In order for the kitchen to be cozy and functional, it is necessary not only to think through the interior design and select the necessary accessories, but also to choose the right kitchen set.
Choosing furniture for the kitchen is not as simple a task as it seems at first glance.
Even before purchasing a kitchen set, you will have to perform several actions:
- take measurements of the kitchen;
- choose a layout;
- draw up a project;
- select the headset model.
Kitchen design project
Typically, a kitchen set consists of floor and hanging (wall) cabinets; there may also be a pencil case. They are made from different materials - from inexpensive to luxury. All of them are not ideal for the kitchen. They have not yet come up with a material that can withstand high humidity, temperature, exposure to acids, alkalis, abrasives and detergents, while still serving for a long time, being easy to care for and looking attractive. Some of the components have to be sacrificed, and sometimes several.
Kitchen set made of chipboard
Chipboard - chipboard. This material is the cheapest. It is made from shavings and sawdust, which are held together with a special binder and pressed into slabs or parts of kitchen furniture - facades. The resulting slab and edges are then covered with finishing materials. It could be:
- PVC film;
- plastic;
- veneer.
The facade of this kitchen set is made of chipboard laminated with oak veneer
In this version, the kitchen set is made with a facade made of chipboard covered with plastic
The chipboard facade is finished with furniture PVC film
Another option for a facade made of laminated chipboard (laminated chipboard)
The color can be any, the surface can be matte or glossy.
Another option for a kitchen set made of chipboard with plastic trim
The cheapest type of finishing is PVC film, the other two types are slightly more expensive. Regardless of the method, such kitchen sets are the most budget option. But they do not have a very long service life. Most often, chipboard begins to warp near the sink and stove or oven. This type of material reacts poorly to elevated temperature and humidity. That’s why kitchen sets made of chipboard with various types of finishes are most often purchased for a summer residence, a dormitory, or other temporary housing.
As you saw in the photo, the appearance and style of a kitchen set made of chipboard can be anything. And this is only a small part of how you can do it. For example, combinations with glass look very unusual.
Glass inserts in wall cabinets
Facades with aluminum frames are suitable for a modern or minimalist kitchen. They will no longer be exactly cheap, but their reliability will increase: the most problematic areas will be made of aluminum, and it tolerates moisture and temperature normally.
Chipboard in aluminum frame
If we talk about the latest fashion trends, today kitchens are made in two colors: the bottom is darker, the top is several tones lighter. This technique allows you to visually make not very elegant cabinets lighter.
Two-color kitchen sets
What else do you need to know when buying kitchen furniture made from chipboard? That the binder used in production contains formaldehyde, the fumes of which are harmful, toxic in large quantities, and also stimulate the development of cancer. For this reason, the amount of formaldehyde released is controlled and, depending on its amount, marked. Before purchasing or ordering furniture, take an interest in the documents on the chipboard from which it will be made. The certificate must contain the emission class: the Latin letter E and numbers. So chipboard with emission class E1 is no more harmful than natural wood. Suitable for use in residential premises of class E2. The rest are only in non-residential areas.
This part in most kitchen sets is made from laminated chipboard
One more point: in almost all kitchens, except for the “elite” class, the cabinets themselves are made of laminated chipboard. Thus, a kitchen set with a facade made of MDF in 95% of cases has “insides” made of chipboard. This is also worth knowing.
MDF kitchen set
As already mentioned, only facades are made from MDF. This is wood waste pressed under high pressure and ground into flour. With this technology, no binders are added: at high pressure they are released from the wood (lignin) and glue the particles together. Therefore, this material is considered safe.
As a result of processing, a dense structure is obtained that tolerates high humidity well. The surface is painted and covered with PVC film or veneer. In terms of the combination of price and quality characteristics, kitchen furniture made from MDF is optimal. It is durable, easy to clean (if the surface is not covered with veneer), and has an average cost.
Painted MDF kitchen units are an excellent choice. The modern variety of paints makes it possible to obtain very beautiful surfaces, and a super-durable varnish coating applied on top extends the service life. For example, you can see a facade painted blue with a metallic effect in the photo below.
Kitchen set made of painted MDF, metallic blue color
If you prefer calmer, classic colors, you can do this: light, milky, beige, white - all possible shades of the palette.
Calm tones are also possible
This material is also suitable for fans of high-tech or minimalism style. Smooth surface, with a light or bright shine, matte - it all depends on your desire and the equipment available from a given furniture company.
Color - wenge, semi-gloss
Bright red color for active people
L-shaped kitchen set made of MDF with a dark facade
Wooden kitchen sets
Wood is the most expensive material: almost no furniture is made from pine and spruce, since they are very soft, and other species are expensive. Cheaper wooden kitchen sets are made from furniture panels - glued boards, from which parts are then cut out into the required shape. Furniture made from solid wood is a very, very expensive pleasure. But the price is not its only drawback: the wooden surface requires special and careful care, otherwise it loses all its luster. If you are not ready to rub it with special products every week, look for other options.
Solid wood island kitchen set
Since the furniture, to put it mildly, is not cheap, it is designed mainly for large kitchens. Probably, you can order it for a small one, but such material requires volume and space. Only then can all its charm be seen. In a small room it will “crush” because the furniture set will turn out to be solid and bulky.
Wood looks beautiful with plenty of space and light
One more point: wooden kitchen sets are mostly made in a classic style. Sometimes - Art Nouveau style or one of the ethnic trends. Others are practically excluded: wood does not fit into the concept.
One of the themed options for wooden kitchen furniture: a marine-style kitchen
A cheaper option is the so-called paneled facades. This is when only the frame is made of wood, and one of the cheaper materials is inserted into it: the same MDF, glass, mirror, cheaper wood (for example, pine or spruce).
Paneled kitchen furniture: one example
As you can imagine, the choice of colors is also limited: natural wood, darkened or lightened. There is no point in painting with opaque (creating an opaque film) paints: it is the texture of the wood that is important. If you need colored furniture, MDF is better.
Now a little about the operating features. Wood constantly swells and shrinks, which is why cracks appear in the furniture. Another point: it requires careful care using special products. Regular detergents are not suitable. They destroy the structure, worsening the appearance. Wood periodically needs to renew its color. There are also special methods and means for this. So it is difficult to care for.
Read about choosing a kitchen apron here.
Style content
To plan a kitchen set in a specific style, you need to know what trends are applicable in this area. It is also important to take into account that the style of the cabinet furniture set is combined with the style of the interior.
Main directions in design:
| Style name | Description |
| Classic | Typically standard style, but despite the tradition, each set is special in its own way. |
| Modern | Here we talk about a meticulous attitude to detail, but in such a way that everything looks rational, with a minimum of decor and a maximum of comfort. |
| Loft | Pleasant texture of wooden elements, cozy shades of materials, original lamps - all this will look great in large rooms. |
| Chalet | White limestone walls with dark brown beams on the ceiling and furniture, a lot of kitchen utensils, reminiscent of everything in the spirit of alpine romance. |
| High tech | Everything is strict, cold, laconic and stylish. In kitchens of this type, metal (steel, chrome) abounds, there are no curved lines or elaborate decor. |
| Provence | The style of such kitchen sets completely replicates the farm motifs of Provence (the coast of France). Here preference is given to pastel colors. The main shades are mint, lavender, white, light brown, milky. Imitation of abrasion (applying patina to facades) and peeling walls, where stonework is visible through supposedly fallen plaster, are welcome. |
| Country | Coziness created in Western country style. There is a lot of decor in the form of a harvest, interesting dishes filling the shelves. And the set itself is mainly made of wood (or natural wood). |
Other trends can be added to this list: Italian, Scandinavian, Finnish, eclecticism (combination of several styles), eco, retro, vintage, constructivism and other options.
Advice! What is important to do:
- Create a special folder where you can save photos of kitchens of different styles.
- Clearly set aside a few days (no more than 2-5) to collect a collection of ideas you like.
- From the entire list, select the 10 most optimal pieces.
- After another couple of days, set aside only 5 out of ten.
Based on the last five examples, it will be much easier to make a decision in favor of a specific style for a furniture project.
Types of kitchen units
Now about how furniture is arranged in kitchen sets. It can be located:
- linear (linear kitchen) - along one wall;
- two-line (two-row or two-line kitchen) - along two opposite walls;
- at an angle - in the shape of the letter “G” (corner or L-shaped kitchen) - on two adjacent walls;
- in the form of the letter “P” (U or U-shaped kitchen) - on three walls adjacent to each other;
- with an island (island kitchen) - a separate stove, table or sink;
- in the form of the letter G or a peninsula.
Types of kitchen furniture arrangement
The type of location is determined by the size and configuration of the room, as well as the location of communications - sockets, water supply and drains. You can place furniture on two opposite sides only if there is at least 80-90 cm of free space between them; in extreme cases, 70 cm may be enough. Otherwise, it will be too cramped and uncomfortable.
In small kitchens, the most common two types of kitchen sets are linear and corner - L-shaped. Sometimes peninsular ones fit in well. This “peninsula” can be made in the form of a bar counter or a small table. This is often a good opportunity to create a dining area in a small space. The other three types of kitchen sets are for medium or large kitchens, but this does not mean that furniture cannot be placed on them linearly or at an angle.
How to arrange
In their research, scientists also got to the behavior of women in the kitchen. They noticed that almost half of the time - 45% - the hostess is near the sink. It doesn't take a scientist to say that in addition to the sink, she often pays attention to the refrigerator and stove. These three items are key when planning a kitchen set. It makes sense to install the sink in the center, and the refrigerator and stove on the sides. This trio forms a triangle, and work surfaces are placed between these items. This arrangement allows you to spend less time moving, and it’s more convenient.
An example of the location of the main devices in the kitchen: stove, sink and refrigerator
As you can see in the photo above, in the previous paragraph, for any configuration of the kitchen set, furniture is arranged based on this triangle (shaded in yellow). But these are not the only options, arrange everything as you find more convenient. It is only advisable to observe the triangle principle.
There are some rules that it is advisable to follow
- The stove and sink are not placed in close proximity. Having water and fire nearby is a bad idea. There must be a working surface between them and preferably it should be 60 cm or so.
- It is advisable to plan at least 40 cm of working area on both sides of the stove.
- The distance from the stove to the top cabinet (if there is one) must be at least 50 cm. Rules for placing the stove in the kitchen unit
- The stove should not be placed near a window. In cases where they are installed, curtains in the kitchen need to be thought out so that under no circumstances can they get on the stove. The choice in this case is not the largest: roller blinds, Roman blinds, horizontal blinds and classic kitchen curtains.
- It is better to place the dishwasher near the sink. It will be easier to place and remove dishes, and the drops will be in one place.
- If one of the cabinets is adjacent to the wall, it is better to make a small panel on the side of the door. Then the door can open completely, which is important if there are drawers inside.
- An oven installed at eye level is not only convenient. This arrangement is safer for children. Some tips on how to more conveniently arrange furniture in a kitchen set
- You should not install the sink opposite a window whose sashes open inward. In any case, make sure that the sash does not touch the faucet.
- Placing the stove near the wall is not the best choice. Firstly, the wall will always be smoked and splashed with grease, and secondly, an additional working surface is lost.
- Don't place a cabinet with drawers in a corner. Open or not fully retracted, they will not allow the doors of the cabinet located on the adjacent wall to be opened. Recommendations for placing furniture in the kitchen
- A stove, dishwasher or oven should not be placed in a corner - their frame will block access to the end space.
- It is not advisable to make drawers next to the stove: children can use them as a ladder. This is dangerous while the stove is operating.
- You can make a drawer for kitchen appliances in the cabinet next to the stove or hob. It's really convenient.
Properly arranging furniture in a kitchen set is very important.
Another little tip - make as many drawers as possible. They can be large - for pots, medium - for cereals, small - for cutlery or kitchen utensils and other small things. Everything is located, pulled out and folded in them much faster. This is really more convenient than looking for what you need on the shelves.
Drawers are much more convenient
They do not have to be made of wood or chipboard. More practical are made of metal wire coated with chrome or a layer of polymer. Only the front part is made from MDF, chipboard or wood.
Another tip concerns cabinets located at the ends. If they are rectangular, then when passing by you will bump into a corner more than once or twice, and bruises will remain. And children whose heads are at this level may receive more serious injuries. For this reason, it is better to make the side part multifaceted, or rounded. This will slightly increase the cost of the cabinet, but it is much safer.
It is better to make the side surfaces of the outer cabinets multifaceted or rounded
Selecting the right size
The attractiveness of the kitchen environment depends on the correctly selected size of the kitchen unit. Selecting sizes is very difficult, especially for a beginner in this business. The ideal way out of the situation would be to order models according to individual measurements. Then a specialist will make all the necessary measurements. The likelihood of error here is minimal. However, this option is not always acceptable. When finances are limited, you will have to look for a suitable kitchen from the ready-made range of stores in the city.
Before purchasing furniture and household appliances, it is necessary to take correct measurements
Before determining the required dimensions, you should buy equipment. The size of the cabinets will depend on its size. Their width can vary from 45 to 60 centimeters. Equipment measurements must be written on a piece of paper. Then on the same piece of paper you should draw a detailed plan of the room, indicating the length and width of the walls. Every detail should be noted on the plan: door and window openings, the location of pipes, sockets, and other protruding elements. With this plan, you can go to the store and seek the services of a full-time measurer. He will help you choose the set of required dimensions absolutely free.
When taking measurements, it is important to take into account every little detail, so that later you don’t have to redo it and spend extra money.
Important! When preparing food, a person's back experiences a lot of stress. Buying work surfaces of different heights will help reduce it. However, all heights must correspond to the height of the hostess. This parameter must also be reported to the surveyor.
A comfortable height for placing work surfaces, like the level of hanging upper cabinets, depends on the height of the person
Optimally equipping corners
If the kitchen is corner - L-shaped or U-shaped - you need to organize the corner correctly: there is a lot of space there, but it is difficult to use it. You can put a corner cabinet. Moreover, the doors must open on the sides and have a width of at least 40 cm. This will make it possible to reach the farthest corners.
One of the options for a corner cabinet in the kitchen
Please note that with this design the entire area is accessible. They differ only in the location of the second shelf, although you can also put pull-out rotary drawers there.
Another way to use the space in the corner
This version of the corner cabinet is not so convenient: it is very difficult to get to the far corner: you have to almost completely “dive” inside. The solution is to make corner shelves (approximately along the shadow that is in the photo) and store rarely used items.
The most inconvenient way to use a corner: there’s almost no way you can get into this appendix
This option for a corner cabinet is one of the most unfortunate. Once the doors are hung and the countertops are fully installed, it will be very difficult to get into the corner.
It is not always possible to follow all the recommendations, but you need to try. They are based on experience and truly make being in the kitchen more comfortable.
Stages of kitchen arrangement
When designing a kitchen space, it is necessary to take into account the number and size of those items that the housewife uses daily.
Then planning is carried out:
- where and what exactly will be located;
- how many racks, shelves, cabinets are needed;
- where to place hanging and retractable systems.
The basic list of required items, devices and things, common to any kitchen, includes:
- compact kitchen appliances - mixers, kettles, waffle irons, toasters, coffee grinders, meat grinders, multicookers, bread makers;
- dish dryer, holders for cups, glasses;
- napkins, towels and potholders;
- spices, bulk products, cereals, flour and pasta;
- household chemicals, hand soap, cleaning equipment.
Locker dimensions
If we talk about mass-produced kitchen sets, the dimensions of the cabinets are calculated based on the average height. For example, the height of floor cabinets is in the range of 80-90 cm, their depth most often is about 60 cm.
Height of floor cabinets in kitchen units
But it is more convenient to carry out different operations at different heights. That’s why cabinets with different tabletop heights have recently appeared - just for different operations. Such kitchen sets are called multi-level. This is also an opportunity to choose more comfortable furniture for people with non-standard height, and also an opportunity to use space more rationally (example in the photo above).
Multi-level countertops
But different levels are not only a plus. The downside is that part of the side surface is exposed, which does not have the same operational properties as the tabletop. She can quickly lose her attractiveness. The second disadvantage is the gap into which residues will get clogged. But this, by the way, is not so critical: it can be sealed with a transparent sealant. It is only important to choose it correctly: it should not be acidic.
Another example of kitchen furniture with countertops at different levels
The standard depth of base cabinets is 60 cm or so. But it can be larger or smaller and depends only on the dimensions of the countertops produced. They are maximum 1.2 meters wide. More than this value can be made only on an individual order, and less - trimmed - you are always welcome. You just need to understand that a microwave or oven will not fit on a countertop 50 cm or less. But sometimes, in narrow kitchens, such a kitchen set with a cut-off countertop is the only possible option, at least on several tables.
The depth of wall cabinets is determined based on the width of the countertop - take approximately 65% of its width. This makes the furniture look harmonious. But these cabinets also don’t make them smaller than 30 cm: they won’t even fit a standard plate. Wider wall cabinets for the kitchen can be made at the request of the customer: suddenly you need to install something more voluminous.
Dimensions of wall cabinets for the kitchen
The distance from the table top to the bottom edge of the wall cabinets is at least 45 cm. The maximum is 60 cm. Most often they make 45-50 cm. The shelves in the wall cabinets are positioned so that at least two of them can be reached. If you plan to make them right up to the ceiling, you will need a stepladder or step stool (there are also such).
Ladder…
Clearly create budget boundaries for the project
Deciding on the budget allocated for purchasing the ideal kitchen is perhaps the most important task for most people.
For example, how best to calculate, we present different options for a typical room size - 10 sq.m.:
| Budget limit | Composition of the headset | ||||
| Frame | Facades | Tabletop | Accessories | Internal filling | |
| Up to 100 thousand rubles. | Ready modules | Chipboard or MDF | Laminated chipboard (postforming) | Regular | Simple shelves |
| Up to 300 thousand rubles. | Custom sizes | Painted MDF | Fake diamond (composite agglomerate) | Better quality | Shelves Rotary mechanisms Drying dishes |
| Up to 500 thousand rubles. | Premium materials | Natural wood (or veneer) | Stone with built-in sink | The best | Basic set Plus – retractable mechanisms |
Which doors for kitchen cabinets are better?
Hinged doors (No. 1 in the photo) and hinged doors (No. 2) can be dangerous when open. That's why they need to be closed all the time. In the case of folding ones, you can make the opening angle not 90° but 110°. It's much safer this way.
Which door opening mechanisms to choose?
Doors running upward parallel to the facade (No. 3) are safe, but if the cabinet is divided horizontally and has separate doors, then the open lower one blocks access to the one located above. The folding facade (No. 4) is convenient, but the flap that rises up blocks or knocks down objects placed on the cabinets. Often there are decorative dishes or other items for decoration. The most convenient are facades that open upward (No. 5). To save space, they can consist of two parts.
