The kitchen is the most popular and most frequented place in the house. It is not just where breakfasts, lunches and dinners are prepared. It is here that friends and relatives gather to have tea or a banquet. The kitchen set is constantly exposed to the external environment - water, steam, fire, chemical treatment of work surfaces. The main thing in kitchen interior design is to choose the right kitchen set. The question arises - how to choose the right kitchen set? What will be the design and what will it be made of, how to choose the right materials, what will be the facades of the future set and how much furniture may be required.
Content
- How to choose a kitchen set and where to start
- How to choose a kitchen set: material and equipment
- The next step in choosing a kitchen unit is the work surface.
- How to choose the right style of kitchen furniture
- Video: How to choose the right kitchen
- 50 beautiful, comfortable and functional kitchen units:
How to choose a kitchen set and where to start
Before you go to the store to buy a set, you need to measure the space in which it will be placed.
It is better to follow a few rules and then nothing will be forgotten.
- Measurements are taken to know exactly how much space the kitchen set and other furniture can take up.
- The place where things will stand is visually selected and an approximate layout is made.
- The next stage is the project. On a piece of paper, draw to scale where the furniture itself will be placed, and where the equipment will be. The project should leave space for unimpeded movement and for all doors and cabinets to function easily.
- Selecting and purchasing the headset itself.
To get precise measurements, you need to arm yourself with a tape measure. You need the exact dimensions of the window and door openings, and you should also measure the length of the walls and the distance between them, the height of the ceiling, the distance from the floor to the window sill, and don't forget to measure the protruding elements - sockets, pipes, switches and taps. After the data is recorded, you need to design a detailed kitchen plan. Based on this drawing, you can accurately determine what kind of furniture you will have and how to rationally use the space in the kitchen.
Due to the fact that modern headsets are made on a modular principle, you can not leave every corner of the kitchen space empty. It will be very rational to choose a headset in the shape of the letter U, if the kitchen space allows such a model, then you can use the window area. This will expand the workspace for cooking.
According to experienced designers, a certain sequence should be followed for rational space planning:
- First, the refrigerator is installed;
- the place where the preliminary processing of products will take place;
- washing surface and waste bucket;
- worktop for cutting food;
- cooking stove;
- dining group.
True, not all kitchens fit this ideal planning option. But thanks to the multifunctionality of the sets, even for a small room you can choose an excellent option. After measurements are taken and a project is drawn up, you can start choosing a kitchen set. This is not an easy process - choosing a kitchen set. The first thing you need to do is choose a high-quality material from which it will be made, and the second is to choose fittings, decide on the facade and come up with a design.
How to choose a kitchen set: material and equipment
When choosing a quality set, make sure that the lower cabinets have legs. This will protect the product from moisture, and it is also advisable in terms of hygiene and cleanliness.
Key points when choosing a product:
- dimensions of the future headset;
- decide which manufacturer and price category it will be;
- The material for the headset should be chosen carefully so that you do not regret the choice made later;
- ease of use and multifunctionality of the future headset;
- design project (color scheme, presence of lighting).
The height of the workspace of the set is selected based on the height of the person who will spend most of the time behind it. Usually it is 85-90 centimeters, and the size of the cabinets is 72-36 centimeters. The main thing is to keep the distance between the work surface and the cabinets about 50 centimeters.
According to experts, work surfaces and the stove should be at different levels, this reduces the load when cooking, but often single-level surfaces are made, as this looks more aesthetically pleasing and beautiful. In addition, multi-level furniture must be made to order, and this increases its cost several times.
Kitchen sets are manufactured by both domestic and imported factories. The difference is in the price category. For example, domestic products fit perfectly into small Russian kitchens for quite reasonable money. Most of the parts are ordered in Europe, so the quality speaks for itself.
Italian kitchens are the best in the world. This is an exquisite design, high-quality assembly, high-strength materials and expensive fittings. Sometimes the prices for such products reach a million. But it's worth it. However, a lot of space is needed for such a set, otherwise it loses its appeal.
The material from which the future set will be created must be highly durable and protected from water and steam. To correctly determine the material, it is necessary to study the characteristics of each type.
The main types of material for the production of kitchen units:
- chipboard;
- MDF;
- solid wood.
Chipboard is the main material for making furniture sets, as it is cheap and quite practical. It comes in a variety of colors, and is made from chipboard, which is then covered with laminate or other durable material. There is an edge along the edges of the parts that protects the product from moisture.
MDF is an environmentally friendly material at a very reasonable price. It tolerates all kinds of temperature changes, exposure to steam, and is resistant to mold. Kitchen furniture made from this material is practically no different from furniture made from wood. The color range can be very diverse.
Solid wood is one of the most expensive materials. Usually it is oak, ash, walnut or cherry. Solid bars are glued together and treated with special means so that the wood can withstand moisture well and does not dry out. Kitchen sets made of solid wood amaze with their aesthetics and versatility.
Now it is worth talking about the material from which the facades for kitchen furniture are made. Usually, laminated chipboard and MDF are used.
LDSP is laminated chipboard. It has earned its popularity due to its low cost. These are the most economical kitchen facades available to the average buyer. But LDSP also has its downside. The edge of the parts is poorly protected from moisture, so with prolonged exposure to moisture and steam, it peels off and over time the facades swell and become unusable. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, at least very quickly, be sure to hang the cabinets from the hob at a distance of about 60 centimeters.
MDF - unlike laminated chipboard, it is more practical, and it is also environmentally friendly and safe to use, it does not contain formaldehyde resins, as in chipboard. MDF facades are popular for their durability, and manufacturers use a variety of finishes in the design, which allows you to preserve the product even longer. For example, the most popular finishing elements are veneer, plastic and PVC film. All this protects the facades from chips, scratches and temperature effects.
After choosing the material for the future kitchen facade, you need to take care of its coating. The four main types of coating are PVC film, acrylic, plastic and enamel.
The first option suits consumers quite well in terms of price and variety of textures. The kitchen can be decorated brightly and dynamically. But the film has its main disadvantage - sensitivity to high temperatures. So at a temperature of 100 degrees, the film can be damaged, so you need to use the stove carefully in such a kitchen.
It will be more practical to choose plastic. It will protect furniture from chips and scratches, it is possible to choose any color scheme. The disadvantage of plastic is its cost.
The facades can also be painted with enamel, but this is not a very practical option. Over time, the paint loses its brightness, and very noticeable chips and scratches appear on the furniture.
Acrylic coating gives shine and radiance. You can choose any color scheme. But there are some disadvantages here too. Dust, finger stains and scratches are clearly visible on acrylic facades. However, there is one peculiarity – cracks can be sanded.
What kind of facade covering will be chosen only by the buyer. Some will choose beauty, others practicality in use, others low cost.
The next step in choosing a kitchen unit is the work surface.
As experts suggest, it is better to choose a solid countertop along the entire length of the kitchen space.
Materials used to make kitchen countertops:
- laminated MDF;
Laminate countertops come in all colors and textures and are inexpensive. - typesetting board or stainless steel;
Durable and stable solid wood table top Due to its composition, stainless steel countertops are the best in terms of standards - use of natural stone or granite in production;
Kitchen set with stone countertop and built-in sink Granite countertops are resistant to chemical and physical impacts from appliances, food products, and household chemicals. - tempered glass (looks very rich, also costs);
Glass kitchen countertops are practical and functional - ceramic dust pressed with rubber;
Ceramic countertops are durable, moisture-resistant, and resistant to mechanical damage. - marble and corian.
Beautiful marble countertop in a chic kitchen Kitchen countertop made of artificial stone corian
First, let's talk about marble and Corian. The second material is very practical to use and resistant to chemical influences. Which cannot be said about marble. It begins to deteriorate from exposure to high temperatures, hot water and impacts. If you choose a stone, then it is better to opt for granite. A very durable and long-lasting material. Such a countertop will last for centuries.
Laminated MDF or laminated board are more well-known materials among ordinary people for creating work surfaces. Affordable price, eco-friendliness and the ability to choose any color palette.
How to choose the right style of kitchen furniture
Kitchen set styles are quite diverse. Particularly popular are high-tech, country, classic and modern.
The classic style in the set is wood, glass and natural stones. The product itself is made in a light color scheme. The equipment is built-in, hidden behind the facades. Usually such sets are decorated with carvings and balustrades.
As for the country style, it is a combination of wood and artificial materials. The facades are decorated with bright glass or plastic, and elements of nature and rural life prevail in the country style.
Hi-tech – the materials used are mainly artificial. Glass, metal, and the main emphasis is on the combination of colors. In the hi-tech style, muted and strict shades predominate.
Art Nouveau style – classic rectangular shapes that go well with non-standard rounded facades. Cold shades prevail in the color scheme, and the materials used in the design are glass, metal, stone or plastic.
In any of the listed styles, the set is made as convenient as possible. This is the presence of all kinds of cabinets, both with folding doors and pull-out structures. Metal tubes are also often used, which is very convenient for hanging both cabinets and all sorts of small items. Another option for cabinets in the set is on wheels. Very convenient if the space is limited in size.
When choosing a color for the kitchen, experts advise to stop at a combination of no more than two shades. Also, do not choose too dark shades, firstly, everything light visually expands the room, secondly, dark colors make the kitchen set boring and nondescript.
In conclusion, it is worth saying that the choice depends only on the personal wishes of the buyer, his financial capabilities and the size of the room. The kitchen is the place where humanity spends most of its life, it should be as comfortable and cozy as possible. Therefore, the choice of style, color, materials from which the future kitchen set will be made should be approached with knowledge of the matter, and it is better to enlist the advice of specialists. And then the kitchen will become not only a work space, but a comfortable and favorite place for all household members.