Once used primarily in large kitchens or in those with butler’s pantries, two sinks may soon be considered a given even in modest-size spaces. To help you decide if you need a second sink, here are some ways they're often used:

In the bar area. You don’t have to have a separate wet bar. Just reserve an area of your kitchen, preferably close to adjacent living or dining spaces, for a small sink suitable for preparing beverages and rinsing glassware.

To ease dual cooking. Even if two cooks in your house have separate duties, they no doubt often need the sink at the same time. Two sinks—even placed in the same run of cabinetry—keep meal prep flowing smoothly.

As a cleanup center. Take dirty dishes to one sink so the mess is out of the way, then use the other sink for preparing dessert and coffee or tea. This plan works especially well if the cleanup sink and dishwasher are located in a perimeter cabinet, leaving the island free for after-dinner conversation.

To take advantage of a view. If the main work sink can’t be placed under a window, installing a smaller, secondary sink in that spot can be a good way to occasionally enjoy the outdoor scenery.

For washing large cookware. For people who want both the flexibility of a double basin and the size of a single basin, one of each may be the answer. Vegetables can be cleaned and pasta drained in one; oversize pots and pans are easier to wash in the other.