Utility Sink

Erin
by Erin
I have an old utility sink that I bought to use as a kitchen sink for our soon to be cabin home but it's kind of ugly. How would you make it look better?
  17 answers
  • Lori J Lori J on Nov 28, 2013
    Add a gingham skirt...maybe find a cheerful shower curtain fabric (that is already water repellent) and make skirting?
  • Carole Carole on Nov 28, 2013
    You could paint it a funky bold colour. Even if it is metal you should still be able to paint it if you use the right type of paint. Stencil if you know how or perhaps stripes (use masking tape to get the straight edges and a little sponge roller).
  • Polly Zieper Polly Zieper on Nov 28, 2013
    changing the knob on the bottom cabinet would be easy, you could also use shelf paper or remnants of wallpaper, cut to size, glued to the door of that cabinet, and glued to the front of the sink itself.
    • Carole Carole on Nov 28, 2013
      @Polly Zieper I agree although you would need to put some sort of protective water proof coat over the paper if this sink is being used as a sink. I think you can get paint on or spray on stuff that would fix that and make it nice and waterproof!!
  • Polly Zieper Polly Zieper on Nov 28, 2013
    Possibly, Carole, but many wallpapers are made water and humidity protective, since they are used in high-water- or humid rooms.
  • Erin Erin on Nov 29, 2013
    Is there any kind of paint that I can paint the sink basin itself that will last a while? It'll probably get alot of use doing dishes and what not.
  • Z Z on Nov 29, 2013
    I think it's cute just the way it is for a cabin, but yes, painting it a fun color would look so cute too. You could even stencil a design on it. As for the sink itself, you'd have to make sure it was food safe as you'll be washing dishes in it. I think, for safeties sake I'd leave it alone. What does the rest of your cabin look like?
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Nov 29, 2013
    I see color! Spray paint in a can comes in every possible bright color! I could imagine a bright red or green sink in my cabin! They make paint for metal and plastic! And the copper on is stunning! We have it on an old metal bench my son got off the side of the road and put on new wood.
  • Susan Cryor Susan Cryor on Nov 30, 2013
    enjoy the extra space the cabinet provides.....wish mine had one!
  • Dana Corby Dana Corby on Nov 30, 2013
    They make epoxy paint for showers & sinks, Erin, but I'm not at all sure it would stand up to the kind of abuse a sink gets. It might be best to paint only the outside edge and live with the inside. I love the cabinet, and would change the knob, as Polly suggests, and put a matching handle on the upper panel just for decor. You could also glue on old picture frames for a 'panel' effect on both the door & the upper panel.
  • Frankie Laney Frankie Laney on Nov 30, 2013
    I would leave the sink as is and paint and stencil the cabinet and change out the knob. You can find stencils for any designs, i.e., nature, French country, or just decorative. I've found two sources that I have used and just love their stencils. One is @Royal Design Stencils and another is @Cutting Edge Stencils. Both have an awesome selection. You could paint just the outside of the sink area and that might help too.
  • Stacie Brugger Stacie Brugger on Nov 30, 2013
    Use clear or gray silicone sealer and glue small flat rocks to the base. Fit them together in a mosaic pattern. If you want, you can then use grout to finish off the spaces between the rocks. You will have to lay it down and work on one side at a time... It will be a little heavy, but it will look old and unique.
  • Patricia W Patricia W on Dec 01, 2013
    I have the same one in my laundry room. I just left mine alone, I use it to clean all of my brushes, muddy shoes, just use it.
  • Polly Zieper Polly Zieper on Dec 01, 2013
    I have one in my garage, never made it pretty, because we wash paint brushes and muddy sneakers in it.
  • Erin Erin on Dec 02, 2013
    I love the ideas! Any more suggestions? Anyone know of a 'food safe' paint for the interior? Rustoleum has a tub and tile renewing kit, do you think that would work?
  • Sharon Reynolds Sharon Reynolds on Sep 03, 2014
    just because its extremely functional does not mean that it cant be pretty!!....I just covered some barstools with oil cloth...it is gorgeous, has a kitchen theme and I just wipe them down...now that material was upholstered on, but I have had great success with spray adhesion on ugly icky particle board and used oil cloth on it...so far so good, but still would probably need a protectant around so much water???...just to be sure....
  • Ysm1000860 Ysm1000860 on Jan 07, 2015
    There is a blogger Kammy's Korner that has experimented with painting sinks, tubs, and counters using different techniques. The paint made for it (mentioned by other commenter) will work but can wear off with time. Like someone else stated I would paint the outside only, possibly with a border stencil to match the inside. Rustoleum spray paint would be the best option for the cabinet. I would also consider having someone with a cricut, cut a frame or molding out of magnetic sheeting for a slight dimensional detail. This could be painted the same or as a contrast to the cabinet.
  • Bonnie witlam Bonnie witlam on Jan 24, 2016
    Know this is kinda late in the game, but from the look of the existing sink, I'd probably go with some spray enamel paint. Possible do the front corners to look like legs, matching the sink itself. Then the cabinet doors and the rest of the sides u could choose a color to match u r new kitchen decor? Or u could use contact paper, they sell still for backslashes, that look like tile and brick. Kinda depends on the rest of u r kitchen. Good luck on u r new home!!!