Pros and Cons of Pedestal Sinks for the Bathroom

Maybe you’ve just purchased your first house, a little fixer-upper with tons of potential.

Or perhaps you have decided that you want to start building your dream home.

In either of these situations, you are going to have to make a lot of decisions, including which style of sink to put in each bathroom. If you have found yourself feeling indecisive about the sink issue, no need to worry!

Listed in this article are some of the major pedestal sinks pros and cons to consider when designing your perfect bathroom. This list will hopefully help you decide whether or not a pedestal sink will work for you.

The first thing you need to think about is the space you are working with. Whether you are remodelling an existing bathroom or building a new one, some of the biggest pros and cons of pedestal sinks can be found by asking yourself these four questions:

1. How big is space?
2. How many people will be regularly using the room?
3. What style/look do you like or want?
4. What is the function of the room?

1. How Big is Space?

Is the bathroom large or small? If you are dealing with a smaller space, such as a powder room or half bath, a pedestal sink would be a great choice. Pedestal sinks generally take up less space than a traditional vanity.

In a smaller bathroom, a pedestal sink would fill the space nicely without making it look or feel too tight. Pedestal sinks do not offer much storage, but there are some great small bathroom ideas online to help combat this problem. For example, you can install cabinets or decorative (and functional) shelving above the toilet for added storage.

2. How Many People Will Be Regularly Using the Room?

As you may already know, more people means you need more space and more storage. If this is a bathroom where all of your kids are going to be getting ready for school each morning, you may want to rethink your style of sink. Obviously, as aforementioned, pedestal sinks do not offer the kind of storage that a vanity with cabinets would offer. Another thing to consider is how much counter space is needed.

Do you have children who use curling irons, flat irons, and hair dryers?

Unless there is a separate area where they can use these tools, a pedestal sink may not be the best option for this particular bathroom. Also, depending on how many people will be sharing the space, you may find that multiple sinks (or more counter space) would better suit the needs of those using it.

3. What Style/Look Do You Like or Want?

Do you like the way pedestal sinks look?

Some people do not, while others love they way they look. If you are looking for a simple, clean, traditional look, a pedestal sink would probably be a good choice for you. As mentioned earlier, pedestal sinks can also make the room feel more open. There are thousands of styles to choose from as well, so if a pedestal sink is what you are looking for, you would most likely be able to find one that matches your personal style.

4. What is the Function of the Room?

If this is a half bath or powder room, strictly for freshening up and washing hands, a pedestal sink is a nice, functional choice. They are also simple to maintain and clean. However, as discussed previously, pedestal sinks will not provide extra storage or counter space. If this is a smaller bathroom serving as a primary bathroom, you may want to opt for a small vanity to have a little more storage.

Cheryl Kahn, a designer at Tradewinds Imports.com, has also compiled a list of pedestal sinks pros and cons. In addition to what has already been listed, she suggests that pedestal sinks are highly durable and they eliminate counter top clutter. However, Khan points out that pedestal sinks can be more expensive than a small vanity, and they may detract potential home buyers.

So, if you are planning on selling your home in the future you may want to keep that in mind. Pedestal sinks also typically require a plumber to install them, as more skill is required to hide plumbing lines.

To recap, here is a list of the pedestal sink pros and cons to consider as you move forward with your house project.

PROS

• Great for smaller spaces
• Gives the room a more “open” feel
• Simple to maintain and clean
• Very durable
• Eliminates counter top clutter

CONS

• Provides no storage
• Very little usable counter space
• Can be more expensive than a small vanity
• May detract potential home buyers
• May require a plumber’s expertise and skill to install

In conclusion, no one can really tell you whether or not a pedestal sink is a right fit for you. It is completely up to you to make that decision! Hopefully, by asking yourself these questions and looking at the list of pedestal sinks pros and cons, you will have a better idea of what you want. Now go and tackle that bathroom project!