The Purpose of Small Hallway Sinks

Nowadays, we see a sink in a hallway and immediately think someone went offscript with the blueprints. Or it’s like, a DIY gone wrong. And truthfully, can’t blame anyone for that. We live in a world full of powder rooms or half-baths everywhere we turn.

And it’s easy to forget that there was a time in our not-too-distant past when it wasn’t simple or private to wash your hands. So when people online speculate it’s for dogs, shoes, or some old time-y ritual, that’s a good reminder on how far we’ve come, but the sinks? Straightforward hand-washing stations. Nothing more.

They’re Still Useful (I mean it)

If you have one of these still in your home, do not take it out. Seriously, I mean if you absolutely hate it, take it out, but think about it: you have a basically extra sink, where you can wash your hands without running to the bathroom. It isn’t dead weight. And a conversation piece!

“Hey, why do you have a sink in your hallway?”

“Oh, let me tell you about early 20th-century hygiene design…”

Much better than small talk about the weather.

A Glimpse into Another Era

I like things like this, because it serves as a tangible reminder that our homes weren’t always the way they are now. There was a time, many years ago, where hand washing wasn’t something you did in every room with a sink – these little sinks in the on suite hallways were the solution.

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