When designing a home, one of the most common questions that comes up is whether the kitchen cabinets need to match the bathroom vanities. There are several factors to consider when deciding if your kitchen and bathroom cabinets should coordinate or contrast. Evaluating your personal style preferences, home layout, budget, and cohesion can help determine the best approach for your space.
An Overview on Matching Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets
Matching kitchen and bathroom cabinets creates a cohesive look and feel throughout the home. It makes spaces flow together seamlessly when colors, materials, finishes, and hardware pair well from room to room. The uniformity can make a house feel more put-together and stylish.
However, matching kitchen and bath cabinets is not a strict rule. More eclectic decor styles allow for rooms to contrast with unique personalities. Non-matching kitchen and bathroom vanities can complement each other with shades in the same color family. The main priority is creating cabinets you love rather than forcing a rigid match.
Evaluate your personal taste, lifestyle needs, and home layout when deciding if your kitchen and bathroom cabinets should coordinate. There are excellent reasons for both matched and mismatched kitchen-bathroom cabinetry depending on your goals.
Reasons to Match Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets
- Creates a cohesive style throughout the home
- Makes spaces feel unified and put-together
- Allows for a harmonious color palette flow from room to room
- Provides a streamlined, elegant look
- Can be more budget-friendly to purchase cabinet sets
- Simplifies planning and designing process
- Feels clean, classic, and timeless
Reasons to Mix Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets
- Allows each space to have unique personality
- Provides opportunity to showcase different decor styles
- Creates an eclectic, bold look
- Highlights different features and details in each room
- Allows for selecting optimal cabinet function per room
- Gives more flexibility in the design process
- Feels playful, whimsical, and adventurous
There’s no right or wrong approach for coordinating kitchen and bath cabinets. The needs of your lifestyle, home, and personal style should drive the decision.
Factors to Consider for Matching or Mixing Cabinets
Several important factors come into play when determining if your kitchen and bathroom cabinets should match or not. Evaluate the following to help decide the best route for your home.
Personal Style
Think about your personal decor style and aesthetic preferences. Do you tend to prefer traditional, modern, rustic, coastal, or eclectic designs? Matching cabinets usually suits classic, uniform styles like traditional or modern spaces. Mixing vanities works well for eclectic, rustic, or boho inspired homes. Determine which direction aligns best with the look and feel you want.
Open Floor Plan Layout
Homes with open concept floor plans often rely on cohesive design between rooms to cultivate a unified flow. The visibility between the kitchen, dining, and living areas makes continuous elements more important. Matching cabinets, trim, colors, and hardware carries the aesthetic smoothly throughout the open space. But with defined separations between rooms, unique styles have more distinction.
Budget
Matching kitchen and bathroom vanities can be more budget-friendly if purchasing cabinet sets. Combination packages, especially for stock or smaller semi-custom cabinetry, makes coordinating more cost effective. If opting for custom designs, unique finishes, specialty features, or luxury brands in each room, mixing may cost more. Factor affordability into the decision based on your cabinet preferences.
Future Resale Value
For those who may sell their home eventually, matching kitchen and bath vanities can add value by appearing upgraded, intentional, and stylish. Cohesive cabinetry shows homeownership pride and care for design. But don’t sacrifice your own enjoyment for resale; unique personality also appeals to many buyers. Balance investment and personalization.
Ease of Process
Choosing matching cabinets simplifies the design process. You can select one color, material, style, and finish you love rather than coordinating mismatched elements. Shopping is consolidated to one cabinet brand and hardware selection. Planning is focused on how to implement your uniform cabinets thoughtfully. But if you’re willing to put in the work to mix, the payoff of personalization can be rewarding.
Take the time to weigh your individual factors – style, layout, budget, goals, workload – to determine if matching or mixing kitchen and bathroom cabinets best fits your home vision. There’s no universally right answer; focus on what works for your space and lifestyle.
Design Ideas for Matching Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets
If you opt to match your kitchen and bathroom cabinets, there are many cohesive ways to implement the look throughout your home.
Matching Color Scheme
Selecting the same color, whether bright white, warm wood, or bold blue, unifies rooms gorgeously. Even just matching the undertones and tones creates harmony. Contrast sheens like pairing satin kitchen cabinets with glossy bathroom vanities.
Matching Cabinet Doors
Using the same door style in the kitchen and bath establishes continuity. Replicate shaker, square, arched, or slab cabinet doors. Consistent hardware like knobs and pulls further the coordinated look.
Matching Cabinet Finish
Kitchen and bathroom vanities with the same stain, glaze, paint, or laminate finish keep spaces cohesive. Try dark espresso staining, an antique gray wash, or moody blue paint from room to room.
Matching Cabinet Brand
Choosing vanities from the same manufacturer lends a seamless customized look. Shop cabinet collections that offer kitchen and bathroom lines in coordinated styles.
Matching Materials
Using the same material like wood, metal, or glass cabinetry builds connection through the home. Walnut, distressed steel, and frosted glass make unique impactful matches.
Matching Kitchen Island and Bathroom Vanity
Tying together the central furniture pieces creates a focal point. Style the kitchen island and bathroom vanity in the same finish and design details.
Matching Cabinet Hardware
Unify rooms with matching handles and knobs on all cabinets. Go for all black wrought iron, brushed brass, or chrome for consistency.
Matching kitchen and bath cabinets creates a clean, elegant look but requires commitment to the uniform style. Be decisive in your color, finish, and hardware selection to keep the look cohesive.
Design Ideas for Mixing Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets
While matching kitchen and bathroom cabinets can be gorgeous, mixing vanity styles allows each space to showcase unique personality.
Complementary Color Scheme
Pick cabinet colors that work together without directly matching. Try deep blue kitchen cabinets with a pale blue bathroom vanity. Or go for moody green kitchen and lively lime bath. Complementary colors have natural harmony.
Mixing Cabinet Doors
Varying cabinet door styles like Shaker in the kitchen and arched in the bath provide visual interest. Modern square doors contrast wonderfully with classic beadboard bathroom vanities.
Mixing Cabinet Finishes
Kitchen cabinets stained a rich walnut popping against a bright white painted bathroom vanity is bold and beautiful. A sleek gray kitchen pairs well with rustic distressed bathroom wood.
Mixing Cabinet Brands
Purchasing kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities from different manufacturers allows total personalization. Shop brands that reflect each room’s unique style.
Mixing Materials
Combining wood, metal, or glass cabinetry in unique ways sparks creativity. Marble bathroom vanities make a statement against modern wood kitchen cabinetry.
Contrasting Kitchen Island and Bath Vanity
Make the kitchen island and bathroom vanity focal points by selecting contrasting styles. A marble topped bath vanity accents a rustic wood kitchen island beautifully.
Mixing Cabinet Hardware
Mismatched hardware allows each room’s cabinets to stand out. Try black wrought iron kitchen knobs with brushed gold bath pulls.
Designing kitchen and bathroom cabinets that contrast takes confidence and creativity. Embrace selections that showcase the unique spirit of each space. The variety makes a bold, lively statement.
Key Design Tips
Regardless of whether you match or mix kitchen and bath cabinets, apply these design tips for a cohesive, polished look:
- Ensure consistent quality, finish, and craftsmanship on all cabinets for harmony. Mixing inexpensive kitschy bath vanities with high-end kitchen cabinetry appears disjointed.
- Select coordinating countertop materials and backsplash tile colors to tie rooms together. Consistent quartz, granite, or marble counters build connection.
- Use cohesive flooring and wall colors to establish flow between rooms. Hardwood flooring or neutral wall colors keep spaces unified.
- Incorporate similar decorative trim, moldings, and lighting fixtures. Bathroom sconces, kitchen pendants, and crown molding should coordinate.
- Repeat decorative themes with textures, patterns, or colors. Try beadboard cabinet doors with beadboard wainscoting walls or matching hardware finishes throughout.
- Zone home by function, establishing separation between kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms with intentional design decisions.
Get creative in making kitchen and bathroom cabinets complement each other meaningfully. Whether matching or mixing, a cohesive concept creates a beautiful, polished home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do kitchen and bathroom cabinets have to be the same color?
No, kitchen and bathroom cabinets do not have to perfectly match in color. Coordinate rooms with complementary colors in the same tone or shade family. Accent a neutral kitchen with a bold bath vanity. Tie spaces together with equivalent sheens and undertones.
Should kitchen and bathroom hardware match?
Matching kitchen and bath hardware creates consistency but isn’t mandatory. Coordinating brushed metals, matte black, or chrome finishes makes rooms flow seamlessly. Unique knobs and pulls in each space also add character when thoughtfully selected.
Is it outdated to match kitchen and bathroom cabinets?
Matching kitchen and bathroom cabinets is a classic, timeless look that remains stylish. Cohesive decor never goes out of style. But unique combinations express personal flair. Do what you love for your home.
Do open concept homes need matching kitchen and bathroom cabinets?
In open concept spaces, matching kitchen and bathroom cabinets helps achieve a unified flow, but isn’t strictly necessary. Complementary colors, materials, and details can make mismatched cabinets work. Use consistent backsplashes, floors, and trim for cohesion.
Will matching kitchen and bath cabinets increase home value?
Matching kitchen and bathroom cabinetry shows intentionality and style which appeals to buyers. But unique personalization also adds value for the right homeowner. Focus on quality materials and good design over rigid matching. Do what you love within your budget.
The Takeaway
Determining if your kitchen and bathroom cabinets should match comes down to personal preference, home style, and living needs. Matching vanities creates a seamless, cohesive look but mixing allows each space to shine. Evaluate your priorities, design style, layout, and budget to make the best decision for your home. Thoughtfully selected, high-quality cabinets suited to each room is the top priority, whether matching or mixing. The most important rule is choosing cabinetry you love to live with everyday. Let your personal style shine.