There are a lot of decisions that need to be made when selecting all your finishes and fixtures for your new bathroom design. The type of basin you select is an important decision as it can change the height and design of your vanity. We therefore always recommend selecting your basin before finalising your vanity design. If you're feeling overwhelmed with the options or just not sure what will work best for you, we have put together a quick guide to the types of basins we use the most in our designs:
1 | Under-mount
Undermount basins sit under the benchtop, glued to the underside and then siliconed around the edges. Because of this, they can only be installed on stone or solid surface benchtops, not laminate or timber. Since they sit under the benchtop, they also take up some space within your vanity, which needs to be taken into consideration when designing the vanity layout. However, they create a really clean, minimal and contemporary look which allows other features of the bathroom to become a focus.
2 | Above-mount
On the other side, above-mount basins sits on top of the benchtop, taking up no space within the vanity and can be placed onto any type of benchtop material. Because they stand out a lot more than the undermount basins, above-mount basins can become a feature in the room. As a result there are a lot more options available for sizes, shapes, colours, materials and textures. Some types we love to use include concrete basins, natural stone basins or basins with a ribbed or textured finish on the outside. The main downside to selecting an above-mount basin is that, depending on the shape of the basin, they can be more difficult to clean around them.
3 | Semi-inset
Semi-inset basins are a combination between undermount and above-mount, so the basin sits half under and half on top of the benchtop. This means the basin can again be mounted onto any type of benchtop, it is more subtle than an above-mount and takes up less space within the vanity than an under-mount.
4 | Semi-recessed
Semi-recessed basins look similar to semi-inset basins, however, they hang over the front edge of the vanity. This means that only the back section of the basin needs to sit within the vanity, making it a great option for smaller bathrooms where you're unable to have a 500mm deep vanity.
5 | Pedestal
A pedestal basin is a stand alone basin with no vanity or storage. It consists of the basin itself plus a floor stand below, usually in a matching finish. These can feel a bit old-school but there are now some lovely classic and contemporary designs available in a range of colours and finishes. Pedestal basins are perfect for small bathrooms or powder rooms where there isn't enough space for a vanity.
6 | Wall-mounted
Wall mount basins are similar to a pedestal basin, except that they have no stand, so that it is only a basin mounted onto a wall. Again, these are perfect for very small bathrooms and powder rooms as they take up minimal space. These also come in a range of sizes, shapes, colours and finishes. If using a wall-mounted basin, you will also need a bottle trap, which is used under the basin to replace the traditional waste piping for a much neater and clean finish. Bottle traps come in many finishes so that you can match your tapware finish.
Additional Tip - Bench Height
We recommend sticking with an overall height of 900mm to the top of your basin. That means that the benchtop itself would finish at 900mm high for an undermount basin. However, for the other type of basins, the vanity benchtop would be lower so that the basin itself finishes at 900mm instead.
I hope this guide has been helpful! If you want to find out more about how we can help you with your project, get in contact with us below:
Have a wonderful week!
Nina xx