Dark in design
Depending on what colors are used in the overall color scheme of the kitchen interior, dark wall panels will look completely different. They can either blend in with the color of the furniture set or walls, or sharply contrast with them. And there can be so many options for playing halftones that it’s impossible to list them.
What can be the main types of combinations in terms of contrast and lightness relative to the main shades in the interior of a kitchen with a dark apron?
- Tone on tone. The color of the apron exactly matches the shades used for the walls and furniture. Does this mean that such a kitchen will definitely turn out to be gloomy and boring? Of course not. After all, if you play on the difference in textures, then all the interior details will look completely different. And correctly placed bright or light accents in the form of dishes, furniture, small household appliances and the like will help to further diversify such an interior and make it richer in color.
- Playing on halftones. There can be a lot of options for such a design, for example, the panel itself can be made of tiles in different shades of the same color, which will also be repeated in the color of the furniture or walls.
- Bright contrast. Involves the use of additional colors as well as shades that are contrasting in lightness or saturation.
Important! It is advisable not to make too sharp contrasting combinations in classic and similar style interiors. But for Modern and High-Tech, such combinations are more than appropriate.
Turquoise kitchen
The trendy turquoise color for the kitchen this season is quite capricious. White, gray, beige and pinkish tones will suit it.
You can add bright colors, but in this case you need to select the shades very carefully - otherwise you risk getting a combination that hurts your eyes.
But pastel colors look much more interesting. They do not distract attention from the unusual color of the headset, gently emphasizing it.
Application styles
An apron in dark shades can be used in many interior styles, although, of course, not all. The most suitable ones would be:
- Baroque. An apron in dark shades with a baroque ornament applied to them looks especially good, and the color of the pattern can be either contrasting or almost merging with the apron itself. Aprons made of dark marble with lighter large veins on the surface will also look good in this style. And, if desired, you can choose a dark apron with a photograph printed on it for the baroque interior.
- Classical. In the interior of this style, both plain panels and those with an image will look good. Aprons in dark brown or black are especially good for this style, although blue, wine red or emerald green are also suitable.
- Art Deco. Kitchens made in this artsy and original style can be decorated with dark aprons. At the same time, when choosing a material, you should give preference to tiled or ceramic tiles. This will further add historicity to the interior and make it look like the kitchens of the early 20th century.
- Gothic. For this style, some gloominess in the interior is not a drawback, but an integral part of them. An apron in dark tones, such as black, dark cherry or dark lilac, is just what you need for the Gothic style. And the materials for making this design detail can be tiles or mosaics, natural and artificial stone, dark wood. It is also acceptable to use skins in a Gothic interior, however, the design on them must correspond to the general mood and contain “Gothic” motifs.
- Retro. For aprons in this style, dark colors such as dark brown, cherry, dark gray and black would be appropriate. And they themselves can be either single-color, perhaps with some interesting, not too catchy texture, or with an applied photograph or drawing in a similar style.
- Modern. For this style, bright, contrasting combinations of light furniture and walls or walls and an apron of any dark shade will be very good. You can also play with color contrasts, for example, by placing a black apron in an interior designed in shades of cherry.
- High tech. This style is characterized by technicality and a metallic sheen. An apron of black or dark gray colors will fit very well into such a kitchen interior, either one-color and perfectly smooth in texture, or with an abstraction image, wild animals or a city at night printed on it. It would also be very nice to complement such a panel with bright lighting.
Interesting article: Elegant kitchen backsplashes made of white tiles, as well as 5 more popular colors!
Important! In fact, there are many more styles where you can successfully fit a dark apron. But there is no point in giving any specific general recommendations on them, since it all depends on what the overall color scheme of the kitchen will be, as well as on whether the apron itself will be one color or with some kind of pattern.
Backsplash tile size
Before you go to the hypermarket, you need to decide on the size and length of the apron. By default, it should occupy the entire work area from the stove to the sink.
Its width and height directly depend on the location of the furniture and its size.
The main thing is that its edges coincide with the height of the working surfaces and extend beyond the bottom edge of the wall cabinets.
Standard sizes:
- Width - approximately 120-150 centimeters;
- Height - 55-65 centimeters from the working layer to the wall cabinets;
- The distance from the floor is approximately 84-85 centimeters.
When choosing your option, be sure to find out all the nuances associated with caring for this or that material. It is necessary to pay attention to the AA mark, which indicates that the tile is intended for frequent use of detergents.
As for the size, designers mainly choose 10x10 cm tiles. They look very neat and attractive. This size allows you to experiment with the use of colors. You can also use many other sizes - 20 × 20, 60 × 60, 60 × 120. It all depends on the kitchen and its equipment.
Dark in a light interior
An apron in dark shades in a light-colored kitchen will look like a bright accent spot. Moreover, it can be the same color as the walls or furniture set, although darker, or a different, similar or even contrasting shade.
Depending on the main color scheme of the interior, we can recommend the following combinations of shades:
- White kitchen. A dark apron of absolutely any shade will suit it, with or without a pattern, textured or smooth.
- Kitchen in ecru or light beige. In such an interior, a dark brown or black apron would be especially good. A combination with cherry or dark gray and dark green is also possible. But it is better to avoid blue color, as it does not go well with warm pastel colors and it would not be easy to fit it into such an interior.
- Pink or light peach kitchen. Good combination options are cherry, brown, gray and black. For cool shades of pink, a combination with dark lilac is also acceptable.
- Pale light green shade of the kitchen. A dark green apron will fit especially well into it. But dark brown, black and dark gray will also be good.
- Pale blue overall color of the interior. An apron in blue or dark blue would be especially good, but it is acceptable to use black or cool dark lilac.
- Light lilac or light purple kitchen. The ideal apron color for her is dark lilac. Cherry is also suitable for a warm primary color scheme, and blue for a cold one. The contrast of light lilac with black or dark gray will also look interesting.
Important! If you don’t want to create too obvious a contrast between the overall light color of the interior and a dark apron, then you can opt for a model with a photograph of light colors that are close to the main shade.
Red kitchen
There will be no such difficulties when choosing an apron for a red kitchen: oddly enough, the color, which at first glance is demanding, allows for a lot of combinations. White, black, blue, yellow, shades of brown... Perhaps green and yellow would be a little inappropriate - however, only as the dominant tone.
The classic option is a black MDF apron. It will not suit a light kitchen, but it looks very appropriate in a bright one.
White and red tiles can also be a winning technique: the main thing is to put the tiles with several color accents, and not try to depict a chessboard.
The combination of black, gray and red tones is a technique recognized by many designers. Despite its prevalence, it has not lost its relevance and is still considered very beautiful.
Black
Like white, this color is universal and can be combined with almost all other shades.
Its positive aspects:
- A black apron will fit well into almost any interior.
- It looks respectable and elegant.
- Allows you to create the most striking contrasts, such as black and red or black and white.
- Most images printed using large format printing or simply drawn by hand look good on the black surface of the panel.
- An apron of this color goes well with both regular and colored lighting.
Its negative sides:
- When you use too much black in your kitchen design, the interior may turn out to be somewhat gloomy.
- Black hides most textures and makes them unnoticeable.
- On a black apron, any speck will be visible better than even on a white one.
- On the surface of such a panel, stains and streaks from a rag or brush may be noticeable after washing it.
- Absorbs light and visually makes the kitchen smaller than its actual size.
Advice! A black apron can be painted with paint used for slate boards. This will allow you to use it as a kind of reminder for those relatives who forget, for example, to go to the store on time. You can also write down recipes on such a board, which is very convenient: you don’t need to use a cookbook while cooking, since the recipe will be right in front of your eyes.
What other materials can be used?
This concludes the basic ideas about how to decorate an apron. Below are just a few very original options.
Chalkboard paint
A very original method is to make a slate slab instead of an apron. Simply cover the required area three times with chalkboard paint. It is easy to care for: avoid abrasive detergents and rough sponges.
Using a drawing on a board, you can change the look of your kitchen every day, and you definitely won’t get tired of it. It will look especially impressive in a white kitchen.
Brick
Natural brick or gesso are simply not suitable for backsplashes due to the porosity of the material: liquids and dirt will stick to the surface like a sponge and will be difficult to wash off.
Glass comes to the rescue again and protects this interesting design solution. The texture of the brick will be lost, so it is best to move the element away from the cooking area.
Oilcloth
Yes, you can make an apron out of oil fabric. This is one of the cheapest options you can make yourself. All you need to do is 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 oiler can also become charred.
Choosing the best apron for a given situation is not easy. Most often, people are guided only by aesthetics, but do not forget about other considerations:
- Budget;
- Planned period of use;
- Kitchen style;
- Difficulty of reconstruction and replacement;
- cleaning.
Focus on these factors and you'll enjoy your apron for years to come.
Acrylic
Roughly speaking, acrylic is a plastic that can imitate marble or oak. It is cheaper than stone, but is still an expensive option. Acrylic panels are connected virtually seamlessly, so hygiene is not an issue. Acrylic itself is a good material: it does not fade, does not fade, does not leave stains and is durable. Like glass, it gives enormous scope for imagination. But since it is based on polymers, it has certain limitations:
- it can melt next to the stove because it is afraid of high temperatures;
- does not like aggressive and abrasive detergents.
Acrylic looks great in the kitchen, for example, on facades, but is not the best choice for a backsplash.
Laminate or parquet
Laminate is preferred for use on backsplashes and is often 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 ready-made laminated panels for the apron are not sold. Installed using liquid nails.
A parquet apron is made differently: first, the “planks” are attached to the substrate with glue or liquid nails, then everything is varnished and also attached to the wall. But the varnish can melt or crack on the deck, so this method isn't for everyone. You can also cover the parquet with glass, but then the apron will be too thick - this is not suitable for everyone. But it looks very original.
Wallpaper
We are not talking about standard options, which are not very suitable for a kitchen apron, but about fiberglass wallpaper. It is durable and strong, and is resistant to extreme temperatures and moisture. There are many different textures available, but a uniform finish with no obvious unevenness is most suitable.
Gluing is no different from the usual process - level and prime the wall, then carefully adjust the fragments and level the surface. Let dry for a while and then coat with washable, waterproof paint. Then you can change the color at least twice a year, which is very convenient, because if you change the furniture, you won’t have to redo the apron.
Wine corks
Yes, that's right - they line the apron with wine corks. They not only collect them themselves, but also buy them (!) in bars and restaurants. To speed up the process, they are cut in half - this makes it easier to glue them to the ground.
The installation method is the same as for parquet flooring. Only corks are porous, so cleaning them will be a big problem. You can resort to an invariable assistant - glass, but is it worth adding it to an already thick apron? Wine stoppers are a good idea for the dining room, but not for the kitchen countertop.
Pebbles
If you love rocky beaches, you can create one in your kitchen. For example, an apron. But since the surface of the stone is not uniform, and 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.
Lilac
This color in its pure form is rarely used for kitchen panels. But, as a background on which photo printing is applied, especially with views of night cities, it is used very often. Lilac and purple give the kitchen a slight air of mystery, and its unusualness makes the interior truly interesting.
Interesting article: Elegant color combinations of countertops and aprons for the kitchen
Positive sides:
- It looks surprisingly beautiful and at the same time unusual.
- Creates a special mood, evoking thoughts of space and eternity.
- Suitable for many interior styles.
- Pairs well with other warm and cool shades.
- Photo printing with images of flowers or landscapes looks good on lilac panels.
- Perfectly emphasizes the aerial perspective.
- In combination with lighting it creates the effect of infinity of space.
Negative sides:
- In the understanding of many people, lilac and, in particular, purple, are associated with mysticism.
- This color is not easy to fit into the interior of both warm and cold shades, which is why the optimal “partner” for lilac and purple would be some neutral, achromatic shade: white, black or gray.
- It looks most successful in modern styles, not historical ones.
- A dark purple apron in a kitchen of the same or darker shade will look somewhat gloomy.
Important! Dark lilac and purple are colors for everyone. For most people, they look too unusual and extravagant.
Grey
Essentially, gray is nothing more than a toned down shade of black and goes well with most other shades.
Positive sides:
- Universal: suitable for almost any interior.
- Creates a feeling of permanence.
- Balances out too bright shades.
- Creates not too pronounced contrasts when combined with any other lighter or brighter shades.
- Well reveals the texture of the material and makes its appearance more attractive and interesting.
Negative sides:
- An excess of gray can make the interior monotonous and boring.
- Doesn't go well with shades of similar lightness.
- Needs adding bright color accents.
- Many people associate dark gray with the color of wet asphalt, cloudy skies, rain and puddles.
- For some people, gray color can cause depression.
Advice! In order to dilute the monotonous gray tone of the apron, it is better to apply a photograph to it or use materials with a pronounced texture to make this kitchen design detail. And for gray mosaic or tiled wall panels, a good solution to this problem would be to use tiles of different shades of gray, differing from each other in lightness.
Cherry color
The cherry color of noble red wine is not very often used for kitchen aprons, and, as a rule, if it is found on them, it is in the form of images of cherries.
Positive sides:
- It looks bright and interesting.
- Along with sapphire and emerald, it is a noble shade. This apron gives the kitchen a touch of respectability and luxury.
- Pairs perfectly with most warm and achromatic shades.
- The combination of cherry with white and black or dark brown is very similar to the classic red-white-black combination, but without its excessive brightness and contrast.
- Fits well into most styles.
- Brings a touch of drama to the interior.
Negative sides:
- Unlike most dark colors, it can look somewhat aggressive in the kitchen interior.
- It can be hard on the eyes, especially if the color of the backsplash is bright cherry.
- The dark cherry shade of the apron can look gloomy.
- An excess of this color does not depress some people.
- It can visually weigh down the kitchen interior and give it a touch of excessive pretentiousness.
Advice! Cherry-colored aprons will look better against a light background of furniture and walls. If you place this interior detail in an interior that is darker in overall tone, it can create a feeling of some gloom and increased anxiety.
Photo
See 10 more photos of dark aprons in the kitchen below:
Useful video
Watch the video with modern aprons for the kitchen below:
You should be especially careful when choosing a dark kitchen apron. After all, this rather large detail in the design of a room can weigh down the interior, making it gloomier or more alarming. Whereas a correctly selected apron will only emphasize their contrast with the lighter colors of the main color and, if necessary, slightly muffle, elevate and make the overly bright shades of the walls and kitchen furniture less striking.
With photo printing
Skinali is called a glass panel with photo printing; it is often used when decorating walls; façade inserts for kitchen furniture are also made using this technology. Skinali, which are used for the kitchen work area, are called glass aprons with photo printing for the kitchen. As a photo print, you can use any drawings that are dear to your heart.
