When it comes to a kitchen remodel there are a lot of decisions. From which kitchen cabinets to purchase to picking a material for your countertops, the options can often be overwhelming, and making a selection is not always easy. Kitchen sinks are no exception. The variety of styles and materials puts many homeowners in a daze — but we’ve got the one factor that determines it all. The secret to choosing the right sink style for your kitchen is simply figuring out how often you’ll use it.

Seem too obvious? You’d be surprised. Almost every factor in choosing a kitchen sink has to do with usage. Are you the kind of person that hand washes pots and pans, has a big family and a lot of dishes piled up in the sink? Or do you simply rinse your coffee mug out before putting it in the dishwasher and rely mostly on takeout containers to serve as plates and bowls? Once you know how you will use your kitchen sink, choosing a style is simple. Categorize yourself as a heavy, moderate or light user and follow our recommendations for material, size and style.

Heavy Users

• The best material for sinks that see a lot of traffic is stainless steel. It is the toughest choice and can withstand pots and pans banging around without being damaged or denting.

• Double-bowl sinks are the most functional for people that cook because they are built for washing dishes. One oversized sink bowl is also convenient if you tend to use large pots or frying pans and think that a double-bowl sink will be restricting.

• Depth is just as important as width and the number of bowls. If you use your kitchen sink often, you don’t want a shallow basin. Look for a style that offers depth as well as width, and make sure to complement your sink choice with a tall faucet spout that swivels easily from one side to the other.

Moderate Users

• Even if you are a moderate user, you’ll still want a material that is durable. Aside from stainless steel, composite granite is a good option and fireclay is a nice material for those who prefer a white kitchen sink.

• If big cleaning only comes around the holidays, don’t bother getting a double-bowl sink. You probably won’t utilize it and a single bowl will be more than sufficient.

Light Users

• If you rarely use your kitchen sink, the material’s durability is probably not as important as its look. Go with whatever style you like best. Enamel-coated cast iron is one of the most attractive materials, but it is susceptible to scratches (which is why they’re not great for heavy users). If you’re on a budget, composite sinks are the cheapest but, as can be expected, not as durable as other materials.

• For light users, size doesn’t matter. You can go with a standard sized bowl since space is not a concern.