When you’re planning a kitchen remodel, prominent features like new cabinets, luxury countertops, and stylish light fixtures get lots of attention. For day-to-day tasks, though, your sink does most of the heavy lifting. The type of sink you choose can have a bigger impact than you think on the space’s style, charm, and functionality. This guide can help you decide if an apron sink or a farmhouse sink is right for your remodel.
What Is an Apron Sink?
Apron sinks have a visible front surface that rests outside of your kitchen cabinets. This distinctive characteristic is called an apron plate. Similar to the way an apron protects your clothing from cooking splatter, apron sinks help to keep moisture and spills away from nearby cabinets and countertops.
In contrast, traditional kitchen sinks follow a drop-in design, sliding into a precisely cut hole in the countertop. You only see the edges and interior of the sink.
Apron sinks stand out front and center, letting you show off bold accents. Some front plates have a curved appearance, and others are smooth and sleek. You can customize the size, height, style, and contours of the sink.
What Is the Difference Between an Apron Sink and a Farmhouse Sink?
Some interior designers use the terms apron sink and farmhouse sink interchangeably, but that’s not technically accurate. Farmhouse sinks also have a finished front, but what makes them special is their deep basins.
The farmhouse style of sinks dates all the way back to the 17th century, roughly around the time when indoor kitchens began appearing in London. Families living in the Irish countryside needed a sink for much more than washing vegetables.
The sink was necessary for cleaning clothing, scrubbing large cooking pots, and bathing babies. A large basin served these needs much better, and eventually this type of sink became common in farmhouses across Europe.
Put simply, all farmhouse sinks are apron sinks. But not all apron sinks are deep and wide. Some have a streamlined profile to fit specific design styles better, like minimalist or modern looks.
The Pros and Cons of Apron-Style Sinks
Before comparing apron sinks with farmhouse sinks directly, it’s helpful to know why sinks with an exposed front panel are popular. Apron sinks have unique advantages over traditional drop-in sinks and even some undermount styles.
Pro: More Comfort When Prepping and Cleaning
If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, farmhouse apron sinks can make prepping, cooking, and cleaning up more comfortable. The sink’s large basin — especially pulled-forward styles that extend past the countertop — means you don’t need to bend forward uncomfortably when washing veggies or cleaning pots. The sink comes to you instead.
Pro: Lots of Space
Wide and deep farmhouse sinks give you ample room for pots, pans, glass bowls, and other large cooking essentials. More space makes it easier to clean up without splashing yourself or nearby surfaces.
More size is also good for food prep. Instead of washing a few ingredients at a time, you can toss everything in the sink and have at it.
Pro: Moisture Protection
The front panel on an apron sink can keep cabinets underneath safe from splashes, drips, and dishwashing chemicals. Traditional drop-in sinks don’t do this, and water on the edge of the countertop can easily get cabinet doors wet.
Pro: Distinctive Style
Sink aprons aren’t just functional. They also infuse your cabinets or kitchen island with attention-grabbing style. Instead of staying hidden, apron sinks stand out instantly. In many layouts, a focal point is exactly what’s needed on the kitchen’s external wall.
Metal farmhouse sinks provide the perfect contrast to hardwood cabinets and stone countertops. This current kitchen remodeling trend of including mixed materials adds visual interest and makes the space feel more inviting and comfortable.
Pro: Faster Kitchen Cleanup
Many apron sinks have an undermount design. In other words, they install underneath kitchen countertops. Not only does this help prevent moisture leaks, but it also makes wiping your counters a breeze. Any food particles or spills drop harmlessly into the sink.
Con: Installation Complexity
Undermount farmhouse sinks require professional installation. The fit needs to be perfect in every direction to avoid gaps or alignment problems. It’s often necessary to modify or replace existing cabinets and countertops at the same time.
Con: Size
The large size of farmhouse sinks is both a benefit and a drawback. The deeper your basin, the less room you have underneath for garbage disposal systems or water filtration systems, potentially eating into your available storage.
Con: Price Tag
Farmhouse sinks are larger, require more material, and need to look good inside and out, so they typically cost more. The average installation cost for a farmhouse sink is about three times higher than a drop-in sink.
That said, paying more for your kitchen sink isn’t always a bad thing. When you choose exclusive materials, custom sizing, handcrafted accents, and top-tier work, a higher price tag is a quality guarantee, not a surprise.
Con: Weight
Large farmhouse sinks can be much heavier than your average sink. Enameled cast iron, porcelain, and stone models often require reinforced cabinets. Copper and brass apron sinks are less likely to have this problem, but they are slightly heavier than stainless steel.
How Do You Choose Between Apron Sinks and Farmhouse Sinks?
The popularity of apron sinks and farmhouse sinks gives you a wide variety of options to choose from:
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Deep basins
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Double- and triple-basin sinks
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Recessed, curved, and convex front panels
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Custom apron plates
Apron sinks are narrower, offering a sleek appearance that fits contemporary styles better. If your kitchen remodel follows an industrial, vintage, minimalist, or Art Deco style, a polished metal apron sink is an excellent fit.
Farmhouse sinks are more common in country comfort, French farmhouse, Old World, and mid-century modern designs. A hand-hammered copper farmhouse sink feels classic, elegant, and comfortable, like a countryside vineyard in France.
Compare Apron Sinks Vs. Farmhouse Sinks for Your Dream Kitchen
Apron sinks and farmhouse sinks both enhance modern kitchens with their characteristic accent panels. Choosing between the two depends mainly on your available space and design preferences. Contact World CopperSmith to discover one-of-a-kind farmhouse sinks in custom configurations today.