The reason why kitchen windows are often above sinks has been revealed

When it comes to designing a home, you can go as bold or traditional as you want but some things often seem to be the same.

A British homeowner has been pondering this about kitchen windows while trying to come up with plans for their kitchen renovation.

"Realised we can easily move the kitchen sink away from the window to give us more usable counter space. Then I realised, I've never seen a kitchen sink that isn't in front of a window," they posted on Reddit.

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"Is there a reason for that? Is staring out of the window while washing up just a British thing? Or am I crazy in even suggesting a sink with no window?"

Now that you've read that you're probably thinking about about your where your own kitchen sink is in relation to the window.

When you think about it many kitchens do have sinks below windows, and there is a practical reason for it.

"The simple reason why kitchen sinks have traditionally been placed under the window is that the window is, obviously, on an outside wall. In terms of plumbing, using as short a waste pipe as possible from the sink to the drains is not only the most effective but also the cheapest solution," an article on KDCUK explained.

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There are other reasons for having a window above a kitchen sink according to a person who commented on the Reddit post.

"It's also because it's where the most natural light comes through. Plus if you wash by hand, plates dry quicker. This is a hang over before the dishwasher," they wrote.

The original poster appreciated the explanation but is considering bucking convention and placing the sink elsewhere.

"Makes perfect sense. Thankfully, the opposite end of the kitchen also has drains and plumbing, just no windows," they said.

While kitchen windows above sinks seems like a fairly common occurrence, it's not the case in every home.

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A few people who commented on the topic revealed their kitchen sink isn't under the window. Though most seem fine with it that way, good lighting seems to be a common problem.

"Used to have a sink in front of the window. Now, after an extension, no, as we moved it to create a more open plan kitchen/diner... Did take some use of additional lighting to help the ambience though," one person said.

"I'm currently renting a house where the kitchen was redesigned and there is no window above the sink. I don't miss it, but it does mean that I'm stood in the way of the light whilst washing," another said.

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Other kitchen sink layouts discussed in the Reddit thread included drying racks above the sink, which can be common in small kitchens, and sinks in island benches like in many homes designed on The Block.

Wherever your sink is placed, the important thing is that there's plumbing underneath and drying space available.