It is no secret that the kitchen in an apartment or house is often the most beloved and cozy corner. Housewives pay a lot of attention to the kitchen furnishings and equipment. After all, everything should be harmonious, thought out, convenient and functional. Fortunately, the choice of kitchen furniture, equipment and all sorts of devices today in specialized stores is enormous and can satisfy the most demanding, sophisticated or non-standard requests. And what could not be found ready-made is made to order or made by hand, including shelves for the kitchen.
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Cabinets or shelves?
There is no such thing as too little kitchen furniture, as well as kitchenware. But the question arises: what is more convenient and functional, cabinets or kitchen shelves. It is more rational to equip the bottom of the working wall with cabinets with internal shelves or drawers. Such kitchen furniture is very practical and roomy and looks great in the kitchen interior. It is convenient to put bulky kitchen utensils in floor cabinets, install containers for garbage and waste, store bags of vegetables.
Wall-mounted kitchen cabinets can be safely replaced with open or closed shelves, and it is good to combine all three types. It should be noted that open shelves in the kitchen are lighter in design and do not clutter up the space. This is especially valuable in small kitchens or studio apartments.
Some of the floor cabinets can also be sacrificed by installing open shelves. However, the shelves themselves need to be made more massive and thicker than the hanging ones, because massive kitchen utensils and equipment are always stored below: a juicer, a meat grinder, pots of various capacities and frying pans.
The location of kitchen open shelves can be very diverse. They look great between regular wall cabinets or on the sides. Small open shelves will be appropriate under or above cabinets. For example, you can place flower pots, cups, glasses or containers with sugar, salt, spices, cutlery on them.
Wooden open shelves located above the kitchen table can be used as additional decor for the room, as well as a very practical thing, placing vases with flowers, scented candles or frames with photos of all family members on them. Such structures look advantageous in the kitchen interior.
Kitchen interior style
There are many styles in which you can arrange a kitchen with open shelves: minimalism, Scandinavian style, high-tech, retro or classic - it all depends on the wishes of the hostess. Each kitchen style has its own materials, color schemes, shapes.
For example, when choosing a Scandinavian style, hanging shelves should be made of natural materials, wood, stone (special attention should be paid to fasteners and choice of location, the structures are quite heavy). As for the color scheme, it is worth choosing beige, light gray, light blue, light green, light brown, since this style is aimed at maintaining warmth and comfort in the house. Such a combination of colors and materials will certainly become an exclusive solution in the kitchen interior.
High-tech or minimalism are modern styles and the materials used in them reflect modern realities as best as possible. Plastic, metal, glass, many right angles and lines, a combination of black and white with splashes of bright colored details are most suitable for these styles. You can also use lighting for hanging cabinets and open shelves, this will make the kitchen more modern and practical. Hanging glass shelves will look especially impressive, be it completely transparent or frosted glass. Such shelves in the kitchen interior will look fresh and laconic.
One point: glass open shelves in the kitchen must be reliable. Therefore, it is not reasonable to take glass less than 6-8 mm, there is a significant risk that the shelves will crack under the weight of the items placed on them.
In addition to open shelves on fasteners, there can be shelves that are built into the wall. Such a move will help save space in the kitchen and make the room as constructive as possible. Such shelves are usually made of plasterboard. They look good, are functional, and can withstand considerable weight. The main disadvantage of the design is its stationary installation. It is quite problematic to painlessly dismantle such kitchen shelves and you will have to use them until the next major renovation.
Plastic kitchen shelves are lightweight, mobile, and easy to attach and dismantle. But it is worth remembering that plastic is not a strong enough material and is not suitable for installing heavy kitchen utensils on it. It is wiser to place small items or dishes made of the same plastic on such kitchen shelves, fortunately there will be no problems with the choice. Today, high-quality plastic kitchen utensils are in no way inferior to porcelain or earthenware, as well as glass.
A particularly interesting detail of the kitchen interior will be small, wooden hanging shelves, they are perfect for storing seasonings and spices, teas or coffee beans, it will look incredibly cute and sophisticated, such designs are typical for kitchens in Italian or English style.
Nowadays, it has become very fashionable to fill kitchen shelves with recipe books, thereby saving time and space. The hostess has everything at hand, and it is very easy and simple to get the item you need without leaving the kitchen.
Materials for kitchen shelves
Kitchen shelves differ not only in size, color, but also in the material they are made of. As mentioned above, it can be.
- Wood. The perfect choice for the kitchen. Natural material, environmentally friendly, breathable, hypoallergenic, durable enough and easy to use. It definitely needs an additional moisture-resistant coating, which is designed to extend the shelf's service life and simplify maintenance. Such a protective coating can be wood varnish or oil paint.
Wooden shelves – an affordable and practical solution - Chipboard or fiberboard. It is slightly inferior to wood in its qualities, but is also quite attractive and functional. Kitchen structures are distinguished by their reliability and ease of maintenance.
Shelves made of chipboard are much cheaper than their natural counterparts and are less “capricious” in use. - Glass. It is better to use tempered reinforced glass, then there will be no problems with open shelves and filling. And of course, pay attention to its thickness. Thin glass, less than 6-8 mm, is inappropriate and impractical, and also unsafe. It can crack. A glass shelf should not be hung in close proximity to a stove or oven.
Glass shelves will fit perfectly into a modern interior, emphasizing the sophistication and elegance of the owners of the house. - Stone. Quite a bulky and massive material. Hang the structures with caution and pay close attention to the fasteners. It is wiser to fasten them to the load-bearing wall of the kitchen than to the piers and do not try to raise such shelves to the ceiling, closer to the floor will be the best place for them.
Stone shelves are a stylish and rare option that should fit into the overall design of the room. - Plasterboard. To create a permanent, long-term kitchen interior. Suitable for lovers of classics and conservatism. These are kitchens in the English colonial style. In order for kitchen shelves to serve for a long time, the coating must be moisture-resistant.
Various options for plasterboard shelves - Plastic. Lightweight, mobile material. Can imitate wood, stone, glass and even mirror surfaces. Do not hang shelves over a gas stove or near heating devices. Do not overload. Remember that cheap plastic easily changes color, especially white plastic becomes yellowish over time, which spoils the overall appearance of the entire kitchen interior. Ribbed plastic gets dirty easily, but is difficult to wash off.
Plastic kitchen shelves are suitable for modern interiors - Metal. A fairly new material that is not appreciated by everyone. Such open shelves can withstand significant loads, are not afraid of high temperatures or moisture, and are quite easy to maintain. They are easy to clean from grease and soot. The shelves do not require additional decoration and finishing. From individual open shelves, you can create interesting designs to create an exclusive kitchen interior.
Metal shelves for the kitchen will decorate the high-tech style - The interior can use one material or a combination of two, or at most three types. For example, the shelf itself can be wooden or glass, and the fasteners can be metal. Glass kitchen shelves can be combined with metal or wooden ones. Stone shelves are usually used on their own, and can only be supplemented with wood to a minimum. Drywall is appropriate with plastic or glass. When choosing a material, you need to consider the general style of the kitchen set and the interior as a whole. A lot does not always mean necessary. The kitchen should not be overloaded.
We make kitchen shelves ourselves
Open shelves for the kitchen can be purchased in a store, purchased online, or made by hand.
Even a non-professional can make open shelves for the kitchen from wood or from plastic with his own hands. For work it is necessary to have the following materials and tools.
- Tape measure, sheet of paper, pencil, ruler.
- A hacksaw or jigsaw, metal corners for fastenings, a drill or screwdriver, self-tapping screws or screws, sandpaper.
- Wood stain (oil paint), waterproof wood varnish, a brush or two.
Stages of work.
- First, you need to decide where in the kitchen the shelf will be placed and their total number. The length of the intended product and the width are carefully measured with a tape measure. The dimensions are recorded on paper. Then they are marked directly on the board with a pencil, the excess is removed with a hacksaw (jigsaw). The cut area and the corners of the future shelf are carefully cleaned with sandpaper, they should be smooth, without roughness and burrs.
We cut out the blanks and process them - The shelf blank is covered with stain when a dark-colored shelf is needed, or with drying oil to preserve the natural color and pattern of the wood, in two layers. Let it dry thoroughly. If there is no stain, use a solution of medical iodine or fucorcin.
We cover it with stain or drying oil, and then with paint or varnish. - When the base coat dries, cover the workpiece with a moisture-resistant wood varnish, which is important. Kitchen furniture must be kept clean, and without the appropriate coating, this will be difficult. Frequent wet cleaning can cause damage and reduce the shelf's service life if it is uncoated. After drying, treat the first layer of varnish with fine sandpaper and apply a second layer.
Assembling a shelf frame for the kitchen - Step back a couple of centimeters from both edges of the structure, mark the places for fastening the corners. Screw the metal corners. The shelf is ready. Using screws and a drill, hang it on the wall in the chosen place. Check the strength of the fasteners and only then place the necessary items.
We assemble the shelf, add fasteners
If desired, the outer edge of the shelf can be decorated or left bare. The decor is applied with oil paints or burned with a special burner.
It is advisable to avoid volumetric decor. The fat that settles on such a surface will be quite difficult to remove and kitchen shelves will eventually acquire a sloppy appearance. Which will affect the appearance of the entire kitchen interior.
Video: Open Shelves in Kitchen Interior
Kitchen shelves in the interior - the best photo selection:
