If you aren't able to remodel your entire bathroom for awhile, you can always add a new focal point by replacing the old sink and faucet. You may have an old stand-alone sink with no cabinet, so you might choose to add a cabinet that can enhance the room and provide always valuable additional storage space.

Before you go out to purchase a new sink,cabinet, and faucet, you should measure the area around the old sink, especially in a smaller bathroom, to be certain that your new sink and cabinet will fit in the space without partially blocking the doorway.

What you will need to install a new sink, cabinet, and faucet

Sink and cabinet

You can choose to purchase them separately, or buy a pre-matched set, with sink and cabinet included. This is the easier solution, and you can find them in various styles and colors. You may want to replace the sink drain also if it looks old and unpleasant. Buy a drain for a bathroom sink, not a kitchen sink, which is a larger size.

The faucet

Most modern sinks have a four inch distance between the holes for the faucet connections, so your new faucet must have the same distance between the hot and cold water connections.

Plumbers putty and Teflon tape for connection purposes

Adjustable wrench

Removing the old sink

If your old sink is in a cabinet, remove everything from the cabinet for easier access to the sink connections. You must then turn off the supply valves to the hot and cold water connections by turning the valves clockwise until they are fully closed. Open the faucets to empty as much water as possible from the supply lines.

You will need to lie on your back to disconnect the supply lines from the old sink. Begin by loosening the connection nuts of the supply lines from the hot and cold faucet connections. They may be hard to access because they will be in a tight space under the sink. When the supply lines are disconnected, you will then loosen the large plastic compression nut that secures the sink drain pipe to the sink trap below it. 

Once this is done, you can lift the drain and pie from the old sink, then move both sink and cabinet (if a cabinet is present) away from the wall.  You may wish to clean the space before installing the new sink and cabinet.

Connecting the new faucet and drain to the new sink

The faucet will include a black gasket at the bottom that helps to prevent leaks. You will apply a bead of plumber's putty to an indentation around the bottom perimeter of this gasket by placing some putty between your open hands and rolling it into a long 1/4 inch bead. Press the bead of putty into the indentation until the entire perimeter is covered.

Next, you will apply a few layers of Teflon tape around the threads of the male faucet connections by wrapping it tightly in a clockwise direction. You can then place the faucet connections and the center rod of the faucet through the openings in the top of the sink and press it downward to flatten the plumbers putty bead and seal the faucet base.

From under the sink, twist the connecting nut onto extended center rod of the sink, and hand tighten it fully to secure the faucet to the sink. You will then apply a bead of plumbers putty around into the recession around the sink drain opening on the top side of the sink. You can then push the drain pipe through the sink opening and press the drain into the putty until the drain is fully seated in the sink.

Connecting the sink

You will need to maneuver the sink and cabinet into place and slip the drain pipe into the sink trap below it in one simultaneous motion. When this is done, tighten the compression nut atop the sink trap to hold the drain pipe inside the trap. You will then connect the hot and cold supply lines by tightening the connection nuts with the adjustable wrench. 

When this is done. you can turn on the supply valves and enjoy the fruits of your labor. It's not a complete bathroom remodel, but it's a start.