All kitchen furniture has the main task - to create comfortable conditions for cooking. Furniture factories strive to offer a product that is not only practical, but also attractive. In the store today you can find cabinets under the sink of any design. But when buying, you should pay attention not only to the aesthetic component, but also to the functionality, material, shape and dimensions.
Content
Advantages and disadvantages
It is impossible to find any flaws in such a piece of furniture. These include:
- saving space (especially when installing a corner structure);
Convenient storage items for kitchen cabinets - order in the kitchen (garbage is collected and is in a specially designated closed place);
Hidden trash can in the closet - neat appearance (since all communications are hidden);
Hidden communications and space organization for tidying up - additional storage space for household items;
We arrange household chemicals and useful little things in the cabinet rationally and conveniently - ease of use.
Today, stores offer such a choice in both design and configuration that you can find a suitable option for a kitchen of any size and style.
Types
Cabinets vary in shape:
- straight;
- angular.
Straight – the most traditional, classic model. It is easy to assemble. Straight cabinets can vary in shape, design, interior decoration, and contents. For convenience and increased functionality, shelves, trash can mounts, rails, etc. are installed inside.
A corner cabinet under the sink, in the presence of a compact kitchen set, looks harmonious, saves space and is easy to use. The design can be rectangular, L-shaped, trapezoidal. The most practical is L-shaped. With this arrangement, all the space inside is easily visible. A rectangular design is inconvenient to use, because it has only one door, and access inside is difficult. Trapezoidal is a square-shaped model with cut corners. This option is more spacious, but also takes up more space. But, nevertheless, it is suitable for small kitchens, where functionality plays the main role. Each type can also be additionally equipped with shelves, pull-out structures for garbage containers, holders for garbage bags.
Kitchen sink cabinets differ in door configuration and opening mechanism. They can be:
- two-door;
Two-door cabinet with corner sink - single-door;
Single door trapezoidal sink cabinet - double hinged;
Kitchen sink cabinet with hinged doors - sliding;
Pedestal table with sliding doors made of stainless steel - retractable;
Convenient cabinet under the sink with two drawers - combined (hinged doors and drawers).
Double sink cabinet of combined design
Selection of material
When choosing a material for kitchen furniture, you need to be guided by two main factors:
- moisture resistance;
- resistance to pollution;
- strength.
Among the options offered in the store, you can find both very expensive and budget ones.
Materials for the production of kitchen furniture
- Chipboard. This is the cheapest type of wood board, which has a wide variety of colors. Therefore, you can choose the right one for almost any kitchen set made of similar material. Its disadvantage is that if there are even minor and shallow scratches or cracks, moisture will easily penetrate inside, and wear will occur faster.
- MDF. A denser and therefore more durable material. Resistant to steam and moisture. The surface of such a board has a smoother appearance. More expensive than chipboard, but optimal in terms of price and quality.
- solid wood. Furniture made of natural wood is expensive. With high-quality water-repellent treatment, it is the most durable and resistant to damage, unlike the previous two options. A cabinet under the sink made of solid wood will be heavy and, perhaps, impractical in a small kitchen.
To protect and give additional wear-resistant properties to the material, lamination and polymer coating are used. These technologies also give the facades a more attractive appearance.
Rules for a successful purchase
To choose the right model not only by external characteristics, but also by quality, you need to know about all the parameters of the product. The following selection tips will help you not to regret the money spent.
- Maintaining the overall style. The cabinet should match the kitchen unit and the room design.
- Pay attention to the fittings. Plastic, painted parts will not last very long and will quickly lose their attractive appearance.
- Carefully inspect the cuts, joints, corners. There should be no cracks, scratches, chips, or bulging areas on the furniture.
- Model selection. In this case, you need to be guided by practicality and the area of your own kitchen. If you have a heated floor, the product should be equipped with legs, like the entire set. In a small area, corner options will help save square meters.
Features of size selection and installation
The size and design of the sink cabinet depends on the shape of the sink, its size. For a single sink, the width will vary within 60-80 cm. If the sink is double, the width of the cabinet can reach 1 meter.
The dimensions must be sufficient to hide communications, place a container or trash can, additional convenient structures, and kitchen utensils.
The height should also not differ from the other components of the set. The standard height is 80 cm. Straight models can be 50-60 cm.
The installation of the cabinet has its own subtleties. The installation can be done in several ways.
- Overhead. This method is most often used for straight cabinets. The sink is fixed to the surface along the perimeter of the countertop. It seems that the sink is simply placed on top, but in fact it is securely fixed. This design is more suitable for a bathroom than a kitchen.
The overhead sink is one of the most popular models in our kitchens - Mortise. A hole is cut in the countertop according to the dimensions and shape of the sink. A rubber seal is laid at the junction between the sink and the cut of the cabinet. It ensures tightness. The gap should also be coated with special glue to ensure reliable fastening of all elements together.
The built-in sink looks stylish and fits harmoniously into the interior - Integrated. This method involves carefully adjusting the sink size to the hole for it in the cabinet countertop. This can only be done when ordering furniture according to individual measurements. Due to the tightest fit of the sink, the impression of a single, integral structure is created.
An integrated sink is a combination of a sink and a work surface, which is very convenient and practical.
It is very difficult to find a ready-made model of the right size in a store. Therefore, today people increasingly order kitchens according to a pre-developed, special project. This has undoubted advantages.
- You don't waste time going to stores. It's enough to find a reliable manufacturer and show an approximate, preferred version of the finished result.
- The kitchen set will be made in a single style.
- The layout features will be taken into account.
What to store in the closet
Usually such a cabinet is intended to hide a trash can. If you additionally equip the cabinet under the sink with shelves, drawers, you can increase the possibilities of using this item. Such a place is best intended for storing:
- cleaning products, household chemicals;
- cleaning tools (rags, sponges, brushes, etc.);
- household items (for example, small plumbing tools).
If the dimensions allow, you can place a dishwasher, water heater, and water filter inside.
It is not recommended to store dishes in such a place. Vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, beets, etc. can be stored in the cupboard, provided that they do not come into contact with the trash can. To do this, they are placed in bags on shelves or in deep boxes, baskets.
