Plastic set: features, pros and cons of the kitchen

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One of the most pressing and troublesome issues when decorating a kitchen is the choice of material for the facades of the furniture. The difficulty lies in the fact that furniture must not only fit harmoniously into the overall interior and delight with a fresh design, but also guarantee practicality and durability, and such a combination is quite rare. Wanting to get these characteristics in one set, modern homeowners are increasingly choosing plastic, but does this solution live up to expectations? In order to figure it out, let’s study the features of plastic kitchens, compare the pros and cons, get acquainted with reviews about them and evaluate the photos in the interior.

Advantages and disadvantages

Kitchens with plastic facades are known for their advantages:

• attractive and fashionable appearance;
• high strength;
• resistance to steam;
• variety of designs and colors;
• affordable price.

The disadvantages of headsets include:

• change in color of the facade with constant contact with direct rays of the sun;
• areas where dirt accumulates at the junction of plastic and edge;
• loss of attractive appearance over time for aluminum and polymer edges.

What kind of plastic coating can there be?

Plastic for the kitchen is available in several options, from acrylic to PVC film.

Plastic acrylic kitchens in the photo

PVC furniture

Sets with plastic facades are cheaper than furniture made from natural materials, they are not afraid of constant temperature changes and are made in a variety of colors. The only disadvantage of PVC is that it is difficult to maintain (with a matte texture) and the possibility of deformation of the applied decorative pattern on the surface of the furniture.

Acrylic panels

The modern and multifunctional material is characterized by a long service life, during which it retains its original appearance. The advantages of the material include:

• increased strength and resistance to scratches, steam and water;
• no burnout effect;
• uniform gloss;
• long-term operation - from 30 to 40 years.

Acrylic panels

Acrylic film

This material is inferior in characteristics to sheet acrylic, but is more resistant to temperature transfers than PVC film. Acrylic film comes in a variety of colors, and can also imitate wood or other materials. There are options with a plain surface or photo printing. The facade can be matte, pearlescent or glossy.

HPL plastic for high pressure cladding

It is a durable and reliable composition and has a high cost. HPL plastic has high resistance to unstable temperatures, moisture, and mechanical damage (scratches). The material has good hardness and rigidity characteristics.

Medium and cold pressure CPL plastic

Among experts it is considered less convenient; its structure is similar to leatherette. Negative qualities of CPL plastic include fading in the sun and scratches under mechanical stress.

CPL plastic

We do it ourselves

A large selection of high-quality semi-finished products for the manufacture of kitchen furniture allows you, if necessary, to make a plastic facade for the kitchen yourself.

1. To start work, you need to prepare a facade blank from MDF or chipboard, plastic for the surface of the facade, PVA or Kleyberit glue, a press (it can be made using clamps and a durable plate larger than the blank). For edging you need an aluminum profile or PVC tape.
2. The MDF blank is cut 20 mm larger than the required size.
3. The cut slab must be thoroughly washed, degreased and wiped.
4. Glue is applied to the thoroughly dried MDF surface and a sheet of plastic is laid, which is rolled tightly with a rubber roller to remove excess glue and air bubbles.
5. The glued facade is placed under a press for the time necessary for the glue to completely harden according to the instructions.
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6. After the plate with plastic is removed from the press, it must be cut to the size of the opening for the front door. It should be taken into account that it will be necessary to install edging on the edge. For an aluminum profile, the actual size of the cut facade should be 3 mm less than the required size for installing the door.
7. The edge is carefully milled and an installation groove is made. Liquid nails are applied to this groove and the prepared aluminum profile is installed. For complete installation, you need to gently tap with a mallet.

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In order for the profile to fit well at the corners, it is necessary to saw it at 45 degrees in these places. After final assembly, the corners of the facades edged with aluminum profiles must be carefully processed with a file.

Modern color options

The color range of kitchen sets is endless: from snow-white to charcoal black. Each of the well-known styles requires the purchase of a set of a certain color, combined with the shade of the walls.

High tech

The design requires a minimum amount of decor; two-tone solutions with contrasting or similar shades are welcome in kitchens. Furniture should have clear lines, radius or straight fronts.

Classic style

Classics and plastic do not combine if the surfaces do not imitate wood: oak or walnut wood. You can use beige, brown or white shades, but you should not combine more than 2 colors.

Classic kitchens made of plastic in the photo

Loft

The style requires a large number of glossy surfaces: glass, metal or plastic. To get the maximum effect, it is better to purchase acrylic options.

Minimalism

The combination of simplicity and practicality does not tolerate excessive decoration and pretentiousness. Furniture can be cream, milk, honey, coffee or pearl shade. It should have sliding structures and matte surfaces.

Minimalism in the kitchen

Plastic kitchen interior

In a kitchen interior, not only furniture can be made of plastic. A good solution could be plastic kitchen countertops or a plastic shelf. The design of such products delights with stylishness, diversity and originality of color.

For what purposes can a plastic shelf be used in kitchen design?

• For storing everyday items;
• For indoor plants;
• Used as shelves;
• As an element that combines decorative elements.

The design of the shelf must certainly be combined with the design of the plastic kitchen. At the same time, the height of the shelf is not particularly important, so you can choose both high and low options.

Models with photo printing

They help create unique interiors. In addition to ready-made options, you can order any design from the manufacturer or apply your own photo to the cabinets. The set will automatically attract attention, which will allow you to ignore the decoration of the rest of the room.

Classic photo printing options include:

• photos of fruits and flowers, landscapes and abstractions - with a plain tabletop;
• black and white variations - when using the classic style;
• images of flora and fauna, various hieroglyphs - for adherents of the Japanese version;
• photographs of birds, plants, cities or coffee are used for Art Nouveau.

Corner set with facade photo printing

Which is better – matte plastic for the kitchen or glossy?

After choosing a suitable kitchen set, the owner is faced with the question of the features of its surface:

• Gloss – looks better, has a beautiful appearance, and its shine attracts attention. This material has a serious drawback - even superficial scratches will be noticeable, not to mention handprints. This option is not suitable for families with small children, for whom it is difficult to explain the fragility of a smooth surface. As a result, in a short time the kitchen will resemble something that has been used for a long time, and it will have to be replaced.
• Matte does not evoke a festive mood with its appearance, but is more practical in many respects. Matte plastic does not show stains, scratches or fingerprints (example: Italian Phoenix kitchens). Designers consider the negative properties of this option to be difficult to maintain - you will have to spend more time cleaning the facades.

Combination of matte and glossy surfaces in the headset

Care Tips

To increase the service life and visual appeal of a furniture set, it is necessary to follow a number of rules:

• eliminate sudden temperature changes - the product easily tolerates temperatures from +10 to +40 degrees;
• do not expose the set to the open sky;
• protect it from exposure to direct sunlight;
• quickly remove any spilled liquid - if the base is of poor quality, it will swell over time;
• Of all types of frames, give preference to aluminum - it is considered a durable option;
• get rid of contaminants in a timely manner;
• When washing, use special polishes for plastic surfaces and soft fabrics;
• remove fat from the facade with ordinary liquid soap or dishwashing detergent;
• use a hood with sufficient power so that fumes do not settle on light-colored cabinets.

Manufacturers of the kits do not recommend using aggressive or bulk care products, alcohol compounds, solvents, acetone or turpentine. When washing, do not use hard brushes or sponges - they can scratch the coating.

A kitchen set made of high-quality plastic is considered durable, beautiful and comfortable. Before purchasing furniture, you need to really evaluate the room (size, illumination and sun exposure) and only then choose matte or glossy options. Proper care of your headset will prevent it from quickly aging and becoming shabby.

How to care for matte facades

The surface of the matte façade is cleaned using special means. First, wet cleaning, then wiping with a dry cloth or rag to remove moisture and stains. The wood covering is processed by a steam generator.

It is better to remove stains that appear on the coating quickly - over time, the contamination will be absorbed into the porous structure of the facade, and it will be difficult to wash it.

A matte facade made of cheap material is difficult to clean in any case. You shouldn’t skimp on the quality of the façade coating only to have to worry about cleaning it later.