Suspended ceilings are a popular solution for arranging a kitchen. Until recently, they were mainly used in executive spaces such as the living room. Today, a suspended ceiling is often found in the kitchen. It allows you to create beautiful interiors with character. A suspended ceiling in the kitchen can be made in several ways, and regardless of the pattern, it will allow you to diversify the interior.
Suspended ceilings in the kitchen have many advantages . They have a positive effect not only on the appearance of the interior, but also allow you to hide cables and installations, irregularities, plan lighting, improve the thermal insulation of the ceiling and increase acoustics if it is lined with mineral wool.
This solution should be achieved primarily in small-sized interiors. A suspended ceiling in a small kitchen will help divide the space into a workspace and a place to relax. In addition, a suspended ceiling makes the walls appear taller.
Which color to choose
It all depends on how your kitchen is decorated as a whole: the color of the ceiling often echoes the walls or pieces of furniture. The result is a harmonious and harmonious color picture.
If yours is glossy, has a significant amount of usable space, and uses a multi-level design, it makes sense to highlight one of the levels in rich red. Such a bright shade will always set a positive mood. What else is needed for a healthy appetite?
Dark shades work well in tall and spacious rooms. They bring orderliness and nobility to the interior, so they are ideal for classic, restrained designs or a loft prone to industrial motifs.
Shades can and should be combined with each other so that the color landscape of the room is natural and balanced. Too loud colors (green, light green) are diluted with a snow-white surface or universal light beige and cream elements.
Designer tips
Irina
founder of the interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
When choosing a color, remember that the glossy texture enhances the shade. Matte or satin, on the contrary, muffles. Based on this, you can select an acceptable color intensity and get it, when implemented, exactly as it was intended in your imagination.
Decorative plaster
Ceilings made of decorative plaster are used to decorate the ceiling by people who often renovate their kitchen space.
Firstly, this ceiling does not hide space; it breathes, since only natural materials are used in the preparation of mixtures.
But it is installed in several stages, accompanied by a lot of dust. The ceiling must be primed before applying the decorative coating. The big advantage of this coating is the fact that the ceiling does not have to be leveled in advance.
Next, a design is applied to the plastered ceilings over the wet plaster by hand or with a tool, dries and is painted with waterproof paint matched to the color of the interior.
The decorative grotto looks very interesting on the ceiling. To do this, the emulsion can be tinted in any color you like and the first layer can be applied to an uneven ceiling.
To apply the grotto mixture, you need to mix the finishing putty with any brand of plaster in a 1:3 ratio. Add the mixture to the water and stir with a construction mixer until creamy.
The material is applied with a trowel using backhand movements until a fine web-like pattern is obtained. After application, the area should dry a little. After drying, use a clean, damp trowel to smooth the design and polish it.
Again you need to let it dry completely now. Now you need to paint with acrylic paint with a little water added, using a lint-free roller. The paint color should be contrasting. The tops of the grotto can be coated with mother-of-pearl enamel.
Lighting
All wires are securely hidden from view by already stretched fabric. Therefore, it is easy to organize the most complex lighting system and achieve the desired effect for you.
Track lamps fit well into modern interiors and look great in rooms with fabric or matte ceilings. Yes, they cost a decent amount, but you can vary the level and achieve optimal accent lighting.
You will learn what a track system is and why it is in demand in the kitchen in our separate article >>> go.
An example of a classic lighting scenario is a combination of linearly located spots (or LED strip) and hanging sconces in the desired area. For example, above the dining table or kitchen set.
Polystyrene tiles
In case of uneven differences in the ceiling, you need to make markings using a level or laser tape measure. First, mechanically remove all peeling and peeling from the ceiling, if any, then moisten it with a primer with additives against mold, wait a day until it dries.
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To glue foam tiles, a gun and assembly adhesive are used. Roundings and irregularities will make the work a little more difficult for those who decide to independently renovate the kitchen area with foam tiles. If the tiles have a pattern, then at the same time as gluing, you need to ensure that the pattern and seams match.
A very important moment is cutting out a place for the chandelier. Adhesive tiles are light in weight, easy to work with and are the best way to hide ceiling flaws.
If the apartment is on the top floor and the ceiling is in contact with the roof, then polystyrene tiles are chosen as insulation so that the ceiling area is evenly ventilated and heated. Has good noise absorption and sound insulation.
Pros and cons of suspended ceilings
We’ll break down all the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl sheets so that you can accurately weigh the pros and cons before purchasing.
Advantages of tensile structures
- reliably protect against flooding from above, holding even the largest volumes of water (up to 100 l) for an indefinite period of time;
- retain the original freshness of the coating even after many years;
- have a solid service life, depending on the manufacturer - from 15 to 25 years;
- fireproof, which means resistant to fire;
- completely environmentally friendly and do not attract dust;
- there is no need to prepare the base - you just need to seal the cracks with putty and that’s it;
- provide a large selection of textures and colors.
Main disadvantages
- the heights take up quite a lot - up to 5 cm, together with lamps - up to 7 cm;
- very fragile under mechanical stress - easy to damage even when simply replacing light bulbs;
- with careless installation, characteristic “wrinkles” appear;
- additional equipment for installation is required (heat gun);
- if the temperature in the room fluctuates, swelling may appear on the canvases;
- are not very suitable for wide rooms, since the joints between the fragments form seams and are very vulnerable to various damages.
Plastic panels
Plastic panels are mounted on a frame, which can be iron or wood. A frame made of wood is worse than an iron one, since it can lead and this material dries out.
The panels are screwed with washer screws using a drill. Using a level, the profile guides are fixed along the perimeter of the ceiling. No matter how light PVC panels are, you should not neglect hangers and profile guides to avoid sagging of the panels.
This profile will also serve as a mount for the lamp. Moldings are attached to the ends. When purchasing panels, keep in mind that different packages may have different shades.
Instead of plastic panels, you can use vinyl chloride lining. The installation technology is the same.
The hole in the panel for mounting the lamp must be strictly in the center. Before installing the panel, it is advisable to wipe it down, since when the protective film is removed, the panel begins to become highly electrified and attract debris, sawdust and construction dust.
What should you not be afraid of?
There are still many myths around suspended ceilings and their use in the kitchen. This is all the more surprising since everyone now has access to information, but, nevertheless, we will try once again to debunk them here and now.
It will quickly turn yellow from grease and soot. Polyvinyl chloride fabric is not afraid of either the sun's rays or steam with fat impurities rising from the kitchen stove, so even the snow-white fabric will definitely not lose its freshness. But this does not at all negate the fact that it needs to be looked after. More details about this in a separate paragraph below.
Over time it sags and wrinkles. If the stretch ceiling is poorly stretched, it will sag and wrinkle immediately , and not after some time. We recommend that you contact reliable specialists to avoid such problems.
The fabric tears easily. Yes, it can be torn and damaged if you do not follow basic cleaning rules and use abrasive detergents with aggressive ingredients. But in general, it is quite dense and elastic, so it is not at all a fact that a cork that bounces off while opening a bottle of champagne will be able to break through it as easily as, for example, any sharp object.
If flooded, it must be replaced immediately. The most famous stereotype that can be easily destroyed by watching just one video on the topic. We attach it below.
Vinyl fabric contains impurities hazardous to human health. On the contrary, suspended ceilings are environmentally friendly and meet sanitary standards. It is no coincidence that they have international certificates and are popular in the EU zone, known for its strict quality criteria for finishing products.
May ignite. They cannot and do not ignite because they are completely fireproof and according to this indicator they have a level of KM2 or KM3. This means that they only melt when in direct contact with fire (like most other materials), but cannot ignite from a spark or elevated temperature alone.
Painting
This option has a lot in common with whitewashing. Before painting, it is necessary to prepare the surface. You need to remove the old peeling whitewash using a spatula, then clean it with sandpaper or a paint mesh. The work is very dusty and requires a respirator or gas mask. Then the ceiling is primed with a roller so that there are no streaks left from the brush and paint is applied in 2 layers.
The primer is necessary to strengthen the putty layer and to ensure that the paint is less absorbed into the putty itself, to reduce paint layers and its consumption. The last layer should be along the room so that the light from the window falls in the direction of painting. In order for the paint to apply beautifully, the preparation and cleaning of the surface to be painted takes a lot of time.
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The ceiling in the kitchen should be painted with water-based paint. These are water-emulsion and water-dispersion options. Paints come in latex, acrylic and vinyl. Latex paints contain water and rubber polymers.
Initially, polymers were natural, they were obtained from the sap of rubber plants. But in recent years, polymers of synthetic origin have been used. These are water-insoluble chemical compounds. The water just keeps them from sticking together. The same principle applies to acrylic paint made from acrylic resins.
Latex ceiling covering is considered the most durable and durable. It is easiest to remove dirt from it even with the use of detergent. Water-based paints also come in matte, semi-matte and glossy.
You need to choose paint based on the tasks that are set for those who have started renovating the ceiling in the kitchen. This method can be chosen due to the wide variety of designs and colors available.
Secrets of care
To maintain shine and remove traces of cooking, glossy stretch ceilings need to be wiped from time to time. You can moisten a napkin in a 10% solution of ammonia, and then wipe it dry again.
Any product containing acetone or solvent is strictly unsuitable for care.
Matte and satin surfaces can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, but only with the softest and most gentle brush possible. Otherwise, there is a high risk of scratching the surface. If there are any stains that are difficult to remove with a regular rag, use a school eraser. It will help get rid of the stain and will not leave a trace behind.
To clean fabric ceilings with a pronounced wicker structure, use brushes with very soft bristles - they are most effective. Difficult to remove stains can be removed with a soap solution with a neutral PH - after which you need to walk over the surface with a dry cloth.
Drywall
It is considered a paintable ceiling because it needs to be puttied and painted. This type of finishing can be used in both wet and dry rooms.
But there is one caveat. Drywall can be moisture-resistant or non-moisture-resistant, which is used in accordance with its intended purpose. Plasterboard ceilings must be painted perfectly. The surface painted with a brush and a roller will differ. If the ceiling is illuminated, then all defects are highlighted.
It is more convenient to use a long-nap roller to paint the ceiling.
The advantage of a plasterboard ceiling is its ease of installation and the ability to create various design ideas. These are multi-level ceilings with various geometric shapes, transitions, and the ability to integrate lighting. The space between the floor slab and the gypsum board itself is filled with mineral wool with the addition of foil or regular foam foam.
With the help of drywall, we can hide the wires that are laid along the ceiling, metal-plastic or polypropylene pipes. It is fireproof and does not emit foreign odors.
The disadvantage of this type of finishing is that the ceiling hides a significant part of the height of the room, and it is easy to cause damage or dents. Doesn't breathe like, for example, plaster. If you need to make repairs to structures that are located inside the ceiling, then such a ceiling will have to be broken.
Features of a stretch ceiling in a small kitchen
In kitchens with a small area, suspended ceilings can be a good tool for arranging decorative accents.
Multi-level structures are unlikely to look organically in modest Khrushchev buildings - the scale is not the same, so it is worth limiting yourself to 2 levels. This is the maximum that will allow you to beautifully highlight zones without causing visual overload.
If you need to raise the ceiling, use a glossy texture. It gives a beautiful mirror image: the space seems to be extended, making the room seem larger. Forget about photo printing - it is not suitable for small kitchens.
If there is a shortage of usable space, it is best to choose white. It refreshes the room and works well with almost the entire palette.
There is never too much light in a small room. Therefore, use all lamp options to achieve an acceptable level of lighting: spots can be alternated with LED strips, central chandeliers with hanging sconces and tracks.
Wallpaper
The ancient and proven option for ceiling design is still quite in demand, although it gives way to more modern materials.
Wallpaper will be the most budget-friendly finish, with a large selection of colors and patterns. Easy application, environmental friendliness and a fairly long period of use add bonuses to this material.
The disadvantage of the coating will be the need to carefully level the slab before pasting, especially when using paper wallpaper. For non-woven wallpaper, this problem is somewhat reduced due to the structure of the canvas, which can stretch, avoiding small irregularities.
Real photos in the interior
Modern plastic
A kitchen ceiling made of PVC panels is a widely used option. Plastic has a number of advantages that distinguish it from others:
- low cost of material;
- no need to level the surface before installation;
- ease of care;
- Flooding is not a problem.
Moreover, if damaged, such panels are easy to replace, because the damaged area is replaced, and not the entire material.
The disadvantages of plastic include its flammability. When ignited, plastic releases toxic gas. Also, the material is not impact resistant. At the slightest impact of mechanical force, the panel breaks or becomes severely deformed.
