Farmhouse vs Apron Sink – The Most Important Differences To Consider When Purchasing

Deciding on a new sink for your home? Today, we will be looking at farmhouse and apron sinks and discussing the key differences between the two. Hopefully, this will help you when choosing one for your home.

What is a farmhouse sink?

A farmhouse sink is a deep sink that has an exposed side that is usually faced towards the front. This is referred to as an “apron”. The apron protects the user from water and other elements when using the sink. These sinks are usually placed in the kitchen as their depth and overall size make it easier to prep and wash larger items like pots, pans, and baking sheets. However, they are gaining popularity in many bathrooms today.

The Most Important Pros of a Farmhouse Sink

Large size: This sink’s large size makes cleaning and using it much easier as you have a great deal of space to maneuver. 

Aesthetic: This sink is highly attractive as its large size and prominence make it quite a focal point in the bathroom. 

Easy to clean: Most farmhouse sinks are made from fireclay, stainless steel or porcelain, which makes them easy to clean with a wide variety of materials. The added size of the sink allows you to easily maneuver and clean the whole of the sink when compared to other sinks on the market. 

Solid durability: Fireclay is durable to heavy impacts and can withstand the high humidity in bathrooms, making it a reasonable choice. 

The Main Cons to Consider

Bulky & cumbersome: Farmhouse sinks tend to be quite large sinks and their design makes it difficult to install in the bathroom. The extra size is intended for use in the kitchen and may end up being too bulky for the bathroom. 

Material will stain: Although fireclay and porcelain are durable materials, they can stain from the use of harsh chemicals or water stains if not properly maintained. 

Expensive: In addition to installation costs, farmhouse sinks are costly sinks by themselves. Their main purpose is to handle a large kitchen, so the extra space may seem wasted for a bathroom. 

What is an Apron Sink?

An apron sink is a deep, wide sink with an exposed front, similar to a farmhouse sink. In many functions, these sinks are very similar, except that an apron sink has an exposed front that is meant to protrude above your lower cabinetry slightly. For installation purposes, this is a key feature that must be accounted for, as your cabinets and countertops must be cut exactly to the sink’s dimensions for it to fit. Other than that, the term is used interchangeably regardless of material or size.

The Most Important Pros of an Apron Sink

Large size: This sink’s large size makes cleaning and using it much easier as you have a great deal of space to maneuver. 

Aesthetic: -An apron sink is highly attractive due to the size and prominence of the sink. It allows you to fully display the material of your sink because the front is exposed. 

Easy to clean: Apron sinks are easy to clean as most of their materials are non-porous, and the extra length and depth of the sink make it easy to maneuver. 

Solid durability: Fireclay, porcelain, and stainless steel are all durable to heavy impacts and can withstand the high humidity in bathrooms, making it a reasonable choice for the space. 

Main Cons to Consider

Bulky & cumbersome: Apron sinks are pretty large, and their design makes it difficult to accommodate in the bathroom. Therefore, the extra size would see no benefit in the bathroom other than aesthetics and may end up too large and difficult to accommodate. 

Material will stain: Although common apron sink materials are durable, such as fireclay, porcelain, and stainless steel, they can still stain from harsh chemicals or excess water, so they must be adequately maintained. 

Expensive: In addition to installation costs, apron sinks are costly sinks by themselves. Their main purpose is to handle a large kitchen, so the extra space may seem wasted for a bathroom. 

What are the common similarities between Farmhouse and Apron Sink?

In general, these sinks are almost identical. When purchasing one of these sinks, you will find both apron and farmhouse are used interchangeably to describe the same sink. However, the key difference is that an apron sink is designed to protrude above your cabinetry, whereas a farmhouse sink is meant to be flush with the rest of your cabinets. 

Design

A farmhouse and an apron sink are designed in a similar fashion-they are deep vessel sinks with an exposed front. This allows the user to navigate the sink without any issues easily. The raised lip also prevents water from splashing up. The only difference between these two sinks is their installation method, as an apron sink has a protrusion above the cabinets, whereas a farmhouse does not.

Material

Both farmhouse and apron sinks share a similar material pool. Common materials for these sinks include porcelain, fireclay, and stainless steel, although there are copper and natural stone composite options. 

Installation

These sinks are installed on top of a cabinet or vanity. This means that the existing cabinet or vanity needs to be durable enough to handle the extra weight of this sink style. The measurements need to be exact, as you have to account for the counterspace as well. 

Style

There aren’t very many style options with either a farmhouse or an apron sink. The only thing that you can alter is the size and material you select. Porcelain, fireclay, and copper are more for a classic look, and steel and natural stone composites are designed for contemporary/modern homes. 

Which one is more in style in 2023?

Apron sinks are more in style as the average home doesn’t have enough space to accommodate a full-sized farmhouse sink. Apron sinks afford the exact same benefits as a farmhouse sink, but tend to run smaller, making them more flexible for any sized household. 

Which Sink is right for you?

This question will ultimately depend on the size of your household. If you have a large family with children and you utilize your kitchen quite often, then a farmhouse will suit your needs. For smaller homes, an apron sink will be more suitable as there is a broader range of installation and size options. Since these sinks are so similar, it will mostly come to your personal preference. Either way, regardless of which sink you choose, both of these sinks are great sinks for a busy household. 

Eric Jensen

Eric is the founder and president of Badeloft USA. He has been the president of Badeloft’s US division for over ten years and oversees all marketing and branding aspects of Badeloftusa.com.
His expertise lies in small business development, sales, and home and bathroom industry trends and information.

Contact us with any business related inquiries.