The central element of any kitchen is the kitchen unit. It determines the character of the room, shapes its mood, and has a direct impact on the functionality of the work area. The choice of furniture needs to be given enough attention. This will create a harmonious, practical space in the kitchen. Manufacturers offer a wide range of products. Products differ in their dimensions, color, functionality, material of manufacture, and other important parameters. How can you find the ideal option for your own kitchen among them? This publication discusses useful tips and recommendations for selecting furniture.
Purchasing a kitchen set is a responsible event that requires thorough preparation.
Requirements for a kitchen set
The attractive design of the kitchen set should not become the decisive criterion for selection. Owners need to take into account a number of other parameters. There are many requirements for furniture used in the kitchen. This is due to the characteristics of the work area.
A modern kitchen should, first of all, be comfortable and functional.
The main requirement is kitchen safety. Hazardous materials, impregnations, and substances should not be used in the production of items. The material must be completely safe for human health and well-being. You can ensure safety only if you have certificates and special accompanying documents.
If any corner of the headset protrudes inconveniently in the aisle, it is better to make it rounded or beveled. This is especially true if there are small children in the family
An important requirement is resistance to mechanical damage. Knives, forks, and metal utensils will come into contact with the facade every day. There should be no abrasions, cracks or scratches on the surface. Such defects can significantly spoil the overall interior of the room. However, much of this factor will depend on family members. Specifically, it depends on the nature of the use of fixtures and kitchen furniture structures. Careful handling of objects will help preserve their original appearance for a long time.
The convenience and spaciousness of the kitchen depends on the internal contents of the set
The most important requirement is resistance to high temperatures and humidity. Constant moisture and sudden temperature changes can quickly render a low-quality bar counter, countertop, or cabinet unusable. An ordinary hood will not be able to cope with these factors. The furniture covering must be durable and practical. It should not be afraid of frequent wet washing or exposure to light chemical compounds. Cleaning occurs after each food preparation. This should be taken into account.
Accurate query formation
When you still don’t know how to plan a kitchen set or where to start making calculations, proceed immediately to defining the request. You need to understand what exactly is needed and expected from the kitchen, what functions it will perform, and satisfy the needs of those who will use it.
List of what is usually included in a standard customer request:
| Category | Description |
| Frequency of kitchen use. | How many times a day will you need to prepare food and use it as a dining room? |
| Arsenal of cabinets | What type of cabinets must be present? |
| Unnecessary elements | What items and modules can be abandoned. |
| What do you like most? | You need to immediately understand what is convenient, what you like in style, color, functionality, and what you don’t. |
| What details can be corrected? | In some areas, adjustments and additions can be made if there is some uncertainty about the range, quality, prices or sizes. |
The procedure for generating the initial request:
- You need to take a simple sheet of paper and a pen.
- When answering questions in the table, specific, clear and understandable answers are given.
- Details matter. Therefore, they should also be listed in a separate list.
- Check with other family members (or office employees) about their wishes regarding kitchen furniture.
Additions can be: an island, built-in appliances, a shelf for flowers, a small block of a platform for feeding pets, and other points.
Advantages, types of materials
The service life and attractiveness of the design of a kitchen set largely depend on the material used by the manufacturer in the manufacture of the items.
Comparison and selection of materials for a headset is an important topic that requires detailed consideration
Let's look at the types of materials and their characteristic features in the table.
| Kinds | Material | Positive, negative qualities |
| Natural | Solid wood | The price of such products is always above average. Solid wood has a lot of positive characteristics. It has a stunning appearance, high resistance to damage and moisture. Wooden products can be given an unusual shape quite easily. The models differ in the type of carving and the shape of the facades. Wood does not emit harmful substances into the room. It has a positive effect on human health. |
| Stone | This natural material is usually used in the manufacture of countertops and bar counters. It has high density and strength. The stone does not absorb odors and is easy to maintain. You can clean the countertop with a regular damp cloth, without using chemicals. It is difficult to damage it with sharp objects. It is impossible not to note the magnificent design of finished products made of natural stone. Even without decoration, they look luxurious and fit perfectly into the expensive styles of the kitchen. | |
| Artificial | Painted MDF | This material has a smooth, pleasant to the touch surface. It is easy to remove any dirt from it - just wipe with a slightly damp sponge. The big disadvantage is the susceptibility to damage. You will have to be extremely careful when operating. Over time, scuffs and cracks become clogged with dirt and become carriers of mold and bacteria. |
| MDF boards covered with film | The main advantage of such plates is their low cost. The film is made of PVC. It protects the surface from damage. However, over time, in some places the film begins to peel off and fade. This negatively affects the overall atmosphere in the room. Thick curtains on the windows will help slow down the fading process. | |
| Plastic | The characteristics of a plastic kitchen set and its strength depend on the production technology. The best option is considered to be glued plastic on MDF. It is wash-resistant, sun-resistant, and sold in a wide variety of shades. Plastic made using all the latest technologies can last for a long time. However, it cannot be classified as an environmentally friendly raw material. | |
| Laminated chipboard | It is the most unreliable option. Chipboard has low strength. Scratches can remain even at the slightest contact between the headset and metal objects. The advantage of chipboard is its low price. For this reason, such kitchens are purchased for summer cottages and office premises. |
The choice of façade material should be based on the intended design, practicality and planned budget.
The tabletop should be as wear-resistant as possible and, ideally, seamless
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.
Choosing a style solution
The most important criterion is the correct selection of the style of the headset. Each style has its own characteristics and key characteristics. When arranging a dining room, the classic style is popular. It is distinguished by the simple contours of the headset, high quality materials, and muted tones. Wood is usually used in the production of objects. Natural wood fills the room with a pleasant aroma. Classic is a traditional solution for the kitchen. It is suitable for connoisseurs of luxury and art. The functionality of the classic setting is quite low.
A classic interior will require considerable investment
When you need a more functional kitchen set, you should pay attention to products in the Art Nouveau style. Modernism symbolizes elegance and high practicality. This direction is characterized by unusual shapes: curvilinear lines, asymmetry. The façade cladding may contain plant patterns. Wood, metal, and glass are usually used in production. Modern is perfect for a middle-aged couple. It fits quite easily into apartments of any size.
Modernism in the kitchen interior is the optimal solution for lovers of restraint, conciseness and current ideas
Country style furniture is very popular. This direction is more often used in private homes and summer cottages. However, it is perfect for urban interior design. Country furniture is distinguished by the possibility of fragmentary arrangement and the presence of open elements. It is usually made only from natural raw materials: wood, stone. However, in modern models the use of metal elements is allowed. Small ceramic dishes, beautiful clay figurines, and various wooden products are placed on open shelves. Such shelves can be covered with textile curtains with a characteristic print.
When decorating a kitchen in a country style, you can’t do without natural materials, especially wood.
Minimalism is the simplest, most uncomplicated style. In this direction, practical, multifunctional cabinets, niches, and shelves are manufactured. Various types of wood, plastic, and glass are used in the process. Items are equipped with modern storage systems. They save space. This solution is simply ideal for a room with a small area. Minimalism attracts due to the absence of unnecessary decorative elements. There is no need for decor in the work area. It only collects dust, dirt, and moisture.
It's easier to keep things tidy in a minimalist kitchen
Definition of layout
Cabinet furniture for the kitchen consists of main and secondary elements. This is necessary so that you can immediately understand what to filter out and what to take into account in any case.
Main modules:
- Upper tier of cabinets.
- Lower level of tables/pedestals.
- Eating area.
The number of modules in each level is determined by the line shape of the entire structure as a whole, the area of the room, as well as the personal preferences of the client. For example, if this is a corner kitchen set of 6 squares, then at the top and bottom it may be enough to make two small cabinets each.
The layout of the headset can be created using the following arrangement methods:
- straight (linear);
- L-shaped;
- parallel (double row);
- U-shaped;
- T-shaped (with a peninsula or bar counter);
- G-shaped;
- modules are scattered (distances between them or stationary household equipment);
- with a separate island.
Advice! Options one and two are suitable for small rooms. The rest are suitable for arrangement in medium and large areas.
The procedure for drawing up a sketch:
- Measurements are taken.
- The location is drawn schematically on paper.
- Dimensions are indicated in the drawing.
- Parts such as sink, refrigerator, microwave, stove, etc. are indicated.
Should be considered:
- presence of windows;
- sink location;
- doors;
- ventilation shaft (for example, for exhaust pipe);
- sewer and water supply communications;
- heating radiators;
- riser pipes in apartments.
In residential premises where the stove will operate from a gas main, the location of the connection point should be taken into account.
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.
What is better: buy a ready-made kit or make it to order?
Having decided on the key characteristics of the kitchen set, you should choose a purchase method. Today you can purchase a ready-made kit in the store or make an individual order from a master. Each method has its own advantages.
Purchasing ready-made furniture will solve the problem in the shortest possible time, but it is unlikely that you will be able to find a set that fits perfectly in size
Purchasing a ready-made set in a store allows you to produce furniture in the shortest possible time. Finished cabinets, shelves, niches are delivered within one week. Installation takes no more than two hours. This is convenient if repairs need to be completed in the shortest possible time. Another advantage is the opportunity to see the furniture right in the store. In large supermarkets, special islands are made with a ready-made example of kitchen furnishings. This allows you to visually evaluate the dimensions of products, touch everything with your own hands, and immediately select equipment. Ready-made examples were collected by professional designers. You will not need to select the parts yourself. The disadvantage of purchasing a ready-made kit is the limited choice of dimensions. It is almost impossible to select furniture for non-standard premises.
Placing cabinets, hanging cabinets, household appliances and a dining area - all this is difficult to imagine without professionally designed projects
If you have free time and cash reserves, it is better to give preference to the second method of purchase. Ordering furniture according to an individual project has a lot of advantages. The first of these is the ability to purchase items that fit perfectly in size. The master independently comes to the customer’s home, personally takes measurements, offers options for facade materials, and samples for study. High manufacturing precision is always guaranteed. Another plus is the possibility of developing an individual facade project. To do this, you should hire a designer. With the help of a specialist, you will be able to develop an individual, unique cabinet design. This approach will make the interior extraordinary and will help increase the functionality of the room.
Feel free to ask a specialist about the possibility of non-standard solutions that make the kitchen more convenient
Together with a specialist, the apartment owner will be able to think through the filling of the cabinets and choose convenient storage systems. However, such pleasure does not come cheap. The cost of the service can be several times higher than the cost of the finished option. Another disadvantage is the production time. It will take several months for the kit to be ready.
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 |
