This Throwback Trend Is Coming Back in Style—and Designers Have Mixed Opinions

Add a Touch of Old-World Charm

“A skirted sink certainly has its place, and I believe it works beautifully in a country home,” says New York City-based designer Becky Shea. “It exudes an old-world charm while also being highly practical. Beyond its functionality, a skirted sink is a wonderful way to introduce texture into a space that might otherwise be dominated by millwork and stone, adding softness and warmth to the design.”

Case in point: this cheerful space designed by London-based design duo Salvesen Graham. (P.S.: Scalloped shelves?! Sign me up.)

Hide an Awkward Nook

“I love the trend of adding skirts in lieu of cabinets to laundry rooms, kitchens, or bathrooms because the way people are using them recently is so unexpected,” says designer and vintage aficionado Kate Pearce (who also happens to have been one of our REAL SIMPLE Home 2024 designers!). “Though skirts might bring to mind farmhouse or traditional decor, skirted pieces are now being used in eclectic and even modern designs,” she says.

“I’ve always loved playing around with design tropes and reinventing them by using them in untraditional or unexpected designs. We used an emerald green velvet fabric to create a skirt in our laundry room project when we had a very difficult nook we needed to cover and didn’t have the budget to have a custom cabinet front made,” she says. “We had used a vintage campaign dresser to create our laundry room storage, but it left us with a small area at the end that we wanted to utilize for storage, too. Adding the skirt saved us money and added a layer of warmth and texture to the project simultaneously,” she explains.

Cover Up Plumbing

Let’s face it: unsightly plumbing isn’t what you want to see when you’re walking into a beautifully designed bathroom, and Mary Patton of Mary Patton Design agrees. “Even though I typically lean towards modern lines in furniture, I love a skirted sink,” she say. “It’s a great way to do a very light cosmetic update to a dated sink, hide pipes, create a hidden area for storage, and add a low-commitment pop of color to a space.”

Add a Skirt to Your Desk

Yes, even a desk can get skirted! “This multipurpose space serves a drop zone and desk,” explains Nashville-based designer Debbie Mathews. “Located in an entrance hall, which can be seen from the living room, it was important that we were able to hide items like trash cans, handbags, and other small items. Skirting the desk was the perfect solution, as it not only softened the space with its rich wool fabric and cross stitching detail, but it easily hides the items behind it with a simple drawing of the draper panels.”

Hide Unsightly Trash

“Not only is the client [of this home] a dear friend, but she is also the most creative person I know,” says Courtney Brown of Courtney Agosti Interior Design. “The client’s main requirement was a big sink and a place to arrange flowers. While this Scullery needed to be utilitarian, it also needed to give a nod to the beautiful details in every other room in the house,” she explains.

“To complement the stone’s drama and the Vousta wallpaper’s movement, we selected an understated cotton print by Nile + York. The tailored details make the skirt special: self-welt to complete the top, simple but detailed pleats spaced just right, and the subtle trim weighting the hem. Behind is where the unsightly floral magic is stored.”

Match Your Skirt and Wallpaper

This luxe butler’s pantry-turned-bar area (also designed by Salvesen Graham) goes all out with matching wallpaper and skirt panels, proving that small rooms can definitely make a statement.

Add Softness and Color to Your Laundry Room

Laundry rooms are so often cold and utilitarian and could use a little softness and color to make laundry feel like less of a chore. The sweet, skirted sink in this room designed by Debbie Mathews does just that. “In this laundry room, we wanted to create a beautiful focal point with the window opposite the room’s entrance,” she says.

“We chose a relaxed Roman shade for the window and the blue sink skirt below,” she explains. “By draping both the window and the sink, it softens this space that’s filled with hard surfaces and appliances.”

Mix Patterns

“I’m so pleased to see the sink skirt making a comeback,” says Alexii Friedman of Studio Friedman. “While it’s a traditional design element with roots in 18th and 19th-century rural settings, it’s now being used to add charm and softness to bathrooms. Sink skirts have evolved from a purely functional element to one that incorporates form, adding a tactile layer and visual warmth to a space often dominated by hard surfaces. I’m particularly fond of how sink skirts can be customized with various trims, pleats, hems, and openings to suit any design style.”

What’s not to love about a mix of patterns for your sink skirt? I’m partial to the playful gingham and floral one in this space designed by Salvesen Graham.

Make Your Kitchen Sink the Star

“Sink skirts are one of those unexpected touches that can really elevate a kitchen,” says Weidenbaum. “In a space where cabinetry is often the star, the idea of using a window treatment for a sink area feels fresh and surprising. It’s a way to soften the lines of a kitchen and add an unexpected layer of texture or color. Plus, they’re practical—hiding plumbing and storage while adding warmth and charm.”

Add One for a No-Reno Refresh

Los Angeles-based designer Hema Persad says she loves that the sink and cabinet trend is back because it instantly changes the whole feel of a bathroom with very little effort. “Adding a skirted sink gives a vintage look to the space and adds character instantly. It’s a no-reno way to refresh your space,” she says.

This lovely room is another design by Salvesen Graham, and this daffodil yellow and teal blue palette is really speaking to me.