Remodeling your kitchen and bathrooms takes a lot of planning. One of the things you have to plan for when renovating your kitchen and bathrooms is buying cabinets. These cabinets play a big role in enhancing the functionality as well as the aesthetics of these places. But these two types of cabinets are not usually interchangeable and have a few key differences.
So, what are the differences between kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities? First, kitchen cabinets are usually mounted on the walls, while bathroom vanities have a sink on top of the cabinets. Kitchen cabinets are usually taller and have more space in them than bathroom vanities. Finally, bathroom vanities are made of more durable materials than kitchen cabinets.
Let’s take a detailed look at various key differences between kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities.
Kitchen cabinets vs Bathroom vanity
When planning for the renovation of your home, the kitchen and the bathroom often take precedence over all other parts of the house, and for good reasons. These two places have the most traffic in your home, and they play a big part in the functionality and aesthetics of your home. While planning for these places, you also have to consider how to store items.
Cabinets are the best way to store various necessary items in both your kitchens and bathrooms. There are a whole host of styles and materials you can choose from, and they do seem quite similar. But in reality, bathroom vanities and kitchen cabinets have a few basic differences.
So, what is a kitchen cabinet? Kitchen cabinets are storage facilities built in your kitchens that can be mounted on walls. But some cabinets can also be installed under the sink, making them very versatile.
On the other hand, bathroom vanities are cabinets that have sinks on top of them. These are also used to store various toiletries and necessary items inside the bathrooms. So, can you use kitchen cabinets in a bathroom? Take a look at the comparisons between these two cabinets and decide for yourselves.
1. Height
The first difference between a kitchen and bathroom vanity is their height. Since you need to have the necessary space over and under your countertops to work properly, kitchen cabinets tend to be a bit tall. The average height of kitchen cabinets is around 34 to 35 inches. This height allows you to reach your cabinets from below, or ensure the countertops are at a comfortable height for you when they are installed under them.
Bathroom vanities, on the other hand, are a little less tall, at around 31 inches. This is because you don’t need your bathroom vanities to be that tall, as most of the time you are going to use the cabinets sitting down. You also need the sink to be at a lower height, so that when you use it, you don’t splash water all over you.
2. Depth
The next big difference between kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities is their depth. You need to store a lot of items in your kitchen cabinets, such as utensils, cutlery, etc. Since these items are usually larger, you need a lot of space inside your kitchen cabinets. This is why kitchen cabinets have a depth of around 24 inches.
On the other hand, bathroom vanities tend to be not too big, as otherwise, they can block the door. Also, the items kept in the cabinets of bathroom vanities are usually smaller in size, which doesn’t necessitate a lot of space. This is why they have a much smaller depth than kitchen cabinets, at around 21 inches.
3. Design
An obvious difference between kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities is their design. While kitchen cabinets may or may not have sinks ( the cabinets mounted on the walls don’t), bathroom vanities always have sinks on top of them. So, as a result, the cabinets in the vanities always tend to be a little smaller to accommodate the sink.
Also can read, 5 trending bathroom paint colors in 2023.
4. Material
The materials from which bathroom vanities are made are somewhat different from those of kitchen cabinets. The reason behind this is that your bathroom has a lot of moisture and steam, so you need materials in your bathroom that will not rot or warp due to these factors.
Know Different types of kitchen cabinets with pros and cons.
On the other hand, despite your kitchen having a lot of heat in it, it doesn’t affect the materials of your cabinets that much. This is because kitchens usually have a lot more space than bathrooms, which ensures the heat is easily circulated in the room. So, your bathroom vanity will be made of much more durable material than your kitchen cabinets.
Can you use kitchen cabinets for the bathroom vanity?
Now, it is time for you to know whether using kitchen cabinets in bathrooms is a plausible idea. There are both advantages and disadvantages to using a kitchen cabinet in your bathroom. They are
Advantages:
- If your family members are tall, the increased height will help you a lot
- The increased space will allow you to store a lot more things than before
- The depth will also increase the surface of the counter, allowing you to display a lot more items
Disadvantages:
- Converting a kitchen cabinet to a bathroom vanity involves a lot of work.
- They may be a bit tougher to use for shorter family members
How to kitchen cabinets as bathroom vanity
As it is technically possible to use kitchen cabinets in bathroom vanities, here is how you can go about it.
- Removing the top
- Removing the drawers
- Installing a stretcher
- Placing the top
- Installing the sink
Final Thoughts
Since cabinets are very important for both your kitchen and bathrooms, you have to take extra care when choosing them. You need to know the differences between kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities for you to be able to choose the right one for you. Although it is possible to convert a kitchen cabinet into a bathroom vanity, it is better to just buy a bathroom vanity for your bathroom.
FAQ
1. Do kitchens and bathrooms need to match?
No, your bathrooms and kitchens do not have to match in any way. Their designs don’t have to match, nor do their paints or other aspects. Your kitchen cabinets and bathroom cabinets also don’t have to match.
2. What are 2 types of cabinets?
The 2 most common types of cabinets are framed and non-framed cabinets. The framed cabinets are stronger than non-framed ones because of the frame that is attached to their fronts.
3. Which type of kitchen cabinet is best?
The best kind of kitchen cabinets is the ones made of engineered wood. These woods are better than solid wood since solid wood is susceptible to changing its shape due to heat, which can be detrimental to the cabinets’ health.
