Kitchen Furniture Design

All items must be convenient for use, durable and resistant to moisture. And at the same time, you want the furniture to be beautiful and harmoniously integrated into the apartment's interior.

What style to choose

The appearance of the kitchen is a fairly important factor affecting the mood of household members and even the quality of prepared food. If you like the style of the room, then the desire to surprise your loved ones with delicious food increases many times. How do people decorate kitchens today?

Classic style in interior design

This style is always in fashion: charm and traditions are inevitable companions of interior design. The characteristic feature of classicism lies in the use of natural materials. Given that kitchen furniture is exposed to negative influences, it's preferable for cabinet facades to be made of ash, oak, maple or beech - hard wood species (imitation can also be used: laminated particle board or MDF). Decorative elements may include items made of forged metal (frames, hooks for dishes, etc.) and natural stone (countertop). Below are photos of kitchen furniture in various versions considering classic style requirements.

Minimalism for the kitchen

This style is considered especially suitable for small apartments. Minimalism principle - get rid of all unnecessary! This means that you shouldn't overload the kitchen with decorative elements like carving or patterns. All kitchen furniture items should have straight geometric shapes and smooth surfaces. Colors (you can limit yourself to two or three) should be monochromatic. Textiles are not recommended, instead of curtains it's better to install blinds.

Kitchen in High-Tech style

Glass and metal plus strict geometry and sharp color contrasts - the main characteristics of high-tech, a style for bold and decisive people. When choosing kitchen furniture facade design, it's preferable to opt for bright shades: green, red, yellow. It's better if the colors contrast with the main dominant tone - gray, white or black. Cabinet facades for kitchen units should be made of polished steel or aluminum.

Provence Style - Unique

Comfortable and cozy decor, simple furniture, dominance of white, beige and pastel shades on facades with brass or bronze handles - such is the style that reminds of France in the 60s of the last century. Textiles with plant motifs (curtains, chair covers, tablecloths) are also in place here.

Kitchen furniture decorative details should be made of forged metal, ceramics or rattan. The color of household appliances - white, but they shouldn't be in the foreground

Ethnic Styles

Despite their exotic nature, ethnic styles of kitchen furniture design are gradually becoming more and more popular today. Among the most frequently encountered styles, one can mention:

• African: all furniture made from black or red wood with bright framing. Item shapes are not necessarily geometrically correct;
  
• Japanese: clear lines, predominance of red, white colors with black addition. Glass partition between kitchen and dining area is possible;
  
• Indian: characterized by an abundance of gilded decorative elements in kitchen furniture design;
  
• Native American: an abundance of images with hunting motifs for animals.
  

Eclecticism: an innovative style

This is a mixed type of kitchen furniture design that combines several styles at once. An eclectic interior includes many decorative elements and a variety of shades, but all subordinate to one main color.

What can be said about the color solution for the kitchen

The tone in which the room is decorated is not only an embodiment of the owner's preferences. Proper color selection can visually expand a small kitchen, stimulate appetite or on the contrary reduce the desire to sit at the dining table.

Light tones in interior design

Light tones work best in small spaces, as they visually expand the room. The kitchen color doesn't have to be white: cream, sand or beige shades would do. They have an additional advantage: they are less noticeable for stains. For the same reason, it is recommended to use facades with a fine pattern.

Dark shades in kitchen design

Dark color in kitchen design makes kitchen furniture practical, as traces of grease or other stains are less visible. Such a color solution suits the classic style well. A small observation: dark tones reduce appetite, which is quite relevant for those who want to lose weight.

Yellow and orange colors

Design: Nadya Zотова

These shades are recommended for kitchens with windows facing north. Yellow and orange colors create a warm atmosphere, give energy and set the mood for creating culinary masterpieces. Moreover, such tones stimulate appetite, as they resemble certain fruits in color.

Blue and green shades

In the first case, there is a wide palette: smalt, ultramarine, turquoise, cobalt, sapphire, Prussian blue. This allows using blue and blue shades in almost any interior. However, it should not be forgotten that these colors somewhat 'cool' the room.

Green color is considered natural: it calms emotionally and gives strength at the same time. If you decide to make this tone primary, it will look great on cabinet facades and dining table countertops. The recommended style is minimalism or high-tech.

What You Need to Know About Color Combinations

Design: Ekaterina Blokhina and Anton Korenev

When choosing the color of kitchen furniture and room surfaces (walls, floor, ceiling), it is recommended to use at least a pair of colors in a 1:1 ratio. Or in the proportion of 60-30-10:

• Primary tone - 60%
  
• Accompanying shade - 30%
  
• Accent (decorative details) - 10%.
  

Types of Materials for Kitchen Furniture

Project author: Alexey Korchinsky

Their choice is directly related to the service life of the structures; the material affects the appearance, properties and price of the items. Today manufacturers offer several variants of furniture differing in material:

• Natural wood. The most expensive option, especially if the entire piece of furniture is made from solid wood. As a compromise, one can consider furniture where the frame and door frames are made of wood, while the walls are made of laminated or veneered particle board. Also, it should be remembered that wooden furniture needs impregnation with anti-septic and water-resistant lacquer (these procedures should be performed in the factory);
  
• Multiplex. These are panels made from wooden planks of different wood species, glued together in both longitudinal and transverse directions. The technology of this material resembles OSB (oriented strand board). Multiplex has high resistance to deformation and increased humidity, and is much cheaper than solid wood;
  
• Particle board (MDF). A cheap and fairly durable material for the kitchen, easy to process. When compared to natural wood, particle board is more resistant to microbial development and temperature fluctuations. Panels made of this material are coated with laminate or melamine. When they are damaged, particle board starts to absorb moisture and gradually deteriorates.
  
• MDF. A more practical and expensive (on average by 15%) material compared to the previous one. In addition, MDF can be given almost any shape during manufacturing.
  
• Plastic. Used to make facades. The material is resistant to fading, moisture-proof, affordable in price and has a long service life. However, some types of plastic do not tolerate sharp temperature fluctuations. As an alternative, one can use acrylic - a very beautiful artificial material, but with considerable weight.
  
• Stone (used for making countertops of kitchen units). If it is natural (marble, granite, basalt), then the cost of the kitchen will be significant. Otherwise, artificial stone (varikor, corian, crystallite) is used. In terms of practicality, it does not fall short of natural, but costs much less.
  
• Metal. Usually aluminum is used. The use of profiles made of this material is characteristic of such styles as high-tech and minimalism. The material is durable, indifferent to temperature fluctuations and moisture, but is expensive and afraid of scratches.
  
• Glass (tempered). Used to make cabinet facades and dining table countertops. Suitable for modern or high-tech style.
  

How to Arrange Furniture Properly

In cities, multi-apartment buildings are built according to standardized projects, so the shapes of kitchens are standard. And although the styles and colors in these rooms can vary, there are only a few popular layouts of furniture.

1. In one line. This arrangement of kitchen furniture, as shown in the photo, is used for small areas. The worktop (length 1-1.2 m) is placed in the center against the wall, to the left - sink and refrigerator, to the right - gas (electric) stove. Opposite the work zone, an eating table is placed.
   
2. In two lines. The sink, stove and other appliances are arranged on one wall, while storage units for food and dishes are on another. The dining table is placed by the window.
   
3. L-shaped. An L-shaped unit is suitable here, with a sink and worktop on one side, and a stove and refrigerator on the other. This is also a good place to see photos of kitchen furniture design.
   
4. Island. This method of placement is suitable for spacious kitchens (12 sq m and more). A worktop and sink are placed in the center, while the stove is against the wall, next to the side of the "island". This is convenient for the housewife. An eating table can be placed by the window, and shelves or cabinets can be hung on the side.
   

By creating a kitchen according to the above-mentioned recommendations, you can achieve the maximum effect in terms of convenience of use and harmony with the interior of the entire living space.

Photos of kitchen furniture in different styles and colors for small kitchens.

Design: Elena Chabrova and Olga ChebysevaDesign: Marina SyrkoDesign: Loven Skold

On the cover is a design project by Zhenya Zhdanova