Kitchen sets are rarely made with legs; most often they stand on special supports covered with a decorative strip. This strip is called the plinth and is an integral part of the wall. The plinth for the kitchen gives the furniture a finished look, making the set look more stable and elegant. The decorative strip can be made of wood, chipboard, MDF, plastic or aluminum.
The plinth is an integral part of the kitchen wall
Types and colors of base
The kitchen wall can be installed on the floor in two ways: on decorative legs or adjustable supports. Legs are rarely found - mainly on furniture in the classicist style. Much more often, all kinds of cabinets, cutting tables and pencil cases are installed on supports. It’s not very beautiful from the outside, and besides, kitchen waste always ends up under the furniture. Decorative strips called plinths help cover the supports and protect the space under the furniture from dust.
The planks vary depending on the material they are made from. Most often they are made of plastic or aluminum, while the furniture set itself can be made of chipboard or MDF. The false panel, as the plinth is also called, is not recommended to be made from “imitators” of wood, since they do not tolerate moisture well and can swell and deteriorate within a year or two. Kitchen plinths made of wood look great on wooden furniture in the classic style.
The plinth made of chipboard and MDF has a huge assortment
The kitchen plinth can be the same color as the entire furniture wall or radically different from it. If the interior design is based on color contrasts, then the color of the false panel may match the color of some decorative elements in the room - door handles, baseboards, stained glass windows, countertops, chandeliers or corners. Typically, a darker color is chosen for the plank than for the rest of the furniture. Today the color range is rich - you can choose absolutely any shade.
The base is convenient to use because it can be easily removed if desired. For example, when carrying out general cleaning. This is convenient because there is no need to move the entire wall. If desired, the decorative strip can be replaced with another one over time.
Skirting boards for kitchen worktops
Kitchen baseboards are represented by a solid assortment of models, ensuring the production of furniture in any style and in different price categories, satisfying the needs of a wide consumer audience. Skirting boards are in strands of 3; 4 or 4.2 meters, consisting of two parts: a mounting base and a decorative (front) insert. Skirting boards are made of either polyvinyl chloride or aluminum. At the same time, the second modification does not consist of 100% metal, but has silicone strips and a plastic mounting base.
Plastic skirting boards for the kitchen have a huge number of decors, making it possible to implement almost any design project. In addition, the manufacturers of these products try to ensure that their products visually match the warehouse program of the most popular countertops. Thanks to this approach, you can choose a plinth whose decor is as close as possible to the artistic design of the laminated plastic. This makes it easy for our designers to ensure the visual integrity of the typeface.
For situations where it is impossible to select a plinth with the same or similar decor for the tabletop, there is a special modification of the plinths that ensures a 100% match. This is a model that has a blank front screen into which laminated plastic is inserted. Many countertop manufacturers sell this material separately for gluing radius ends and using it in baseboards. Of course, sometimes it is not possible to find an edge with the required decor, but in most cases there are no problems with selecting the right type of laminate.
Depending on the manufacturer and modification, kitchen skirting boards have a total side height of 20 to 45 mm, and the width of the base (sole) varies on average in the range of 20-30 millimeters. All models of skirting boards are equipped with auxiliary fittings (plugs, external and internal corners), ensuring the integrity and aesthetic appeal of the protective and decorative structure. Whips of different modifications have different degrees of rigidity, but the flexibility of any model is enough to ensure a tight fit to both the countertop and the kitchen apron.
Plastic skirting boards are used mainly in the production of classic-style furniture models belonging to economy class or mid-price furniture. Aluminum products are in demand and are excellent for making high-tech and modern kitchens. In addition, aluminum skirting boards are recommended for use in kitchens where a hob with a large burner is embedded into the countertops. Models made of polyvinyl chloride, although they have a fairly high heat resistance, are not able to withstand direct exposure to fire, so plastic skirting boards quite often melt in the cooking area.
The most widely represented on the furniture market are skirting boards produced by Rehau and Termoplast. Rehau products are mainly used for mid-price furniture, while Termoplast products are used in economy class kitchens. Regardless of the manufacturer and size, all skirting boards are classified according to decor:
• tree-like – imitate the cut of different types of wood (beech, walnut, oak, maple, etc.);
• plain – represented by the most popular colors (white, blue, green, yellow, red, brown);
• metallic;
• under the stone – imitate the cut of marble, granite, basalt, etc.;
• with compositional mosaic designs.
The front surface of kitchen skirting boards can be smooth or textured (mainly for aluminum models). The first option is considered practical, since it is easier to care for. If you still choose a plinth with a ribbed front surface, then do not forget to remove dirt in a timely manner, since this will require considerable effort later.
Plinth made of chipboard or MDF
Its main advantage is its low cost. Most often it is made together with furniture and matches it in color. Its production does not require additional specialists - wall manufacturers themselves cut the necessary strips, which are easy to install yourself. Despite the ease of installation and low cost, such a false panel has a big drawback.
Kitchen plinths made of wood look great on wooden furniture in the classic style
Its service life is short-lived - it does not tolerate moisture, so in the first two years it can greatly increase in size and become unusable. For protection, the manufacturer can laminate the bottom section of the plank, which is in contact with the floor, with a PVC edge. Better yet, attach a special water-repellent seal or plastic transparency to the bar. But it also has a drawback: it is difficult to attach it so that it fits tightly to the floor, and therefore dirt will inevitably get behind such a bar. And externally, a panel that is not adjacent to the floor looks less impressive. Over time, the gap will only widen.
If you choose between chipboard or MDF, then the second “simulator” of wood is better - it lasts longer, looks more solid and is less susceptible to deformation from moisture and sun, but is more expensive. MDF coated with enamel will last longer.
An excellent solution to a modern approach
You can extend the life of a chipboard plinth with proper care:
- try to protect it from moisture, not leaving puddles on the floor after washing the floors;
- periodically remove the slats and dry them in the sun or under a radiator;
- cover the base with a special anti-mold and mildew agent.
Kitchen plinths made of plastic
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plank is considered the best option - this material is durable, inexpensive, and comes in a wide range of colors. Plastic tolerates moisture well and is not afraid of high temperatures. It easily takes on the required shape and is suitable even for rounded furniture. There are special end caps and connecting elements that allow you to bend the plastic in the desired direction.
The plastic kitchen plinth is durable and not afraid of mechanical damage - over time, scratches or cracks will not appear on it. It tolerates sunlight well, does not fade or fade. And since it weighs little, the base can be easily removed during cleaning.
An excellent option for built-in appliances
A plastic kitchen plinth is always made with special ventilation grilles. They should be installed near a built-in oven or refrigerator so that air circulates well and household appliances in the kitchen do not overheat. On the lower edge, the plastic strip is protected by a silicone gasket, so it fits tightly to the floor, preventing moisture and dust from getting under the furniture.
Plastic can be glossy or matte. By color - from soft pastel tones to bright colors. Plastic in the color of vanilla, metal or wood - cherry, walnut and beech - is in demand. A plinth with a mirror finish looks original and festive in the kitchen. The height of the plastic strip is usually from 10 to 15 cm. When purchasing a plastic base, you must immediately purchase all the fittings - corners and connectors. They must be from the same manufacturer so that there are no differences in color and quality.
A plinth with a mirror finish looks original and festive in the kitchen.
With all the advantages, the plastic base also has several disadvantages. Traces of dirt and smudges are more noticeable on it than on other types, so it needs frequent wiping. You cannot wash it with harsh detergents: you will have to choose gentle ones, where the pH level is close to neutral. You will have to do this quite often.
Once again about the plastic base
For all its aesthetic component, the base does not interfere with household chores at all. You can easily sweep and wash the floors without worrying about sweeping up all the dirt under the legs, which are now under reliable protection. The materials do not swell from excess moisture, are not susceptible to temperature fluctuations, do not fade or deform over time.
The color scheme of the base is selected in advance, based on the color scheme of the kitchen itself or accessories. Although nothing prevents you from making this element of the accessory neutral, and gluing an LED strip inside, which will create the feeling of the kitchen set flying in the air.
Another important advantage is easy installation and replacement of individual components, in which you do not have to tear down the entire decor at once. Here the situation is similar with plastic and siding: it is enough to replace one link, and the picture will become complete again. As a result, time and money are saved.
Aluminum plinth
Of all the types of decorative strips, the aluminum kitchen plinth is the most expensive and reliable. It has even more advantages over chipboard or MDF than plastic. Aluminum is the strongest and most durable material, although it is the most expensive. It is environmentally friendly and durable. This base is resistant to temperature changes and mechanical stress. It does not fade or deteriorate from moisture or steam.
The aluminum plinth for the kitchen is easy to install and weighs little. There is always a silicone seal between it and the floor, so even the smallest gaps are eliminated. The aluminum strip always comes with corner connectors, end caps and ventilation grilles. Aluminum is a flexible material, so a base made of it can easily take the shape of furniture.
Aluminum plinth for kitchen
The aluminum plinth for the kitchen can be glossy or matte. The latter is smooth or corrugated. The height is usually standard - 10, 12 or 15 centimeters. Such decorative strips look very harmonious in a modern or high-tech kitchen. Especially if the color is in harmony with other decorative elements of the room - table and chair legs, parts of the bar counter, chandelier or lamps. A combination of such a plinth with furniture facades in aluminum frames will also be successful. This design looks stylish, light and modern.
Manufacturing materials
Plastic
What is good about a plastic profile? Firstly, it is lightweight, secondly, it is cheap, and thirdly, it is reliable and durable. Moreover, a plinth of any shape, width and texture can be cast from PVC, which is important. Additionally, the structure is equipped with seals that prevent water from seeping under the furniture.
Plastic base
The plinth can vary in height from 100 to 150 mm, which is quite enough to hide the legs of the cabinets. Plastic perfectly resists mechanical damage such as bending and breaking, so an accidental “kick” with your foot will do absolutely nothing to it.
The plastic plinth can be easily matched to any furniture. If you have not found a suitable pattern or color of the material, order an individual model for yourself from the same factory where you purchased the kitchen.
The main advantages of the material
- Relatively low price, which fully corresponds to the quality.
- Thanks to the corners and connections, it can be installed under a kitchen of any shape and configuration.
- Insensitive to sudden temperature fluctuations.
- It is not afraid of various mechanical impacts during operation: scratches, abrasion, etc.
- He doesn’t care about the sun’s rays, nor does he care about burnout.
- It is lightweight, so even a child can remove it when cleaning.
- He is not at all afraid of not only moisture, but also water.
Plastic and fastening and joining elements
However, this type of kitchen plinth also has several disadvantages:
- Despite the fact that the plastic base is resistant to various types of mechanical stress, various dirt and liquid leaks will immediately be evident, so it will need to be wiped more often.
- A kitchen plastic plinth can be damaged if you use aggressive cleaning products with a high pH level to clean it, so try to use their counterparts with a more neutral pH level.
The next drawback does not relate to the operation of the product, however, in order for our readers to be fully aware of it, we will still dwell on it.
Despite the resistance of PVC material to high temperatures, at 400 degrees Celsius it begins to burn, releasing chemicals into the air that can cause suffocation. For this reason, in some countries it is used with restrictions in medical and child care institutions and other social facilities.
Aluminum
As for aluminum, let's start with the fact that the aluminum base is quite expensive, although durable. It has all the advantages of PVC, but lacks its disadvantages. It is also not afraid of temperature fluctuations, mechanical damage and direct exposure to sunlight.
Aluminum plinth
The material is environmentally friendly and durable, but its main drawback lies precisely in the price and complexity of installation. Cutting off an extra piece of aluminum base without the appropriate tool is quite problematic.
Chipboard
This material is the simplest and cheapest of the above. For the manufacture of the plinth, laminated chipboard (chipboard) is used, which has many advantages , thanks to which it is still used in the manufacture of these products:
- Inexpensive material, thanks to which it has long been one of the most popular.
- Extensive color palette.
- With proper use and regular maintenance, its reliability is not satisfactory even in comparison with plastic or aluminum analogues.
- Resistant to mechanical stress.
Product made from chipboard.
Among the disadvantages, we note the following:
- This material cannot be used to make smoothly shaped products.
- Chipboard is susceptible to the negative effects of temperature changes and high humidity, which contribute to its destruction. In addition, even with proper care, the ends of a product made from chipboard will eventually become unsightly due to delamination. This is due to moisture getting on them during cleaning or during operation.
What does the base consist of?
The kitchen plinth is a solid plank consisting of mandatory and additional elements. The first includes the strip itself, the seal and the fixing clips (brackets). The rest include connection elements and radius elements, which allow you to position the base at a certain angle and make the structure smooth, completely repeating the dimensions of the furniture. The connection elements can be at angles of 90, 135 and 180 degrees - due to them, the base is adjusted to any shape of furniture.
The most popular types of kitchen plinths
The base strip can be of three sizes - 10, 12 and 15 centimeters. There is no need to make it higher, but if the owners wish, this is possible. If the kitchen has high ceilings (more than three meters), then a higher plank will look more harmonious. And in standard kitchens, the height of which does not exceed 2.5 meters, a base larger than 10 centimeters will look ridiculous and visually reduce the size of the room.
How to install a plinth in the kitchen
The procedure for installing a decorative strip to a kitchen unit is simple and does not require special preparation. You can install the base yourself. It is connected to the legs with a set of special connecting parts. The whole process consists of several stages:
The base is an element of the kitchen that can sometimes be changed.
- correctly place the legs when assembling the kitchen, paying special attention to the front and side ones, to which the plank will be mounted
- the front legs of the furniture should be positioned in such a way that the attached plinth does not protrude beyond its dimensions, and even recedes slightly deeper from them, otherwise it will be inconvenient to stand near a table or cabinet when washing dishes or preparing food
- for the side walls of furniture this is not important, but for aesthetic purposes they also need to be indented
- there is no need to attach the plinth to all furniture legs, it is enough only to two or three: the outer ones and one intermediate; if the length of the furniture is more than two meters, then there can be two intermediate legs
- Before installation, you need to attach a seal to the bottom edge of the plank: it can be nailed to chipboard with nails with a diameter of 8-12 millimeters, to plastic or metal - using glue or sealant
- Before installation, you need to mark the location of the legs and attach them to the base using self-tapping screws, if it is chipboard
- It is better to choose self-tapping screws with a small head: this will make it easier to adjust the mounting of the base
- for plastic and aluminum bases, instead of self-tapping screws, special grooves are provided for inserting fasteners
- When installing a base, behind it you must first “hide” the kitchen hoses from the sink or stove, as well as all electrical wires
How is the plinth attached to the kitchen legs?
Fastening the plinth is most often trusted to professionals, but if you carefully study the instructions, you can carry out the installation yourself, saving the family budget. Before starting work you need to prepare:
- glue;
- screwdriver for mounting PVC panels;
- silicone sealant for aluminum or plastic base;
- self-tapping screws;
- any marker;
- ruler.
Installation work begins only after the kitchen furniture has been placed in the chosen location:
- The slats are attached to the cabinet legs with special fasteners that come with the furniture. On a plastic or chipboard strip you need to make marks corresponding to the distance between the cabinet legs. You can only attach the plinth to the outermost ones, and if its length is more than a meter, you still need to make a mark in the middle. If fastenings are made too often, the bar may bend, which will affect the appearance of the headset.
- On the inside, the plastic and aluminum boards have special gaps into which clips are inserted at the required distance. The fastenings are screwed to the chipboard base using self-tapping screws with small heads. When the clips are located at the desired distance, you just need to snap them behind the cabinet leg.
- Aluminum strips along the edge can be sealed with a transparent sealant to prevent the possibility of water getting under the set. And special silicone pads (base plates) are put on PVC strips, which ensure a tight fit to the floor.
- The depth of the base in front of the edge of the cabinet should be approximately 15 centimeters so that it is comfortable to stand while cooking. The side panels can be mounted at the same level as the furniture, but it is better to “sink” them at the same distance.
- Aluminum planks require the use of special plugs and corner structures, the assembly of which does not require much time and effort.
The color of the base may match the main shade of the kitchen unit or differ from it. Whether to use slats or leave the legs open is a purely personal matter. It depends on the taste of the housewife, the interior and style of the kitchen. According to design projects, the plinths can be used for retractable baskets, and lighting or LED strips of various colors can be built into them. But the main thing remains - they help to recreate a single image of the kitchen set and give the kitchen a unique look and special charm!
How to choose a base
In order for it to last longer and the furniture in the kitchen to look beautiful, it is better not to skimp on the base. It significantly affects the overall interior of the room, so its choice must be approached responsibly. Most often, the plinth comes with the furniture or is ordered along with it. However, it also happens that it is purchased separately. Especially if the furniture is made of chipboard or MDF and the included base has become unusable.
Metal is the easiest to choose - aluminum plinths fit any furniture.
The best materials to choose are plastic or metal. PVC planks have more color options, but aluminum is better for the environment and will last longer. If the decorative strip is selected separately from the purchase of furniture, then it will be difficult to choose the perfect color. It is better to consider playing with contrasts. For example, a brown base is perfect for a beige wall. Its shade can match the elements of the chandelier, the colors of the wallpaper or curtains. Or it can repeat the tone of the skirting boards: if desired, they can even be ordered from the same manufacturer.
You may be interested in the following article, “Kitchen plinth, nuances of choice and its attachment to the countertop.”
The combination of red and brown, yellow and gold, blue and silver, traditional white and black looks interesting. With proper interior design, contrast will be appropriate in a kitchen of any style, even a classic one. Metal is the easiest to choose - aluminum plinths fit any furniture.
The kitchen plinth is not just a decorative element, but also protects from dust and moisture.
The base is an element of the kitchen that can sometimes be changed. And not even because it fell into disrepair, but simply to create a new design. In terms of cost, it will be cheaper than replacing all the furniture, but the style of the room can be changed radically.
The kitchen plinth is not just a decorative element, but also performs a purely utilitarian function: it prevents dust and small debris from getting under the furniture, and also hides wiring and hoses. What material to make it from, everyone decides individually. When choosing it, price, quality and aesthetic aspects are taken into account: the decorative strip must be combined with the entire design of the room, decorate it and be an integral part.
