mira Showers
RECTANGULAR
Got a large bathroom? Go for maximum showering space with a rectangular design. They start from around 120cm long, but you can get them the same length as a bath (170cm).
Superplan XXL steel enamel tray (W170cm x D75cm x H4.7cm), £523, Kaldewei
DRYING AREA
A tray with its own drying area allows you to towel off before stepping out of the shower so you don’t need to use a bath mat or duck board – handy if you’ve got the space for it.
Tefeli stone resin tray (W123.5cm x D88.5cm x H18cm), £275, Vogue Bathrooms
LOW-LEVEL
Usually available in square or rectangular shapes, low-level trays are recessed into the floor and are increasingly popular as they create the feel of a wet room without the expense and hassle of having to waterproof the entire floor area. Tile up to the edges for a smart finish.
Sculptures low-level tray (W120cm x D80cm), from £325, Roman
Check out our top tips for buying the right shower tray.
Which material?
Acrylic and plastic are common types of tray as they’re lightweight and affordable, but they can chip and crack. An increasingly popular option is stone resin, which is strong, luxurious-looking and easy to install. Corian is also an extremely durable material, but is more expensive than stone resin. Ceramic is hard wearing and resistant to even the most abrasive cleaners, but is heavy and difficult to install. If money’s no object, natural stone gives a spa-style finish, but is extremely heavy and may not be suitable for some floors.
Where can I put it?
Almost anywhere, although obviously it depends on the position of windows and doors. The direction the joists run will also affect where you can put the waste pipe – ask your plumber for advice.
What size tray?
As big as you have space for. Draw a scale plan of your room and try different tray shapes and sizes, not forgetting to factor in the added dimensions of false walls to house pipework for the shower and trajectory of the door.
What colour?
White is the most popular colour, but trays are also available in cream and a pinky colour called pergamon. Some stone resin trays can still be ordered in ‘discontinued’ colours such as champagne, avocado and turquoise – visit www.tubz.co.uk for details.
Are all trays suitable for all enclosures?
Not necessarily. To ensure your tray and enclosure fit well together, buy both from the same retailer.
Use these tricks to make the most of the storage space in your children’s bedroom.
* Organise their space efficiently. Store toys in a variety of containers, combining see-through plastic crates, trunks and toy boxes with tubs, baskets, over-door organisers and mini-drawers.
* Sort the small stuff. Use clear plastic jars with lids (old sweet jars are ideal) for storing small toys suchs as figurines, marbles, badges and Lego for over three-year olds.
* Choose the right storage. Drawers and shelves are more useful than hanging space, so go for wardrobes that give you all three. Fill the bottom of the wardrobe with plastic baskets for storing socks, underwear, nightwear and shoes.
* Under bed storage. Use the space under the bed for storing seasonal clothing, coats, and extra bedding. Plastic drawers on castors are ideal, or go for soft canvas zip up bags that can expand to fit more in.
* Hanging basket storage. Find storage space you never knew you had by hanging wall-hung baskets by the bed, in a line above a desk and on the back of a door. They are ideal for pencils, pens and crafty bits, and hanging them at kid height encourages them to put things away after play.
Painting is one of those jobs that most homeowners will tackle themselves before paying a professional. It’s also one of those jobs that looks easier than it is. Anyone can slop paint on a wall, but not many can make it look like a professional job. Here are some tips to make your next painting project look like it was done by an expert. It may take a few more steps, but it’s well worth the effort.
1. Wipe down all woodwork with a cleaner. Paint adheres better to a clean surface. Sand all the trim, doors and windows and vacuum and wipe with a tack cloth.
2. Before using your paintbrush soak it in water (if being used with latex paint), or paint thinner (for use with oil-based paint). Flex the bristles to spread the liquid right into the base of the brush and spin or shake it dry. This step will make your brush easier to clean later. When you open the paint can, use a nail to drive holes in the U-track around the top of the can. This allows the paint to drain back into the can after pouring.
3. Prime any bare woodwork before applying final coat. When molded doors, paint the rails first, then the inside panel, and finally the stiles or outside frame. Allow to dry overnight and sand with a 220-grit sandpaper. Vacuum and dust once again.
4. Use Dap or spackling compound to fill any nail holes or cracks. Once dry, sand lightly if necessary and paint with primer.
5. Caulk all the gaps between the trim or baseboard and the walls to create a nice clean line. To smooth the caulking, wet your finger and run it along the the line.
6. It’s time to paint the ceiling. Cut in or paint a 2 to 2 1/2 inch stripe along the outside edges of the ceiling. Wipe away any paint that touches the walls. Using a roller, complete the rest of the ceiling by dividing your strokes into a 3-foot section. Work your way across the room, one square at a time.
7. Now begin the finish coat on your trim, windows, and baseboard. Once dry, sand lightly and dust with a tack cloth. Next, apply your finish coat. When painting window trim, if you get paint on the glass, let it dry and then scrape it off. Dampen the glass first to prevent scratching it with the window scraper.
Some use the paint as a sealant from moisture. To do this, hold the edge of a wide putty knife blade against the glass, flat side against the wood, and scrape up to it. You’ll end up with an even strip of paint on the glass about the thickness of the blade.
8. Once the baseboard is dry, cover the top of the trim with blue masking tape. Using a brush, cut in around windows and door trim, then along baseboard and finally at the ceiling or crown molding. Use an extension handle on your roller to paint the walls. Just as with the ceiling, envision a 3 or 4 foot square and fill in working from the top down. Use a putty knife to remove any paint nubs on the wall once the paint dries. Finish with a final coat and remove the masking tape as soon as the paint has set. Don’t wait too long or you may pull off some of the drywall with the tape. Resist the urge to yank the tape, but instead pull it slowly and evenly to avoid ripping it.
A home renovation is a serious matter. If you are planning one, it will not hurt if you check out these suggestions:
1. Supervise the home renovation. More than anyone else, you are the person who is in the best position regarding renovating your home. You might not know anything about construction, but leaving your home builder contractor alone without your oversight places your house in danger. Changes might be made without your consent, or worse, your plan might not be followed. When it comes to your house remodeling, it is important that you are able to talk professionally with the people that you will be working with. If you are not confident to oversee the renovation by yourself, you can ask a friend or a relative with more knowledge.
2. Prepare for the house renovation. During the time period while your house is being renovated, you might have to transfer temporarily to another house. Plan your renovation well. You might want to fix one area at a time so that you won’t have to live in another place while your house is being renovated. When you want to renovate your kitchen, design a good strategy. It is difficult to move around the house when it is the kitchen that is being renovated. More importantly, you won’t be able to perform some tasks with your kitchen disabled.
3. Do some parts of your home renovation yourself. You might want to get your hand on your house renovation. For the easy parts, save labor costs by doing them yourself. You can even enlist your family and make it a family activity. To balance this off, make sure that you don’t get overly enthusiastic and do even the difficult parts. Leave the crucial tasks such as plumbing and electricity to the experts.
4. Secure the permits you have to get before you start your home renovation. Home renovation is very similar to home building. There are rules and regulations governing these activities, so it is best to check in your local area or state which permits you have to secure. Make sure that you follow all rules and regulations in your area. If you hired a contractor, he is the one responsible to secure necessary permits.