A small kitchen can be comfortable when properly furnished. To do this, you need to know all the subtleties of arranging a small room. There are a number of rules on how to equip a small kitchen. This will be discussed further.
Kitchen space layout
A small kitchen is the problem of many apartments built in the middle of the last century, the so-called Khrushchevs. How to equip a small kitchen? - this question worries many owners of such apartments. After all, its area in Khrushchev is only 5-6 m².
It is necessary to place in it a fairly large amount of modern technology, without which it is impossible to imagine modern life. At the same time, the room should remain cozy, comfortable and functional. The task is difficult, but quite doable. Its successful solution largely depends on competent planning, which is designed to make the most of every centimeter of room space.
First of all, you should decide whether the kitchen will be used only as a working room for cooking, or whether it will be a dining area. From thisdepends on the further choice of furniture, kitchen equipment and the design of the room as a whole.
Kitchen zoning
There are some simple tips on how to equip the kitchen (photo below).
Usually, such a room is divided into two parts - a cooking area and a dining area. The ideal option is to take the table for eating to another room, for example, to the adjacent living room. In this case, you can use the option of redevelopment of the apartment, removing completely or partially the partition between these rooms. However, this option is not always acceptable. Therefore, you should consider the correct division into zones.
In the working part of the room must be present:
- cooking place - stove, microwave, oven and other cooking appliances;
- working surface, that is, a place for preparing food for cooking;
- sink;
- refrigerator and various cabinets.
The classic option for placing a dining area in Khrushchev is against the wall adjacent to the entrance, on the opposite side from the working area. But other options are also possible. For example, in a square room, you can place a dining area by the window in the form of a built-in panel with a folding table in place of the windowsill.
Basic planning rules
You should consider the general requirements for how to equip a small kitchen (photo below). The components of the working area should be placed in the following sequence: stove → work surface → sink → refrigerator. Do not place the refrigerator next to the gas stove to avoid overheating.
Household appliances should not be installed close to each other. The distance between the devices must be at least 5 cm. The arrangement of different devices should be planned taking into account the availability of water supply, sewage systems, gas and ventilation communications in the appropriate places. Above the future work area, you need to install several outlets and take care of good lighting.
Kitchen interior decoration
How to equip a small kitchen in Khrushchev, what finishing materials to prefer? It is necessary to proceed not only from aesthetic considerations, but also take into account the requirements of practicality and safety. Finishing materials for floors, walls and ceilings must be resistant, durable, easy to clean and environmentally friendly. The flooring should also not be slippery.
Since in a small space all the walls are covered with furniture and household appliances, the main emphasis in terms of aesthetic design falls on the kitchen apron. It depends on the appearance and convenience. The task of the kitchen apron is to protect the most polluted part of the walls, which is in close proximity to the stove, water and the desktop.
There are many different materials for this finish. But the most common is ceramic tiles. It is easy to clean, resistant to high temperatures, mechanical stress. At the same time, ceramicthe tile has the richest choice of colors and textures.
However, modern designers do not limit their imagination to tiles alone. The currently used materials for kitchen backsplash are:
- plastic in the form of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) panels;
- special durable glass with various patterns;
- photo tiles decorated with landscapes, archival family photos or original patterns;
- Mirror tiles, which give the kitchen an incomparable charm, allow you to visually expand the space.
Of these options, preference should be given to mirror surfaces. However, it is worth considering that this material is very difficult to care for. You have to constantly wash the surface from drops of water and grease, as well as from various prints.
Colours
How to equip a small kitchen in the house so that it seems larger, at least visually? Not the last role in this matter is played by the color scheme. Everyone knows that light colors visually enlarge the space. Therefore, in a small room, walls and furniture decorated in such colors look preferable. Facades should be chosen in the same color, then they will not give the impression of a chaotic pile of objects.
It is advisable to make the floor a tone darker than the walls, and select the door to match the floor. The ceiling should be the same color as the walls, but much lighter.
No need to deprive yourself of the pleasure of using bright colors and contrastingcombinations. You just need to know the measure in their use. Small furniture details in the form of contrasting color spots, a bright design of an apron, flooring and some furniture details in warm wood tones will enliven the kitchen space without visually cluttering it up.
Lighting
An important role in deciding how to equip a 6 m² kitchen is played by lighting. It gives the interior coziness and a sense of comfort. Each part of the space should have its own separate lighting.
In the center of the ceiling you need to install a chandelier of various shapes or several lamps. In addition to them, you need to take care of the illumination of the working area. For this purpose, spotlights, as well as diode strips, can be used. To illuminate the dining area, you can use any lamps, in accordance with the overall interior design. It can be wall sconces, etc. Proper lighting should be bright enough, but at the same time soft and unobtrusive.
During the daytime, the light source should be a window. Do not use bulky curtains and vertical blinds. Roller blinds or horizontal blinds, short tulle - quite sufficient decoration for the window. They do not take up much space and do not prevent light from entering the room.
Choice of furniture
When deciding how to equip a kitchen in Khrushchev, you need to carefully select furniture. In this case, you need to follow the following rules. Preference should be given to built-in household appliances so that a variety of electrical appliances are hiddenidentical facades.
All surfaces must be used effectively. For example, a window sill can become an additional work surface or a small table for one person. To save space, the doors on the cabinets should not swing open, but rise up. Roof rails can become additional storage places for utensils. In floor cabinets, instead of traditional shelves, it is more rational to use retractable structures.
When planning how to equip a small kitchen, you need to pay attention to multifunctional furniture. A work table that transforms into a dining room, a cabinet that hides chairs, a horizontal refrigerator that doubles as a dining table are great solutions for a small kitchen.
The table can be replaced with a folding or folding design. Instead, you can use a small bar counter, in extreme cases, use a small round table. Folding furniture can help. A dining table with chairs that can be stored on a balcony or hallway without taking up space is a great option.
Selection of materials
Furnishing is an important planning step when deciding how to furnish a kitchen. To do this, choose light materials with a gloss effect, resistant to aggressive influences and temperature extremes.
These can be countertops made of artificial stone or cheaper coatings made of durable plastic, MDF. Glass and metal surfaces also create the illusion of free space. The glass tops and doors on the façade match perfectly with the chromed metal details.
A set made of natural wood can become a room decoration, but this option requires a lot of money and care. Instead of expensive natural wood, you can use veneered MDF that imitates natural material. It is more affordable and much easier to care for.
Arranging furniture
When deciding how to equip the kitchen, it is worth considering several options for arranging furniture. Its linear arrangement is considered a classic. Sometimes this is the only option when space is limited. Furniture and appliances are installed along one of the walls, and on the contrary, if there is enough space, a dining area is placed. It is desirable to install a refrigerator in a row with other furniture, but this is not always possible.
L-shaped or corner layout involves placement along a wall with a window and a surface adjacent to it. Allows you to use the corner in which the sink and the floor cabinet under it are usually installed. This arrangement of furniture is suitable for a square room.
Parallel layout involves placing the headset in two rows, so it is not suitable for every room. In this case, there is no room for a dining area in the room. But if it is possible to take it outside of this room, the option may be quite acceptable.
U-shaped layout, in which furniture occupies three adjacent walls, is the most unfortunate solution. Despite the fact that it allows you to place on a small area the maximumthe possible number of work surfaces, storage systems and household appliances, while the room will look very cramped and there will be no room for a dining table. Yes, and only one person will be able to work here.
Having considered the recommendations of experts on how to equip the kitchen, you can create a successful layout yourself.
