The question “How to choose a kitchen and decorate the kitchen space?” worries every housewife (owner) who wants to make it functional, ergonomic and stylish. This can be ensured by a properly selected or custom-designed kitchen set in combination with well-chosen household appliances, plumbing fixtures and professional finishing of walls, floors, and ceilings.
What does a modern kitchen consist of?
The furniture frame to which the facades and tabletop are attached. Cabinets are almost always made from chipboard. This is a fairly wear-resistant and durable material at an affordable price.
Doors set. A decorative part of furniture that determines its primary color. Materials: wood, chipboard, MDF. The latter are coated with plastic, Alvic Luxe, films, enamel.
Tabletop
The working surface of the tables into which the sink and hob cut into. Made from plastic, artificial or natural stone. Much less often - made of wood, tiles, stainless steel.
A decorative element of a set that covers the wall between the work surface and wall cabinets (shelves). It can be made of ceramic tiles, glass, countertop material (plastic, stone).
Accessories
Handles, legs, hinges, latches, fastening / lifting mechanisms for furniture from different manufacturers are presented in a wide range, it is very important to make the right choice. The functionality and service life of the entire furniture set depends on the quality of the fittings.
Appliances
It is divided into built-in and conventional, free-standing (the first option fits harmoniously into any design, the latter is more economical). The list of the most common household appliances for the kitchen includes a stove (hob), oven, microwave, refrigerator, extractor hood, and washing machine.
A must-have component in any kitchen. Can be overhead or integrated into the countertop. Made from stainless steel, plastic, artificial stone.
Our experts will tell you how to choose the right kitchen and what to pay special attention to when selecting the above elements. This article will give answers to many questions regarding the arrangement of a kitchen space and will reveal the main aspects of choosing the right furniture.
In order to choose the right kitchen, without later regretting the decision, it is important to pay attention to the following aspects: manufacturer, material used to make each element, color, style, layout, equipment, cost of the kitchen.
How to choose a kitchen color
One of the most important aspects of kitchen interior design is the choice of color of kitchen furniture. It should be done based not only on personal preferences, but also on the style of the interior, lighting, size of the room, and the color scheme of its decoration. If you are at a loss as to what color to choose for your kitchen, pay attention to the most popular color shades of kitchen sets:
A fairly common choice for creating many modern interiors in classic, high-tech, minimalism, and modern styles. Combines well with white and red colors, metal, glass. Requires a competent lighting device with indispensable illumination of the work area.
The white color of kitchen surfaces will expand the space of a small kitchen and make it lighter. But at the same time it will look boring, even sterile, if it is not diversified with bright accessories, color accents, and contrasting elements.
Brown (wood color)
The most common color when decorating this room. Kitchen facades made of wood or wood look make it feel homely and conducive to relaxed communication. A universal, almost win-win option.
A spectacular, exciting, very aggressive color, which is often chosen by people who do not bother with daily cooking and do not spend a lot of time in this room. Keep in mind that the rich red color will stimulate your appetite!
Depending on the chosen shade, a blue kitchen can be made calm and cozy or fashionable and dynamic. Too dark a blue is not recommended for use in rooms suffering from a lack of sunlight.
A calm, relaxing color of furniture after a busy day will restore your peace of mind and set you in the mood for cooking and a pleasant evening at home. Light green facades will help expand the space.
When choosing the color of the facades, keep in mind: too bright, contrasting or dark colors can negatively affect the psychological state of household members, quickly tire the eyes and visually reduce the area of the room. Therefore, if you have a small / poorly lit kitchen, or you spend a lot of time in it, light pastel shades will be more appropriate, visually expanding the space and guaranteeing psychological comfort to people - peach, beige, cream, pink, blue, pistachio. You can diversify this color scheme with bright accessories and decorative elements.
1. Be sure to consider the level of natural light in the room. If its windows face the shady side, choose light or bright cheerful colors. Otherwise, the lack of light will be felt even when the lights are on.
2. Remember that light-colored surfaces of cabinets and facades (especially white) will not only visually expand the space, but will also require particularly thorough cleaning, carried out with high frequency. And on dark glossy surfaces fingerprints are clearly visible.
How to choose a style for the kitchen?
If ready-made sets are presented mainly in common styles, then custom interior design solutions cover literally the entire variety of existing styles: high-tech, classic, modern, country, minimalism, Provence, loft, techno, art deco, etc. To choose from There is only one of them, it is important to decide on your preferences. Let's look at a few of the most popular options:
Classic
A style that remains relevant at all times. A kitchen made of solid wood or its imitation, designed in a classic style, is ideal for people seeking stability and comfort. Due to its massiveness, it looks best in spacious rooms with large windows and high ceilings. Distinctive features are the color of the wood, carved elements, and stained glass.
The most common style in modern kitchens. It is distinguished by maximum functionality and thoughtfulness of details. It offers a wide field for design creativity and experimentation due to the huge variety of shapes, colors, and materials.
The most avant-garde style, based on the use of complex shapes, designs, contrasting colors, synthetic materials (glass, metals, plastic). It is imperative to have the most modern built-in equipment and the absence of small things cluttering up the space. Minimalist solutions are welcome.
This cozy and democratic design style, often called rustic, is characterized by natural colors and materials (stone, wood). Wicker, wooden, metal furniture, wooden facades with elements of artistic forging, hidden or decorated with brass household appliances, etc.
There are many styles used to decorate a kitchen interior, so first of all you should decide which one will make you most comfortable. Remember that the more avant-garde the design solutions, the more likely the created interior will quickly go out of fashion.
How to plan a kitchen?
When deciding which kitchen to choose and planning the placement of furniture, it is important to consider the following points:
Existing furniture arrangement options when planning the kitchen space: corner (L-shaped, L-shaped), linear/two-linear, U-shaped, island, peninsula. The choice between them depends on the shape, size of the room and the preferences of the owners.
When contacting a specialized company to make a custom-made kitchen, the designer will take this data into account and offer the optimal solution for furniture placement, based on your budget and existing conditions. If you decide to plan the kitchen yourself, placing the furniture at your own discretion, we recommend adhering to the following order:
fridge
working surface
working surface
washing
(under the sink there is a trash container)
This sequence of workstations optimally corresponds to the sequence of actions of the housewife, allows for fewer unnecessary movements, and speeds up the cooking process. Ideally, the distance between food storage, preparation and washing areas should be no more than two arms' lengths. The most convenient location for the microwave and oven is at chest level. The dishwasher and washing machine are built under the countertop.
When planning on your own: even if you have thought through everything carefully, it would not be a bad idea to consult with the designer of the company from which you order the production of the headset. Moreover, in most specialized companies, drawing up a design project is done free of charge!
Which kitchen is better to choose: materials of manufacture?
Today, quite a lot of materials are used to make kitchen furniture, the main ones being wood, chipboard, MDF, glass, aluminum, and stone (usually artificial). To improve technical and decorative characteristics, MDF is covered with special facing materials: plastic, laminate, PVC film, enamel, special varnish.
You can familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of the main cabinet/cladding materials used for the manufacture of kitchen furniture, facades of sets, countertops, aprons, sinks, as well as the characteristics of fittings from various manufacturers in the tables below.
| Facades | Laminated | MDF+PVC film | MDF+Plastic | MDF+Enamel | Alvic Luxe | Solid wood |
| Moisture resistance | ||||||
| High temperature resistance, fire safety | ||||||
| Stain resistance (to fingerprints) |
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| Sustainability to fading/fading |
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| Price | ||||||
| Strength | ||||||
| Life time | 3 years 5 years 20 years 20 years12 years | from 5 to 20 years | ||||
| PROS |
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| MINUSES |
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When choosing between glossy and matte colors, pay attention to the fact that fingerprints are more visible on glossy facades, while water is more visible on matte ones. When choosing between dark and light colors, remember: dirt is more noticeable on dark facades.
| Tabletop | Plastic | Fake diamond | A natural stone |
| Moisture resistance | |||
| High temperature resistance | |||
| Resistance to stains (porosity) | |||
| Resistance to mechanical damage and scratches | |||
| Resistance to chemical damage | |||
| Sustainability to fading/fading |
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| Price | cheapest option |
the most expensive option |
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| Strength | |||
| Life time | from 5 to 7 years | from 15 to 25 years | more than 25 years |
| PROS |
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| MINUSES |
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To sacrifice these principles in order to maintain or emphasize the merits of a room means creating problems for yourself for many years. Furniture in the kitchen rarely changes, so its choice should be approached with the utmost seriousness. Many apartment owners cannot decide which kitchen will be the best choice - a ready-made option or a custom-made one. There is no universal answer to this question; it all depends not only on the established budget and preferences in style and materials, but also on the characteristics of the room. We'll look at the pros and cons of both options to determine which one is preferable.
Ready-made kitchen or to order: pricing policy
Many people think that custom-made kitchens are a luxury that not everyone can afford. However, it all depends on the materials used, fittings, design and, of course, the manufacturer. For example, standard models, which people often choose, will cost much less than exclusive options. To create something unusual, you will need a special design project, visualization, and development of additional elements. All this will entail additional costs and, accordingly, increase the amount of expenses. But standard models can compete in price with kitchens widely available in stores. Here you should pay attention to the quality of workmanship, the materials used and, of course, the manufacturer’s warranty. Prices for making furniture from different companies can vary greatly.
For example, we live in St. Petersburg and not long ago we were looking for someone in our city that provides a custom kitchen service in St. Petersburg. We found a wide variety of offers starting from 8,000 rubles per linear meter. Our kitchen is 3 meters long, so the most budget option for a custom-made kitchen cost us 24,000 rubles. The maximum price that was offered to us was about 4 million rubles, and we think that this is far from the limit. As for ready-made kitchens, their cost for our sizes starts from 15,000 rubles, but they look much worse than the cheapest custom-made kitchens.
Ready-made kitchens also vary significantly in price. The simplest economy-class kitchens can be found in most furniture stores, as well as in markets. As a rule, the quality of such models is not ideal, the cheapest materials are used, and the choice of colors is very limited. The most budget option is a standard kitchen purchased in a store. The low price is formed thanks to a large number of standard sets of kitchen furniture, wholesale purchases and the simplest materials.
However, in many furniture centers you can find ready-made kitchens, the price of which is amazing in the number of zeros. This amount is explained by expensive materials and exclusive design, but a noticeable part of it is a tribute to the famous brand, the foreign manufacturer of this kitchen.
Ready-made kitchen or custom-made: functionality
It is worth noting that ready-made kitchens are designed according to all standards and rules and are aimed at the average person. For some they are perfect, but for others they are not suitable at all. Buying such a kitchen will save you from unnecessary planning and arranging furniture; you don’t have to be afraid of making a mistake with the position of the work surface relative to the hob or drawers with utensils. The designers who developed ready-made kitchens took into account all the important points, provided everything from the handle to the pull-out mechanism, and even thought through little things like dividers for cutlery. However, you will encounter standard width and depth cabinets and shelves, limited choice of models and colors. If we are talking about modular kitchen furniture, then you can swap certain elements and assemble your kitchen according to the principle of a designer, but the number of “parts” will be small.
Custom kitchens give full scope to your imagination. If you want to place the boxes “here”, then they will definitely end up there. But it’s worth remembering that independent kitchen design is a big responsibility, and your expectations may not coincide with what you get. However, each company engaged in the manufacture of custom kitchens has its own in-house designer who will help create the ideal project that suits you, but does not violate the basic principles and meets all fire safety requirements.
The convenience of such kitchens is that not all people are like the “average”. So, for example, you you can choose your individual kitchen height. This aspect is especially relevant for people of short or tall stature who simply do not feel comfortable preparing food in a kitchen of standard height. Also, every person has your preferences for filling the kitchen. Some people don’t see the need for an oven, others prefer it to be located directly under the hob, while others prefer it to be located at arm level in a kitchen cabinet. You can create the ideal kitchen of your dreams only by making it to order, taking into account all the little details that are important to you, as well as the features of preparing dishes.
Ready-made kitchen or to order: materials
Many stores selling ready-made kitchens provide various certificates confirming the quality of their products. Well-known brands that have gained popularity in the market are in demand not because of certificates, but because of fashion and numerous positive reviews. However, this does not mean that custom-made kitchens will be made worse than ready-made ones. A lot depends on the materials from which the kitchen is made.
The cheapest materials will already lose their attractive appearance in 2-3 years. The fact is that such a low price justifies the corresponding quality. Natural wood will last a very long time both in a ready-made kitchen and in a custom-made one.
The fittings deserve special attention, the quality of which determines how many times you can open a cabinet door or pull out a drawer.
The problem that many buyers of ready-made kitchens face is that the model they choose is made from materials that are not suitable for them. Accordingly, the problem arises - to purchase a kitchen of the chosen design or to give preference to a model made from a suitable material.
Buyers of custom-made kitchens do not have such difficulties; the chosen design can be implemented using all materials available to the manufacturer.
The kitchen is an important part of any apartment, so its choice should be taken especially seriously. How to choose a high-quality and durable version of kitchen furniture and necessary elements? On the modern market you can find both ready-made kitchens that are immediately installed in any apartment, and companies that carry out orders according to individual measurements. That is why, to make your search easier, you can make a rating of factories and manufacturers that are ready to fulfill all the client’s wishes, as well as provide reviews to form a more detailed opinion about each company.
Before choosing a manufacturer that will satisfy all the necessary requirements, you need to decide on several criteria. In the future, they will help you not to get lost in searching for a suitable company:
- Budget. A full-fledged kitchen is not a cheap pleasure, but you can always choose an option that will satisfy any budget. A clearly calculated budget will be an excellent help and will save you from complications later.
- Type. You can purchase a ready-made kitchen, versions of which are always presented in stores and factories. This will help save time, since transportation and installation of all components usually does not take more than a week. The second option is making a custom kitchen. To do this, you only need to provide the manufacturer with the dimensions and parameters of the apartment where it will be installed. It may be more expensive and take longer, but the result will fully satisfy the customer's personal expectations.
- Material. Wood, metal, plastic - another item that depends on the budget and individual wishes, but directly affects the final choice.
- Country of origin. Russia and the CIS countries are increasingly becoming the choice of clients, as they inspire more trust and are often lower in cost. But foreign companies (Germany, Italy, etc.) are also known for the quality of their products.
How to choose a kitchen (video)
Which kitchens are better: customer reviews
Most customers are not afraid to leave reviews before and after purchasing a kitchen, which helps other customers determine the necessary information.
- Many customers recommend kitchens made by IKEA, but reviews about them vary greatly. For example, the opinion of this customer is shared by many: “IKEA kitchens have one big disadvantage - the impossibility of making a non-standard size.” Otherwise, this company satisfies most buyers with a large selection and an attractive price.
- Another popular option among clients is the Maria company, but not everything in it suits the average client. “There were problems with color. We chose one, but made a completely different one that didn’t fit the interior.” However, in general, "Maria" is one of the most common choices for kitchen buyers.
- The company ZOV, whose offices are located in the capital, suits the majority. “The salon selected the color, size and everything necessary, which greatly speeded up the design process.”
The best kitchen manufacturers
Each manufacturer has special criteria. You can give a rating of the ten best companies in this field available in Russia, having decided among which, you can be sure that the result will be of high quality.
"PLAZAREAL"
The kitchen furniture manufacturing factory PLAZAREAL produces up to 400 sets of cabinet furniture every month and has a well-deserved reputation and quality guarantees.
IKEA
The most famous Swedish furniture center, whose services are used annually by millions of people around the world. Impressive guarantees, low prices and global recognition - it’s hard to ignore this company when choosing a kitchen.
"Maria"
A well-known manufacturer in Russia with many years of experience. It is popular and has a large number of positive reviews from customers.
"CALL"
Today, many positive reviews can be seen about the Belarusian factory "ZOV"
Belarusian factory, one of the best in its profile. The production team employs only professionals in their field, so you don’t have to worry about the result – it won’t disappoint.
"Announcement"
This is a trademark of the Announcement factory, the largest manufacturer of kitchen furniture, which has been operating on the Russian market since 1999. He has earned many titles and good reviews, as well as the trust of clients throughout the country.
"Stylish kitchens"
Factory producing the most modern kitchens. A popular choice among customers. Uses imported materials and exclusively the latest technologies.
"Yavid"
The large furniture factory "Yavid" produces high-quality and beautiful kitchens
Large furniture factory. Modern production that deals only with the best materials. A wide network of representative offices allows you to use the company’s services in many countries and confirms its quality and well-deserved reputation.
"Harmony"
The salons of this company provide products manufactured at the factory of the same name. The guarantee and positive feedback from many customers, as well as extensive experience in this field, make us consider this manufacturer as one of the best.
"Forma"
It produces custom kitchens and provides a wide range of services. Over twenty years of work, this company has become one of the most famous on the market. Our experts will help you choose not only the right dimensions, but also the design of your future kitchen.
"Antarctic"
It deserves special attention, as it produces elements for the kitchen. It will be a useful choice for a client who wants to independently select every corner of his future premises.
ZOV kitchen review (video)
We hope that our tips will help you choose a high-quality kitchen that will delight you for many years!
If you want to know how to choose a kitchen, we recommend reading this article to the end. Not often, but throughout life, sooner or later every person faces a similar problem.
Arranging a kitchen is a matter that does not tolerate superficial treatment. Napoleon's principle, which first got into a fight and only then decided what to do next, is absolutely not suitable in this case.
The kitchen is the most technologically complex room in the house. Firstly, a large number of household appliances used for cooking require a specially equipped place where to place it. Secondly, water taps, gas or electric stoves require special treatment from the point of view of their immediate functions and the safety of their use. Thirdly, no one has canceled comfort: when preparing food, eating it, and simply during spiritual gatherings, it is important that it is not only cozy, but also convenient to reach the pan, open the refrigerator, and rinse your hands. In order to take into account all the nuances of “kitchen life”, it is necessary to study a lot of information related to this topic.
Because even a specialist, no matter how high-level he may be, is unlikely to be able to draw up a project for the ideal kitchen for you. He, of course, has knowledge in the field of design, knows which kitchen to choose and how to choose the right kitchen, and is also familiar with the principles of design, the conditions for combining colors and the laws of the most effective arrangement of objects in the available space, etc., but to know in in full, the main thing is not given to him. The main thing is the habits of the owners living in the specified territory and, accordingly, the main users of the purchased kitchen furniture.
Which kitchen is better?
It is unlikely that anyone will argue that making furniture to order, according to individual sizes, with non-standard configurations, is a more acceptable option than buying a ready-made set, which is not a fact that will fit perfectly into the dimensions of your kitchen.
In order to successfully cope with the task yourself - drawing up a detailed design of a set of furniture for the kitchen, or help a specialist design exactly what you expect from him, listen to the advice offered and you will succeed!
Save money and space
One of the main parameters when starting any business, for the majority of our fellow citizens, is the economic component of the issue. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is create a purchase budget. The MSCMebel company has established itself in the market as a supplier of inexpensive, high-quality kitchen furniture, therefore, based on prices, the amount allocated for updating the kitchen interior will not lead the buyer to a crisis or default.
Modern trends in interior design are aimed at freeing up as much space as possible. Therefore, it is very important to assemble the kitchen in such a way that more “dead” zones are put to good use. Such zones, as a rule, are the corners of the room, the vertical surfaces of the walls and, oddly enough, the interior space of cabinets and cabinets.
To accurately take measurements of the room, take into account all its structural features and jointly draw up a project for the future kitchen, it is best to contact a specialist.
MSCMebel provides its clients with the opportunity to call a surveyor to your home absolutely free. Specialists will carefully take measurements, listen to all your wishes and offer a competent project. In addition, if the buyer has approved it, the purchase price is indicated immediately. In addition to the external dimensions of furniture parts, the designer will professionally recommend the internal filling of cabinets and bedside tables. Inside them you can place classic shelves, modern railings, trays for cutlery, pull-out boards, tables, and various delimiters of the internal space of cabinets.
Using the capabilities of modern components, the customer is able to offer furniture whose spaciousness can only be envied.
The internal components of a new kitchen are, of course, important, but you will have to look at the furniture from the outside. Undoubtedly, any housewife will be extremely careful when choosing material for the external surfaces of the kitchen.
The MSCMebel company offers a choice of several options for materials for manufacturing: natural wood (solid wood), plastic, MDF. Each of these options is good in its own way. Natural solid wood, as a true classic, always remains popular. Wooden models are elegant, luxurious and beautiful. Plastic and MDF are unique in their low cost compared to solid wood. MDF is also a particularly durable material that is difficult to deform. In addition, the wood color range is limited to shades of the color of tree trunks, while other materials provide the opportunity for color experiments, having a wide palette of shades. Laminated or varnished MDF is excellent for making decorative borders. There are no comrades in style and color. Therefore, the choice of model and color in which the kitchen will be executed is always yours.
How to choose the right kitchen or arrange furniture in space
A very important factor in a furniture project is its spatial arrangement in the kitchen. Most often, L-shaped corner kitchens are used, which save space and accommodate a lot of tableware.
Arranging furniture blocks in a line is still as popular as before. This distribution is suitable for narrow rooms or, conversely, for large areas where space cannot be saved. Both options provide, if desired, the inclusion of a now popular bar counter in the set. They assume the presence of a lower line of cabinets and an upper line of wall cabinets. Dishwashers and washing machines, ovens, hoods, and refrigerators are successfully integrated into the orderly row of furniture blocks.
Complete harmony
In recent years, the direction of Feng Shui has been very popular, promoting the principles of arranging zones in such a way that harmony and well-being penetrate into every corner of the home. The basic principles of this teaching have long been intertwined with fashion and common sense. Modern traditions of kitchen arrangement, which resulted from this interweaving, state that the room must certainly be bright and clean, the cooking process should not be interfered with by foreign objects, the size of the working area should allow free movement, there should be no bulky objects hanging over the head that cover light and pose a risk of injury.
For a comfortable pastime in your own kitchen, you need to think in advance and plan the location of sockets, water supply and ventilation.
The final stage of acquiring new furniture is the delivery of the furniture parts and their installation on site. That is why custom-made kitchens from our online store are the best solution, since we will do everything carefully and on time. It would seem that the simplest task is to bring and assemble the prepared parts. But there are plenty of hidden pitfalls here too. Firstly, ordering a truck is not the cheapest thing. Secondly, you will also have to search to find neat movers who can do their job carefully. Well, you won’t find competent and experienced installers if you look for them during the day. The MSCMebel team is fully staffed with employees of the necessary specialties. Delivery of manufactured furniture throughout Moscow is free. Orders are processed in record time (no more than 7 days). Assembly occurs without unnecessary noise and dust.