#Before you buy.

Before you buy.

Even if you and your dishwasher are joint at the hip, you'll still rely on your kitchen sink for soaking your largest baking trays, washing out your most delicate glassware and rinsing your fruit and veg, so consider these factors before buying:

1) Size matters: Most people favour a one-and-a-half or two-bowl setup with a drainer, which lets you wash up and prep food simultaneously.

2) Materials: Make sure you consider the materials before buying.

Ceramic is enjoying a renaissance, being a materials with wow factor, but remember it can stain and scratch, so consider buying a sink mat for protection.

Synthetic sinks are a better choice as they are more durable, reasonably inexpensive and come in a range of colours.

Stone composites are even more hardwearing, and super-hygienic as they are non-porous. They also give you more choice in terms of colour and texture.

Stainless-steel sinks score the most Brownie points for practicalilty, easy maintenance and affordability, but modern designs can look out of place in a traditional setting.

3) Inset or undermounted?

As the name suggests, undermounted sinks are fixed to the bottom of the worktop, freeing up more workspace, and giving you a slick look (but no drainer). They're a no-no for laminate surfaces, as you wont be able to seal the edges of the cut-out. Inset or drop-in sinks are the easiest to fit, particularly if you have a wood surface - granites, slates and composites will need to be templated for the sink cut-out.

Ready to buy? Click on to flick through our pick of the best kitchen sinks on the high street