Hi all! Currently, there are quite a lot of materials on the basis of which kitchen furniture is made. But they have a serious competitor. These are acrylic facades for the kitchen, which are gradually becoming more and more in demand and popular.
The material has excellent decorative properties. At the same time, it has high performance indicators.
There are several uses for this polymer material, which is a special high-quality type of plastic that shares some characteristics with glass.
Acrylic-based coating allows you to create interesting, original and unusual facades. But before you buy such furniture, you should look at its pros and cons. Still, the price per square meter is steep, and you need to be 100% confident in your decision.
Content
- Acrylic furniture manufacturing technologies
- Advantages and disadvantages of acrylic
- Styles for which acrylic kitchens are suitable
- High tech
- Minimalism
- Modern
- White
- Grey
- Beige
- Black
- Bright colors
Acrylic panels and films appeared in the assortment of furniture factories relatively recently, but quickly became popular with both designers and buyers. Acrylic kitchen fronts are often chosen because they look good in modern interiors, but they also have other advantages.
In this article, we will tell you what technologies furniture manufacturers use, how this material differs from others, for which rooms such sets are suitable, and also discuss how to care for such kitchens.
Acrylic or painted facades?
Painted MDF is a popular material for making kitchen facades. This is done by applying special paint to MDF. The texture of the parts gives the impression of painted wooden parts.
The advantage of painted MDF over acrylic is an even wider palette of colors than is offered for acrylic facades. You can choose absolutely any shade to create your interior. However, this is the only significant advantage.
Facades made of painted MDF are susceptible to external influences, even minor ones. It is easy to leave a mark on the facade when hit or with a sharp object. The appearance of the kitchen does not last long as the paint will fade and fade within a couple of years.
Thus, acrylic facades are much stronger, more durable and cheaper. But if you want to create a unique interior design using an unusual palette, you should pay attention to painted facades.
Acrylic furniture manufacturing technologies
Acrylic facades are made from polymethyl methacrylate, a synthetic polymer that can be sold under different names (plexiglass, acryline, acrylite, acryplast and others).
It has high chemical resistance and mechanical strength. The material is transparent, products made from it can have any color, and the surface can be either glossy or matte.
The structure of an acrylic facade consists of a base (usually an MDF board, less often chipboard) and an external protective and decorative coating (acrylic).
For the manufacture of kitchen furniture, two types of coatings are used:
- Panels
. First, the MDF base is coated with layers of hardening components, primers and dyes. After this, a protective and decorative panel is applied to the prepared surface. This technology makes it possible to obtain durable furniture facades with durable bright color and a long service life. The main disadvantage is that the price of the product will be higher than that of film kitchen sets. - Films
. The production of facades of this type is similar to the process of producing laminated chipboard furniture: a film coating impregnated with polymethyl methacrylate resin is glued onto an MDF or chipboard panel. Thermal pressing technology is used to firmly fix the film. The advantage of this option of acrylic coatings is the lower cost of the set than when using panels.
Another advantage is the ability to produce curved parts.
The thickness of the facade and the design of the future kitchen set will depend not only on the type of coating, but also on the type of processing. So, the cladding can be one-sided or two-sided. In the first case, the panel or film is applied only on the front side, in the second - on the back side of the facade part. Various technologies are used to process the edges of kitchen furniture, including:
- Postforming
. This technology is only suitable for film acrylic coverings, because the sash is “wrapped” in the facing material. This allows you to reduce the number of joints and obtain a reliable, aesthetic finish - to understand what such furniture sets look like, you can look at photos of finished postformed facades. - Edge
. Acrylic edges are often used to decorate joints: it is suitable for both single-sided and double-sided cladding. Some manufacturers also make furniture fronts with PVC edges. - Metal frame
. This technology is typically used for acrylic panels: they are inserted into an aluminum frame that protects the edges of the material. Frame sets are stylish, highly durable and have a long service life. When choosing a frame, you can choose wider or narrower frames, depending on what suits the project better.
What are acrylic facades?
At first glance it may seem that the panels are made of plastic. This is wrong. Thin MFD or chipboard panels are covered with special sheets of polymethacrylate, more often called acrylic.
MDF panels coated with acrylic.
This helps to ensure not only strength, which is important for furniture facades, but also wide design possibilities, as well as a characteristic glossy shine. MDF with acrylic coating is absolutely harmless, does not emit toxins when heated, and with proper care will last for many years.
High-gloss acrylic panels are easy to clean and do not fade over time. In addition, the properties of acryline help it not to absorb dirt and grease.
Advantages and disadvantages of acrylic
Acrylic kitchen fronts have several pros and cons that should be taken into account when choosing. The advantages of such kitchen furniture include:
- Long service life
. Acrylic has high mechanical strength: it is difficult to accidentally scratch the material; in addition, the plastic coating withstands impacts well and is resistant to abrasion. - Bright gloss
. The material has a high level of gloss (80 Gloss and more), which is not inferior to high-gloss enamels. This feature is sometimes called both a plus and a minus: some owners of acrylic kitchens believe that they are too shiny. - Variety of designs
. Although acrylic is often presented as a glossy finish, you can also buy acrylic furniture in a matte finish. Furniture factories offer a wide range of colors; you can also choose facades with patterns. - Heat and moisture resistance
. Polymethyl methacrylate can be heated up to +160 degrees, it can withstand the ingress of water and hot steam. Therefore, acrylic fronts are a good choice for a kitchen where a lot of cooking is done. - Long lasting color
. Furniture of any shade can retain its original color throughout its entire service life. - Safety
. Polymethyl methacrylate is non-toxic (including does not emit harmful fumes when heated), so it is well suited for any residential premises. - Hygiene
. The acrylic surface is smooth and does not absorb grease, dust and soot. This allows you to completely remove dirt from it and keep the furniture clean.
The main disadvantage of the material is its relatively high cost. This applies to a greater extent to sets made from panels, which are on average more expensive than more affordable film ones. Disadvantages also include the limited number of types of facades: acrylic is used only for blind sashes (it is possible to produce straight and radius parts in film).
Reviews from furniture owners point out another disadvantage of acrylic surfaces with a glossy sheen - the need for constant maintenance. Fingerprints, dried splashes and other dirt are really visible on the gloss, so they have to be wiped regularly.
Finishing the apron with acrylic panels
An apron is the section of wall between the work surface and the wall cabinets in the kitchen. If the upper tier of the headset is missing, then the apron refers to the entire wall. This place gives the housewife a lot of trouble: constant splashes of grease that appear from the stove during cooking, a coating of soot spoils the entire appearance of the kitchen. Tired of constant cleaning, owners abandon washable wallpaper and wall panels in favor of ceramic tiles, which are much more practical to use: easy to clean and resistant to temperature changes. However, over time, fungus forms at the joints of the plates due to excess moisture. It is difficult to deal with it, so manufacturers have found a unique way out of the situation: covering the apron with acrylic panels.
This type of tempered glass is better known as stalinite. The monolithic slab has no seams and is manufactured individually for each customer, depending on the required parameters. It can be up to three meters long and the design looks amazing. Thanks to large-format printing, an image is applied to the panel from the inside, which is firmly fixed in the glass. The design is reliably protected from water and grease, is not afraid of direct sunlight, and is therefore not subject to fading or fading. Here you can choose a picture to suit any design and every taste: from an appetizing still life to a picturesque underwater world. An apron made of tempered glass with spot lighting mounted in the bottom of wall cabinets looks especially impressive. Thus, the work area receives good lighting and becomes the highlight of the entire interior.
Acrylic glass is much stronger than silicate glass and is much more difficult to break.
Stalinite does not lose its shape and is not afraid of temperature changes. The material begins to melt only at a temperature of 160 degrees, so it can safely be located next to the stove. Its glossy reflective surface visually enlarges the room, giving it lightness and airiness. The tempered glass apron harmonizes perfectly with the acrylic facades of the kitchen set.
Styles for which acrylic kitchens are suitable
To choose the right materials for a kitchen set, you need to consider their combination with the overall style of the room. There are no ideal solutions that will look good with any interior. Thus, acrylic is best suited for modern styles - high-tech, minimalism and modern.
High tech
A technological style with an emphasis on modern appliances and new materials will complement a kitchen set with acrylic facades. For such kitchens, you can order furniture with glossy or matte surfaces, use muted or bright shades: the choice will depend on the size of the room, decoration and design concept.
Minimalism
Minimalism is characterized by the rejection of additional decor and other excesses. Therefore, solid facades of simple shape fit well with this style. To add variety, you can use glossy surfaces - they create a decorative effect while maintaining the unity of the interior. Examples of this design can be seen in the photos of acrylic kitchens in the minimalist style.
Modern
Acrylic can also be used in modern kitchens. In this style, combining classic and new design techniques, radius facades with film coating will look good. You can also use headsets with regular blind doors. In modernity, furniture with different levels of gloss, including high-gloss, would be appropriate.
Matte kitchen in the interior
You can use matte surfaces in the kitchen interior in different ways. We have prepared for you a selection of photographs that will show the most successful design techniques.
For example, for a small kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building, a matte set is unlikely to be suitable - you still want to visually enlarge the space. In this case, we recommend choosing a glossy kitchen and adding a matte finish with an apron. Usually this element gets dirty almost more than the tabletop, and this technique will make caring for it much easier.
Matte kitchens look very impressive in rooms with glossy floors. This way you can visually make the ceiling higher, and the contrast will give the interior laconicism and unique style.
The use of combo facades is also justified. In this case, the bottom of the kitchen will be matte and the top will be glossy. We recommend this technique for small kitchens where you want to add volume. Glossy cabinets will make the room visually larger, and the countertop will be easy to clean.
Such kitchens look very stylish if the contrast is achieved not only through textures, but also through the correct selection of colors. You can use two close in tone or diametrically opposite shades.
Sometimes designers go further and combine different textures on one plane. The decision is quite bold, but certainly worthy of attention.
Sometimes a matte kitchen has a glossy countertop. In this case, we advise you to pay special attention to the materials: make sure that they are durable, environmentally friendly, resistant to heat and mechanical damage. Otherwise, there is a risk that the entire countertop will need to be replaced
If you have an island in your kitchen, go for a high-gloss countertop while leaving the rest of the countertops opaque.
Use backlighting. This will add comfort and coziness to your kitchen.
An elegant option is to complement the matte facades with a glass apron, which is illuminated from the inside with LED strips. Expensive, but worth it.
Small kitchens
Small, multifunctional and thoughtful kitchens often become the highlight of small apartments or cozy country houses. In no case should such kitchens be overloaded with unnecessary kitchen utensils and made completely dark or light.
The best solution would be to completely abandon contrasting colors, using only individual elements from another material, for example, marble or wood. Such surfaces will retain all the characteristics of a matte finish and will not deprive small kitchens of such valuable space.
Large spaces
The kitchen, which is often the heart of the home, needs the perfect layout. Many owners of large and spacious kitchens, having purchased the latest technical innovations and arranging kitchen furniture, are faced with the problem of excess space.
Matte surfaces will be a real salvation for people who face similar problems, because dark (not necessarily black) matte furniture visually reduces the space. After eliminating the feeling of emptiness, the kitchen will become much more comfortable and its inhabitants will not have to waste time, effort and money on redevelopment.
What styles is acrylic not suitable for?
Plastic is practically not used in classical styles, in which the emphasis is on traditional materials. An exception may be sets with matte facades: the material is suitable for the neoclassical direction. Doors with a matte finish can be combined with stone countertops (natural or composite), as well as with wooden surfaces, as well as with metal.
Furniture made from polymethyl methacrylate is also not suitable for country, Provence and other rustic styles, in which gloss and artificial materials can destroy comfort. For such interiors, it is better to buy a kitchen with painted or veneered furniture; solid front parts are also suitable.
The basis of acrylic kitchen sets
The basis for any kitchen is not plastic, but wood or wood-based materials. MDF is most often used, since the advantages of the material far outweigh its disadvantages:
- MDF is much more resistant to moisture and temperature changes - this is ensured by manufacturing technology. Facades made of MDF and plastic do not deform over time and do not change color;
- MDF is a stabilized material that does not change its dimensions, so the doors will definitely not move, and the acrylic will not peel off. This is one of the main reasons that a linear meter of acrylic MDF furniture costs much more than its analogues;
- The plate is stronger, so it can only be damaged by a strong blow. For the same reason, furniture made from MDF is much more durable;
- the structure of the MDF panel does not affect the color of the product in any way: black and white facade, mint shade, milk color or silver metallic effect - any design options are possible.
Chipboard is used much less frequently. Of course, this material is more affordable, and a linear meter of such a kitchen will cost less. However, chipboard deforms much more strongly and quickly under the influence of moisture and steam and is much less durable. It is unprofitable to attach such an expensive and durable material as acrylic to it; it is better to use PVC film.
Color combinations for acrylic kitchens
White
A universal color that will suit rooms of all sizes and styles. White furniture will visually expand the space and add light, so such sets can be used in small kitchens. The advantages of white also include an unlimited number of color combinations: it can be combined with black, gray, pastel and bright shades.
Grey
Gray acrylic fronts are another universal option for kitchen furniture. You can use light shades: in visual perception they are close to white, but they look more interesting. At the same time, light gray combines with other colors just as well as white. Dark shades of gray are perfect for high-tech and similar styles. For example, they can be used for the lower row of cabinets, and make the upper level lighter.
Beige
Acrylic kitchen set will look good in beige color. Warm shades create coziness and make the kitchen more convenient and comfortable. If the room is small, beige can become the main color. The shade is also suitable for two-tone sets: for example, you can use it with white or gray.
Black
Installing a black set is a bold step that is only suitable for spacious and bright rooms. However, glossy acrylic facades, even in black, do not make the kitchen too gloomy. In addition, they can be diluted with lighter shades. Dark gloss also has a drawback - dirt is clearly visible on it, so you will have to spend a lot of time caring for the furniture.
Bright colors
To make the kitchen brighter, you can use sets of purple, red, orange, yellow and other rich shades. At the same time, it is important not to overdo it with bright colors: they should be used with caution, if necessary, combined with white or other neutral light shades.
What color should acrylic facades be made in?
The design palette for acrylic facades is extremely wide. Many colors and shades, the possibility of decorative design. We invite you to look at the most popular options among designers - perhaps you will find your ideal kitchen.
A white acrylic kitchen is a great choice for small spaces. Due to the color and glossy texture, it reflects light, visually enlarging the room and making it lighter and more spacious. However, keep in mind that such facades are very difficult to maintain - all the dirt and drops of grease are visible on the white surface, so you will have to wash the set often.
An interesting solution is a black and white acrylic kitchen . The classic combination looks very catchy thanks to the mirror shine. However, it is important to maintain a balance here: it is better if the colors are combined with each other, and do not overwhelm each other.
If such a combination seems boring to you, dilute it with another shade - it is better to choose bright colors, for example, pink, light green, blue.
Bright red is on trend right now, but we recommend being careful with it. Aggressive tones quickly tire the eyes, so monochromatic design in this case is not the best choice. Dilute it with calmer, pastel shades - beige, gray, golden.
The same applies to yellow kitchens. However, it all depends on the chosen tone. Soft colors will make the kitchen fresh and brighter, but bright colors require a muted edging.
A monochrome black kitchen is a bold but very stylish solution. It is important to pay attention to details: any inappropriate accessory, the slightest contamination - and the impression is ruined.
Features of caring for a kitchen made of acrylic material
To ensure that your furniture lasts a long time, while remaining comfortable and beautiful, follow a few simple rules of care:
- Wipe the facades regularly.
The most easily soiled surfaces are dark glossy surfaces, but dirt is also visible on light gloss and matte acrylic. If you wipe off fingerprints, spills and other stains right away, cleaning will take less time. - Use mild cleaning products.
Acrylic facades are wear-resistant, but it is still better not to use alcohol-containing, chlorine-containing compounds and other aggressive household chemicals, as well as products with abrasive components. Since the material has a smooth, non-porous surface, in most cases a regular soap solution or dishwashing detergent is sufficient. It is better to wipe furniture with a soft sponge or lint-free cloth. - Treat the set with special products for acrylic kitchen facades.
Manufacturers of household chemicals produce sprays, liquids and other compounds that can be used to polish glossy furniture and give it shine. There is no need to use them too often: polishing once every six months is enough. - Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for caring for furniture.
During installation, acrylic parts are usually covered with a protective film - after installation it must be carefully removed. Detailed recommendations can be obtained from the specialists who assemble the headset.
Types of paints for the kitchen
The production of finishing materials does not stand still, and their composition is regularly improved. Thanks to the addition of various components - rubber base or polymers, excellent performance properties can be achieved.
Acrylic
A relatively inexpensive and versatile option, suitable for painting any surface - wood, concrete, plaster. It is better not to skimp on these coatings, since cheap acrylic paints will not last long.
Silicate
The main feature of this type is high vapor permeability and resistance to fungi. With such a coating, the walls will “breathe” and, if there is a high risk of mold in your home, this is the most suitable option.
Silicone
This type has high elasticity and excellent water-repellent properties, allowing you to hide small flaws and cracks that form when the house shrinks. It is convenient to work with this composition with a roller - the paint does not drip and penetrates well into hard-to-reach places.
Silicate and silicone paints are best suited for finishing a kitchen apron.
Latex
Thanks to the addition of latex, the paint has a more elastic, viscous structure and provides a more durable coating that can also be washed with abrasive agents. However, its cost will be higher. Latex paint is best used for textured surfaces.
Alkyd
Alkyds give a brighter and more saturated color than acrylics. However, they are also highly abrasion resistant and suitable for all surfaces.
A selection of photos of acrylic kitchens
In our company you can buy a custom-made kitchen with acrylic fronts. We offer furniture from ZOV and GeosIdeal factories, known for their consistently high quality, environmental friendliness, reliability and long service life. Our designers will develop a unique furniture design that will not look like standard ready-made furniture. An individual approach to kitchen design also allows you to take into account the characteristics of the room and the wishes of the customer.
Leave a request on the website or come to the Master Furniture showrooms to see the materials live and design a kitchen together with an experienced designer.
Floor and ceiling
The floor in a kitchen with matte furniture fronts should be made glossy. This will give the interior a certain style and add variety. In addition, it is advisable to make a matte ceiling.
However, some designers recommend decorating the ceiling with gloss to visually expand the space when the room is small.
Tabletop
When choosing a countertop, it is recommended to proceed from the operating conditions and pay attention to the quality of materials and color. Tabletops can be made of chipboard or MDF. In addition, natural stone and its imitation, glass, wood, metal, and ordinary plastic are used.
High-quality facades mean choosing a tabletop made of acrylic or MDF, which cope well with practical tasks.
Easy to care for
Acrylic surfaces require absolutely no maintenance. Cleaning is carried out using special sprays and a soft dry cloth. This material has antistatic characteristics, so it does not collect dust and does not absorb kitchen grease.
The only nuance that should be taken into account is that for maintenance you should not use abrasives that can damage the surface. Twice a year it is recommended to treat the coating with a special spray that will prevent loss of shine.
How to care for matte kitchens
If you want your kitchen to serve you for many years, you will have to follow certain rules for caring for it. Such headsets require less attention than glossy ones. However, there are general recommendations here:
- The matte natural wood set can be washed using a steam generator. It will easily steam off any dirt and all you have to do is wipe it off with a soft cloth.
- Do not use abrasive or alcohol-containing products: they will quickly dull the surface.
- Do not use sponges or brushes: only microfiber or soft, lint-free cloths. LIFE HACK: Some people use paper towels. It's much more hygienic.
- Try to wipe the kitchen as it gets dirty - on some types of matte surfaces, ingrained drops of grease are very difficult to remove.
- After cleaning, be sure to wipe the countertops and facades dry: this will extend the life of the kitchen.
As you can see, there is nothing difficult in caring for matte kitchens - according to reviews, it is much easier than maintaining the perfect condition of glossy furniture.
