A Guide to Art Basins

An art basin is a sculptural, above-counter bowl that sits on top of the vanity like an object in its own right. It's the quickest way to give a bathroom a designer feel, and comes in enough shapes, materials and finishes to suit anything from a soft coastal scheme to a sharp, contemporary one.

Shapes and materials

Art basins come in round, oval, rectangular and organic forms, in ceramic, stone, concrete and solid-surface materials. Ceramic is the practical all-rounder — hard, non-porous and easy to clean — while stone and concrete bring texture and a matte, tactile surface. Thin-rim (“ultra-slim”) ceramic basins have become popular because the fine edge looks refined without losing durability. Choose a shape that leaves enough flat bench either side for day-to-day items.

Height and tapware

Because the bowl sits on the bench rather than in it, an above-counter basin raises the working height. Pair a shorter vanity or allow for the extra height so the rim lands comfortably — around 800–850mm to the top of the bowl suits most people. Tapware needs to clear the rim, so use a tall basin mixer or a wall-mounted spout, and check the spout reaches over the centre of the bowl.

Waste and cleaning

Most art basins have no overflow, which means an unslotted pop-up or plug-and-waste. The upside is there’s no overflow channel to discolour; the trade-off is you shouldn’t leave the tap running with the plug in. A quick wipe after use keeps stone and concrete looking their best.

See the range near you

If you’re planning a bathroom in the Illawarra region, you can explore a range of designer and bespoke basins at Just Bathrooms, a local showroom near Wollongong, and match a basin to your vanity and tapware.