Decorating Kitchen Decor & Design Kitchen Sinks & Faucets Double Kitchen Sinks These two-bowl sinks maximize flexibility in the kitchen work zone. Keep these important tips in mind as you shop for a new sink. By Renee Freemon Mulvihill Renee Freemon Mulvihill Website Renee has been writing and editing for home and garden magazines for 25 years. She served as an American Society of Magazine Editors intern in 1996 at House Beautiful and has been specializing in home remodeling, decorating, organizing, and gardening content ever since. She is currently a Master Gardener intern in Iowa. She enjoys doing research and is committed to continually learning more about the latest home and garden trends.Renee Freemon Mulvihill began her career in New York City, working on the staff of Country Living Gardener, Rebecca's Garden, and the House Beautiful Special Interest Publications. After moving to Des Moines, she worked on the staff of several Better Homes & Gardens publications, including Remodeling Ideas, Beautiful New Homes, and Before & After. Since 2005 she has been a freelance writer and editor, contributing to many of the Better Homes & Gardens publications and serving as the contributing editor for Secrets of Getting Organized, Dream Kitchens & Baths, and Living the Country Life. She has also contributed to several Real Simple titles, including Real Simple Clutter-Free Home and Real Simple Secrets to a Clean Home, The Home Edit, and Reveal. In recent years, Renee has specialized in storage and organizing content and has interviewed many professional organizers across the country in order to share their tips with readers. Renee earned a Bachelor of Arts in Magazine Journalism with an Area of Concentration in Graphic Design from Drake University, in Des Moines, Iowa. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on June 8, 2015 Share Tweet Pin Email Double kitchen sinks, also known as double-bowl sinks, include a central partition that separates the sink into two sections. The sinks are often rectangular in shape, but D-shaped sinks with a curved back are also available. The D-shaped sinks offer slightly more workspace since they maximize the area that is available from front to back. Equal-sized bowls are common, but you can also choose a model with one bowl that is smaller than the other. Other divided sinks feature a lower divider between the two bowls, so you can more easily wash cookie sheets or large pans but still enjoy the multi-taking capabilities of a double bowl sink. Pros and Cons Double-bowl sinks allow you to do more than one task at once; for example, you can wash dishes in one side and rinse dishes in the other. They are also handy if there is more than one cook in the kitchen. However, double-bowl sinks don't accommodate large pots or baking sheets as well as single-bowl sinks and since they take up more space they may not be the best choice for small kitchens. Installation Considerations Double sinks are wider than single-bowl models and will take up more counter space -- so think carefully about whether a larger sink or more counter space is most important to you. If you are replacing a sink but not remodeling your kitchen, you'll want to find a sink that matches the existing sink cutout. You may be able to expand the cutout and get a larger sink, but the size of your sink will be limited by the interior width of your sink cabinet. Be sure to measure carefully before going shopping. Double kitchen sinks are available as drop-in, undermount, integral, tile-in, and apron-front models. The material that your sink is made from and the surrounding countertop will help determine which installation is best. When installing the sink, be sure to position the sink, garbage disposal, and dishwasher to maximize efficiency. It's usually more convenient to install the garbage disposal on the same side as the dishwasher, for example. If the double bowl sink features bowls of differing size, consider installing the garbage disposal in the smaller sink and placing the smaller sink closest to the dishwasher. Also ensure the sink is installed at a height that will be comfortable for you, to help avoid fatigue and strain. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit