A kitchen sink isn’t just somewhere to throw dirty dishes, it’s often the focal point of a new kitchen and, therefore, needs choosing carefully. And, the choice isn’t just about looks, it’s also about how easy the sink is to clean, how big it is and whether or not it needs integrated draining. Here are some of the best kitchen sinks for inspiration.

1 Seamless finish

Designed to slot effortlessly into three worksurfaces – quartz, solid surface or stone – the SASO single undermount sink from Caple has only the base and overflow on show. The rest of the sink is clad in the worktop material for a sleek, minimalist look. Each side is angled for easy cleaning in the corners and edges and you can choose from five finishes – gold, copper, black steel, stainless steel or gunmetal -£624.

2 Scratch Resistant

Franke’s Mythos Masterpiece BXM 210/110-60 single bowl metallic sink in copper incorporates exclusive F-Inox technology, which fuses a special coating to the coloured PVD layer to create a smooth surface that’s highly scratch and stain resistant. It also pools water like liquid mercury and keeps watermarks and fingerprints at bay – £1,435.

3 Coloured granite

As an alternative to stainless steel, which can scratch easily, the Haven 100 granite sink in Stone Grey from Carron Phoenix is an undermount design that can be fitted within a range of worksurface materials including granite, marble, wood and solid surface. This single bowl model fits a 600mm cabinet and is stain, scratch and temperature resistant to 280˚C. It also comes in Polar White, Coffee and Matt Black -£450.

4 Flexible installation

Make a statement with your sink with Rangemaster’s Austell 1.5 bowl fireclay ceramic inset model in Matt Black. This easy-clean and stain, scratch and heat resistant design is perfect for family kitchens and complements all kitchen styles as well as a wide variety of worksurface materials thanks to its sit-on design – £599.

5 Durable design

Stainless steel is still a popular choice for kitchen sinks and this Monza 860 inset single bowl design from Clearwater is great for a like-for-like swap. It features sharp radius bowls for a crisp look, attractive drainer grooves and a great value price. Made in Italy, its contemporary style has a brushed silk stainless steel finish that suits both classic and modern cabinets – £340.

6 Double bowl

For a farmhouse kitchen with a modern feel, the Hawkshaw apron-fronted double bowl fireclay 800mm sink from Shaws of Darwen has an offset dividing wall, so the larger bowl is more than twice as big as the smaller one. The low divide allows you to fill both sides with water at the same time and is great for large baking trays and sizeable pots and pans – £1,078.80.

7 Customisable accessories

The ZENUNO10 700 OPTIONS handmade single bowl undermount sink from The 1810 Company is the ultimate stainless steel workstation with customisable components including colander, garnish pots, drainer bars and chopping board. In premium grade stainless steel, this multifunctional hub is perfect for hardworking kitchens and comes in four different configurations with a choice of seven accessories -£1,325.50.