Look at the kitchen set you have installed. Visually it can be divided into three lines:
- The lower one contains floor cabinets and a countertop.
- Middle - wall panel, railing and other additional elements.
- The top one has a hood and hanging drawers.
All these parts must be made in the same style so that the kitchen is perceived holistically, harmoniously and beautifully. Therefore, the wall panel is selected at the planning stage of the entire set. Some people do without it, but this is the most impractical option. The main function of a kitchen apron is to protect the wall from dirt, water and food splashes. How to choose a high-quality wall panel for the kitchen so that it aesthetically fits into the interior, read below.
Features of kitchen panels
The most important advantage of this type of finishing materials is that with their help you can change the interior so much that it will be simply unrecognizable. Such panels can be chosen for absolutely any style of kitchen design. The market for these products offers a variety of color variations. When choosing a material, you can look through photos of kitchen panels and choose exactly what you like and will suit the design of your kitchen area.
The panels are installed quite easily. Therefore, almost anyone can carry out interior design work, even if he is not a professional builder.
Almost all wall panel options on the market have specific benefits that suit the kitchen environment. In addition, such material is very easy to care for, and if necessary, it can be very easily replaced.
Video: how to choose wall panels, advice from experienced craftsmen!
Of course, each type of panel has its own characteristics (regarding appearance, installation and ease of maintenance).
Interior finishing options
You can decorate with panels not only the wall surfaces above the work table, but also the kitchen as a whole. It is inexpensive and convenient, looks tasteful and laconic. Unlike wallpaper, wall panels for interior kitchen decoration are easy to clean, and they do not absorb dust. The following materials are used for cladding:
- The lining is strong and durable, and looks like wood. Suitable for kitchens in country, Provence, eco or Scandinavian style. The lining is installed in vertical, horizontal and diagonal positions. The best designers combine different types of materials, thereby creating a unique interior design.
- Slatted panels - can be matte or glossy, easy to clean and install. The color of the slats can be chosen to suit the kitchen of any style and size. Slatted panels are inexpensive and impact-resistant, and therefore this option is ideal for budget repairs.
- Plastic plates - can be large and small, glossy and matte, with patterns or plain. The design and size of the slabs are chosen to suit the interior style. The slabs are connected so that there are no wide or deep gaps between them. All you need for maintenance is water and cleaning gel.
Sheet plastic is another option, which is very similar to tiles, but the panels are much larger. This makes it possible to carry out repairs yourself and in a short time. Sheet plastic is attached with mounting adhesive, and there are also panels with imitation brick, natural wood, marble, metal or glass.
Which wall panels for the kitchen should I choose?
Due to the wide and varied range, panels can be chosen not only in different colors and designs. And also in order to divide the room into separate zones, place certain accents in the interior, create additional decor for the room or make the basic decoration of both the walls and the kitchen apron.
In any case, from the huge variety, everyone can choose exactly what they need!
PVC panels for kitchen
PVC wall panels for the kitchen are a fairly economical option and, moreover, very common. Plastic panels for the kitchen are absolutely practical, which is not at all difficult to explain, because they:
- Absolutely resistant to moisture
- Able to withstand different temperatures
- If necessary, they are easily replaceable (and are very inexpensive)
- They are easy to care for
Such materials are easily mounted on the wall, thanks to a wooden frame and the most common fasteners. Everything is done in a certain sequence, using such improvised means as: a hacksaw, a construction knife, pliers, a blade, a screwdriver, dowels and self-tapping screws.
As a result, when purchasing wall panels, there is no need to spend additional money on installation work or any special types of fasteners. And all thanks to the fact that you can buy everything necessary for fastening in the same place where the panels themselves are, and you can install them yourself.
Products made from chipboard and laminated chipboard
Another budget option. Despite this, the kitchen apron looks beautiful. The panels are safe and can be easily cleaned from dirt with a damp cloth. But chipboards are afraid of strong temperature fluctuations and high humidity.
If we talk about chipboard, then this is the same board, but with lamination. This is a transparent polymer, this option is better for kitchens, because thanks to the protective layer, moisture does not penetrate into the structure of the material. Through lamination, you can achieve an imitation of natural materials such as stone, wood, brick.
MDF panels for kitchen
This material is almost the same as PVC.
The difference lies in the fact that MDF does not tolerate moisture at all, because to some extent it is the same paper. And if such panels are used incorrectly or carelessly in practice, they will quickly become completely unusable: they will swell and spoil the overall appearance of the kitchen interior.
Accordingly, MDF panels for the kitchen must initially be selected with a special protective coating and “behave carefully” in the kitchen. Or you can place such finishing in a zonal way, or maybe even in the dining room area, so that it is located as far as possible from the stove and sink.
Video: installing a kitchen apron made of MDF
The design of such materials is quite diverse. Using it, you can more economically replace marble materials, as well as expensive stone or wood.
What determines the size of a kitchen apron?
The dimensions of the kitchen apron are determined mainly by the length of the countertop and the distance from its surface to the bottom of the upper wall cabinets. These parameters will be the length and height of the future apron. But there are cases when it is necessary to increase its height, or raise or lower the cladding in some areas of the wall.
Such cases include:
- Existence of a hood.
- There is a ventilation duct in the corner of the L-shaped kitchen.
- Wall cabinets have different heights or are not located on the same level.
- There are free sections of the wall between the wall cabinets.
Glass panels for kitchen
Such materials are gorgeous. They are the most popular, but they also cost the most. Glass panels for the kitchen are also used to decorate the work area or apron. Glass is completely resistant to any reaction to elevated temperatures and the ingress of moisture or liquid.
And if the glass surface gets dirty, this is not a problem at all, because it is very easy to clean. Thanks to all these advantages, glass panels are of interest to most people who are updating their kitchen design.
Based on this, this type of panel is also valued financially. But if you have the means, you will never regret making your wall panels out of glass!
Three alternative solutions: wood, stone and postforming
What other panels are there? In addition to tiles, MDF and glass, you can choose the most expensive wall panels - made of wood and stone. Or pay attention to a new trend in design - postforming products.
- Wooden panels. Yes, for a kitchen in eco-style or country style, you can choose models made of natural wood. They look respectable and will certainly create the right atmosphere. True, wood does not tolerate constant humidity well. This material is easily deformed. It is not recommended to wash the panels very often, as the wood structure may be damaged. Of course, today panels are covered with special coatings and wax, which protect the surface and extend the life of the products. If you are choosing kitchen panels for a room where you do not plan to spend a lot of time and cook frequently, wood can be called the most luxurious option.
- Artificial stone panels. Another respectable and durable material is stone, which is often chosen for kitchens in a classic style. This panel will last a long time due to its characteristics: the stone is not afraid of moisture and temperature changes; it can be washed with chemicals, and scratches will not remain even when using scrapers. In addition, the stone will appeal to all fans of environmentally friendly materials. The only drawback of the material is the difficulty of installation. The stone is difficult to cut, and you will have to tinker with it. Such a panel will not be cheap - artificial stone is considered one of the most expensive finishing materials.
- Postforming. Such products are made from chipboard sheets, but have one feature - a plastic front covering (like plastic facades). That is, you get the strength of chipboard and the practicality of plastic. Postforming products can be installed near the stove - they are not afraid of high temperatures and moisture. Cleaning the panel is also easy - use gels, and abrasives for difficult stains. Another advantage of postforming is the variety of color and design solutions. If we compare laminated chipboard and postforming, the latter wins with its original patterns and textures. As for the cost, such panels are more expensive than conventional plastic and laminated MDF.
Which wall panel option should I choose? Glass and all natural materials can easily be called the leader. True, such finishing will not be cheap. When choosing, give preference to those kitchen products that are easy to clean, especially for areas near the stove and sink. Pay attention to moisture resistance and ease of installation.
What to look for when choosing wall panels?
There are a number of nuances that are worth paying attention to, namely:
- Moisture resistance of the material
- Withstand temperature changes
- Easy cleaning. He should not be afraid of fat and liquids.
- Ability to respond to mechanical stress
- Beautiful appearance and, at the same time, durable material
- Easy to install or dismantle.
Video: glass kitchen apron
Installation of panels in the kitchen
If we are talking about plastic, laminated or MDF panels, their installation is absolutely simple. It is necessary to attach the wooden frame using a level and tape measure, as well as make precise markings and calculate the correct measurements for both the panels for the kitchen apron and for all other areas.
Video: Overview of kitchen installation, with installation of panels
The time you will have to spend on installing the panels yourself is about one hour per square meter. In the case of installing glass trim, it is better to entrust this to professional craftsmen, since without the necessary skills and experience it will be quite difficult to install them.
