If you recently remodeled your kitchen, and are starting to work on the bathroom, you may be wondering if the designs need to match. This is also true in reverse. While the overall answer is your choice, having your kitchen and bathroom matching, could provide you with overall cohesiveness in your home, bringing all of it together. Here are some considerations for cabinetry, flooring, and vanity countertops to consider that could help you decide whether your kitchen and bathroom need to match or not.
Cabinetry
The first thing you will want to decide is whether or not the cabinets in your kitchen and bathroom need to match. If you have dark cabinetry in a large kitchen, this may not work in a small bathroom. This is because a darker palette in a small area can make it seem even smaller. However, if you have a large bathroom and want to use the dark cabinetry in the bathroom as well as the kitchen, you have that option. Again, a cohesive design style in both rooms can really make the home feel complete.
Countertops
Whether you are working on a kitchen or a bathroom, it is recommended that you opt for granite countertops. They are durable and bacteria resistant, which can be beneficial in both spaces where germs tend to develop and grow. In addition, they can really punch-up the elegant appearance to any room. Granite countertops are also stain resistant and can withstand temperatures and elements of both a kitchen and bathroom. In addition, if you select the granite at the same time for both spaces, you may save yourself some money, as the preparation of the slabs would be the same in both cases.
Lighting
One area where you will want to differ in design for the bathroom and kitchen remodeling is lighting. Both the kitchen and the bathroom need to have layers of light – this aspect is important to create different feelings and moods in the space. However, a kitchen will require task lighting for the food prep areas, where a bathroom will need a different type of task lighting for the makeup station, for instance. In both cases, you will want to add general lighting and ambient lighting, to finish off the lighting layers. It is important that you talk to a lighting designer to ensure you have adequate amounts of light in either space.
Color Palette
If you opt for similar cabinetry and countertops in both places, you may want to have the same color palette. Again, having the same color palette can completely finish the appearance of the house, making sure that one room flows into the other – even if the kitchen and bathroom are not next to one another. Remember, however, that the size factor does come into play when choosing a color palette. If both rooms are large you can opt for a similar dark color palette. On the other hand, you will not want a dark palette in a small kitchen or small bathroom. The same is true for a lighter color palette in a large room – it can make the room feel even larger and somewhat empty. Consider the size of the space you are dealing with when choosing the color palette.
Flooring
The last aspect of a remodel – kitchen or bath – that you will want to figure out if it needs to be the same is the flooring. The one benefit you have is budget savings. Choosing the same flooring for both your bathroom and your kitchen could take some relief off your budget. You can buy in bulk, which often lowers the cost. In addition, due to the amount of water, liquids, spills, and such that can happen in both locations, they will need a similar flooring. Tile floor is the best option for both of these spaces, so choosing the same is a good idea. With that said, there are times when you may need to choose different size tiles. For instance, a bathroom often requires less flooring, and when choosing large tiles could actually make the space feel very small. You can choose the same color, but you might want different sizes for each of the spaces.
Bringing it all together, the question – does the kitchen need to match the bathroom and vice versa – is still up in the air. When it comes down to it, it is merely a matter of preference. A master bathroom will need to match the master bedroom, but a guest bath can match any other part of the home, so why not the kitchen. A matching kitchen and bathroom – as has been mentioned – can really bring a home together. Take the time to think about not only what you want your kitchen and bathroom to look like, but how you want the entire home to look and you can make the decision from there.