A good sink area is possibly the most basic essential, but its importance is very often overlooked.

Aside from its use for art activities, it can be vital for hand-washing, particularly if there are lunches being eaten prior to object-handling, etc. Sometimes architects prefer sinks to be hidden away in a cupboard, prioritising aesthetics over utility. While this is generally not possible for most sites, it can sometimes work in historic houses where there is a requirement or preference for period authenticity: here it usually necessitates a very large cupboard or small adjacent room.

For the majority of organisations, the sink area must be easily accessible and not hidden away. Double-bore drainage is the only way to avoid blockages. Sinks need to be deep enough to fill for soaking stained items. A common problem is specifying a flat draining board for a seamless look, which results in water dripping down onto the floor; a raked drainer solves this.