Using the same materials for the backsplash and countertop in kitchen planning is a new trend in interior design. More and more people are inclined to turn the kitchen into a cozy place, comfortable for cooking and spending a lot of time.
The studio kitchen allows you to make the work surface large enough. However, in a standard kitchen, due to the small area, it is necessary to somehow classify the zones. A design solution will come to the rescue - highlighting the surface above the tabletop. This will give the interior a European touch and add coziness.
The apron can be made from different materials. The most popular are glass and classic tiles. These materials are easy to clean and look good.
But besides this, there are other material options:
- tile;
- glass surface;
- MDF or chipboard;
- plastic;
- printed tiles (photo tiles);
Tile splashback
This option is good for those who like structure and order. The tiled option has clear boundaries and shapes. Even if you lay tiles with a pattern or mosaic, the borders will be visible.
Tiles with imitation wood or metal look cool. Then it will look chic with the countertop (if it is made of the same materials). Here it is important to choose tiles not only with a pattern, but also with a wood or metal texture.
Match the color of individual cabinets
In this solution, the tabletop can repeat the color of one of the two colors of the furniture set. But the solution will be easy if the tabletop is made in solid colors (black, white, beige, gray), matching the color of the facade, but in practice it is almost impossible to match the tone.
| The photo shows a countertop made of quartz Akoya BQ-8583 (Vicostone factory) |
Glass apron
Glass or mirror is the best option for kitchens in high-tech or loft style. Due to the glossiness and reflectivity of the surface, this will become a stylish addition to the kitchen interior design. If heating surfaces or household appliances with mirrored doors are installed, the mirror option would be appropriate.
For glass products, the material used is skinali - tempered durable glass. It is easy to clean. The glass surface is durable. Several options are possible - matte or glossy. In the case of a glossy glass surface, you can print and attach any image, thereby changing the style in the kitchen.
The mirror surface goes perfectly with loft-style work surfaces. Moreover, they visually increase the space, which is good for small kitchens.
White
White color is universal when decorating a kitchen space. Since people most often place the main emphasis on the work area, namely the apron, its color should be chosen very carefully.
Important! If you choose white, it goes well with any colors.
Having decided to install white furniture in your kitchen and make a snow-white apron for it, pay attention to the following options:
- White mosaic apron. A very interesting and original solution. Suitable for simple and rustic destinations - Country and Provence.
- White ceramic tile backsplash. The most popular type of finish.
- Brick tile backsplash. This finish is at the peak of its popularity. Imitation brickwork is suitable for any style, both modern and classic. Brick tiles can be glossy, matte, voluminous or embossed.
- White apron made of plastic panels or glass. By itself, such a finish will look boring, but if you add colored lighting underneath it and choose a bright set, this option will become quite original.
- White wood apron This method is suitable for eco, modern, and Japanese minimalism styles. The wood will have gray or brown veins, which will make the work area unusually aesthetic.
A bright kitchen with a white countertop will look beautiful with an apron of any color and texture. For retro styles, you should opt for plain tiles.
Interesting article: Elegant kitchen backsplashes made of white tiles, as well as 5 more popular colors!
In classic interiors, work areas are most often decorated with stone. Its colors vary in grey, beige or marble tones.
But for a kitchen in a modern Minimalist or High-Tech style, you should choose a skinali under a white countertop, that is, a bright plain screen or backlit glass. A mirrored apron will also look relevant in such interiors. It will perfectly harmonize with the snow-white set.
MDF and chipboard apron
The optimal combination of price and quality for those who want to save a little on kitchen renovations. When working with MDF or chipboard, you can choose design options so that the apron matches the style of the countertop and kitchen facade.
To install chipboard or MDF plates, postforming material is used. This is a special material made of wood and glue, sealed with plastic along the contour. Such shields are moisture-resistant and resistant to damage. But they are significantly inferior to tiles or glass.
Advantages of MDF or chipboard coverings for an apron
- installation takes little time;
- the walls do not need to be leveled before installing the surface;
- dismantling, if necessary, occurs quickly;
- easy to clean. Does not require additional care products;
- exact match of color and texture with the tabletop;
- relatively low price;
MDF or chipboard are ideal for conservative kitchen interior design options. In the case of choosing this material, it is possible not only to match the color and texture of the countertop 100%, but also to combine the plate with household appliances or other furniture in the kitchen.
Pastel colors in the kitchen
Pastel colors of the kitchen apron will make the interior more friendly and fresh. To prevent the pastel color of the work panel from looking too faded, combine it with white or wooden cabinets, floors, ceilings or blinds.
The blue color of the walls in the kitchen calms, repels insects, and reduces appetite, so it is good for those losing weight.
The pink color of the walls, in turn, refreshes and makes the interior more delicate.
Plastic apron
In the case of plastic, polycarbonate is used. This is an inexpensive option both to purchase and to install. In case of compatibility and combination of the product and the countertop, it will be optimal, because many countertops are made of plastic. Self-installation is also possible, which will save you from additional expenses for the work of a specialist.
The color range of plastic plates and tabletops is numerous. The buyer can choose from catalogs independently; installation and dismantling does not require much time.
Under the plastic, if it is transparent enough, you can place any version of a picture or photo print and dilute the interior, make the best combination with the tabletop. Polycarbonate is easy to clean. It is resistant to moisture and there are practically no joints on it.
No additional assistance from a technician is required during installation. If the user is experienced enough in the matter of repair, he will be able to carry out installation and dismantling himself.
What other materials can be used?
That's it for the basic ideas on how to decorate the apron. Next there will be only very original options.
Laminate or parquet
Laminate is preferable for use on an apron, and even more often it is cheaper than parquet. It is worth choosing high-class material (32-33) and good locks with moisture protection. You will have to install it yourself, since they do not sell ready-made laminate panels for aprons. Attached with liquid nails.
A parquet apron is made differently: first, the “dies” are attached to the substrate with glue or liquid nails, then everything is varnished and also attached to the wall. But the varnish on a stove can melt or crack, so this method is not suitable for everyone. You can cover the parquet with glass, but then the apron will turn out to be too thick - this will not suit everyone. But it looks very original.
Brick
Natural or gypsum brick is absolutely not suitable for an apron because of its porous structure: all liquid and dirt will be absorbed inside like a sponge, and cleaning it later will be very problematic.
Glass will come to the rescue again and protect this interesting design solution. But this way the texture of the brick will be lost, so it is better to simply move such a decorative element away from the food preparation area.
Wine corks
Yes, they do this too - they line the apron with wine corks. Moreover, they not only collect them themselves, but also buy them (!) from bars and restaurants. To make the process go faster, cut them into halves - this makes it easier to glue them to the substrate.
The laying pattern is the same as for parquet. Only the material of the plugs is porous, so cleaning them will be a big problem. You can resort to a constant assistant - glass, but is it worth increasing the already thick apron? The idea with wine corks is suitable for a dining place, but for a work area in the kitchen.
Pebbles
If you are a fan of pebble beaches, then you can create such a corner in the kitchen. For example, in the form of an apron. But since the surface of the stone is not uniform, it will be very difficult to clean it, dust will get between the stones, and as a result, such a panel will quickly lose its original appearance.
Oilcloth
Yes, an apron can also be made from oilcloth. One of the most budget-friendly options that you can do yourself. All that is required is to take the necessary measurements, select the oilcloth itself, and then attach it to the wall using a furniture stapler.
This option will save the walls from dirt and water, but for a gas stove it is better to choose another option - the oilcloth may become charred.
Choosing which apron is best in a certain situation is not easy. Most often, people focus only on aesthetics, but do not forget some other points:
- budget;
- planned duration of use;
- kitchen style;
- difficulty of repair and replacement;
- cleaning.
Focus on these factors, and your apron will delight you for many years.
Discs and glassware fragments
Here all the necessary and unnecessary garbage comes into play: broken dishes, whole dishes, CDs - all this is glued to the substrate, and the joints are covered with tile grout. It looks impressive, because it is simply impossible to find a second apron like this.
But here the problem with the seams comes up again, which will have to be cleaned often. In addition, CDs have a mirror surface, on which all drops and dust particles will be visible.
Chalkboard paint
A very original method is to make a slate board instead of an apron. All that is required is to go over the required space with slate paint three times. It is easy to care for: avoid abrasive detergents and hard sponges.
With the help of drawings on the board, you can change the look of the kitchen every day - you definitely won’t get tired of it. It will look especially impressive in a white kitchen.
Tile splashback with print (photo tile)
The so-called “pseudo-mosaic”. Creating an imitation mosaic using classic tiles is the optimal solution. The texture and pattern will be the same as the designer creates, depending on the wishes. When combined with a countertop, mosaic and pseudo-mosaic tiles will be advantageous, because they repeat the texture and pattern of the countertop and other household appliances.
The option of printing on tiles will be cheaper than mosaics. There will be fewer seams on it, which is very important - after all, moisture and fats from cooking will not get there. In addition, the color of the grout can be matched to the mosaic, and then visually it will look like a single picture.
These are not all the options for combining a tabletop and apron into a single composition. You can show creativity and imagination and choose for the material, for example, plaster or original wallpaper. For greater durability and ease of use, it is worth covering the surfaces with glass or plastic.
It is important not to be afraid to experiment. Many things that at first glance look strange, in practice in interior design are comfortable and look interesting. For classic and more modern kitchen styles, materials are used that match the countertops - which gives a 100% guarantee of a harmonious combination of the countertop and the kitchen backsplash.
Stone facing a working wall in the kitchen
Which stone is suitable for a working wall in the kitchen? Typically granite, quartz or marble is used. Everything must be protected by impregnation, after which the surface becomes resistant to staining and high temperatures. Natural stone looks elegant and matches almost any style and color of the kitchen. Thus, you can choose both light and dark facades for it, depending on the color of the stone. In any case, it will look expensive and rich.
Under the windowsill
It's a good idea to make the countertop from the same material as the window sill, especially if it's adjacent to a window. But in our practice, window sills are very often installed at the stage of rough finishing of the room. Therefore, matching the color of the countertop to the color of the window sills in an already finished room can be difficult. A good solution is to choose the color of quartz agglomerate at the design stage of a kitchen space and, in the future, use it to make first a window sill and then a kitchen countertop.
| The photo shows a tabletop, apron and window sill from Luna Verde LV225 (Samsung Radianz factory) |
Conclusion
The kitchen is a huge part of your life. This is the place where you meet your family, often spend your leisure time, and cook delicious and healthy food, after all! Therefore, any decision should lead to the creation of a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. Trust the professionals in their field, because on the way to implementing the project there are a large number of technical parameters and various nuances that you simply cannot take into account. While the master faces this every day, solving the task at hand.
| View more examples of finished countertops | Calculate kitchen countertops online |
