Wall panels for the kitchen

The design of the kitchen, as well as the entire home as a whole, can tell a lot about the owner.

This room is for cooking. Family members or guests can gather here for a joint meal and communication. The practical design of the work surface will help maintain comfort and cleanliness in the kitchen. One of the popular finishes are Wall panels for kitchen.

Requirements for the design of the working wall in the kitchen

Without exception, all materials that are in the kitchen must have good strength characteristics. This applies to furniture, work surfaces, as well as wall decoration.

In this room, especially when cooking, the humidity and temperature increase. Surfaces are often dirty, so they must be made of durable, moisture-resistant materials that are easy to clean.

Most often, splashes from the stove and sink fall on the part of the wall between the countertops and the upper kitchen cabinets. To protect this area from external factors, it is recommended to cover it with a kitchen apron. Wall panels are easy to clean from grease, dust and other contaminants. In addition, this type of surface is resistant to fire, which is important in the presence of stoves with gas burners.

This type of finish has the qualities necessary to maintain the kitchen in good condition:

• strength;
• safety;
• moisture resistance;
• wear resistance;
• convenience in operation.

A kitchen apron is the best option for decorating a work wall.

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Varieties of wall panels for the kitchen

If in the room the upper cabinets form a continuous block without gaps, then it is more rational to close with a kitchen apron only that part of the wall that remains between the countertops and the top of the furniture. The design of a narrow strip requires replacement if the owners decide to change the kitchen set.

If open-type furniture structures are installed in the kitchen (for example, shelving without a door), then in this case it is recommended to cover the entire visible part of the wall with wall plates. Thus, the panels can be installed from the floor or slab level to the ceiling. High designs are considered the most practical, as they allow you to make a free rearrangement of furniture.

With a minimum amount of furniture or with a central arrangement of cabinets, a kitchen apron decorates the walls from the floor to hanging cabinets. This type of panel is called support and also refers to practical options.

Depending on the installation method, the following types of wall panels for the kitchen are distinguished:

• tiled;
• mosaic;
• leafy;
• rack.

How the kitchen apron will be installed depends largely on the material from which the structural elements are made.

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Materials used

Wall kitchen panels are made from:

• plastic;
• MDF, fiberboard, chipboard;
• drywall sheets;
• wooden array;
• ceramic plates;
• metal sheets;
• glass fragments.

Each material has certain characteristics. Ceramics, metal, glass, gypsum board have increased fire resistance.

All but the last one are also durable. Drywall and plastic are non-flammable, but can melt when exposed to open flames.

Without exception, all materials, including wood and sheets of chipboard, MDF, undergo special processing. Due to the impregnation and stable coating, such panels can be repeatedly washed. However, it is worth protecting them from fire. The protective coating will need to be updated over time.

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Features of plastic kitchen aprons

Plastic panels for kitchen work walls are among the most budgetary ways to design a work area, which is an indisputable advantage compared to other types of materials. Plastic has the following positive characteristics:

1. Moisture resistance. The surface can be easily cleaned of greasy deposits with detergents. Also, the panels are not afraid of splashes from water and hot oil from the pan.
2. Resistance to temperature difference. Plastic is not afraid of heat. However, it should not be exposed to open flame to avoid melting.
3. external attraction. Plastic plates look no less high quality and stylish than products made from any other type of material.
4. Practicality. This option can be made from a single sheet without the use of seams.
5. Safety. In the production of plastic used for wall panels, synthetic components are used, but safe for human health. They are absolutely non-toxic.

The disadvantages of this type of material include:

• susceptibility to scratches and abrasions (it is recommended not to use hard brushes, abrasive cleaners to clean the surface from greasy deposits, dust);

• stains from washing solutions and water (splashes from the sink, when dried, can leave unaesthetic marks and spoil the look);

• deformation from the action of an open flame (high-quality plastic is resistant to high temperatures, however, areas in contact with the plate or exposed to an open flame may melt);

• versatility (panels made of plastic material are suitable for decorating a kitchen in any style).

When designing a working area in a kitchen with a small area, it is recommended to use a transparent type of plastic. Such a decision to visually expand the space. For more spacious kitchens, it is allowed to use opaque surfaces with various prints, plain or multi-colored tinting.

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Wall panels for the kitchen from MDF, fiberboard, chipboard

Manufacturers of kitchen aprons use all of the above materials. However, the most suitable option for a full-fledged kitchen is fiberboard sheets. MDF and chipboard sheets can be used for decorative purposes. Without exception, all fabrics are additionally treated with special means to improve strength indicators.

Fiberboard is covered with thin plastic. This solution allows you to protect the material from moisture.

The benefits also include:

• relatively low cost;
• resistance to mechanical stress;
• the possibility of self-installation.

The disadvantages include the fact that this type of structure does not withstand the increased weight load. It is not necessary to mount hanging cabinets, shelves and other pieces of furniture to fiberboard panels.

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Ceramic kitchen apron

Tiles or mosaics are the best option for decorating a work surface in a kitchen. It combines two important qualities - practicality and relatively low cost. Such a coating will last for many years and will not lose its visual appeal.

Ceramic wall kitchen panels can be made in the form of:

• tiles of various sizes;
• mosaics;
• border tiles and other forms.

The only condition for the use of this option is that the space between the tiles should be treated with a special stable putty, which is matched to the main tone of the products.

Mosaic or tiled masonry is not afraid of moisture, fire, mechanical and chemical effects. The surface can only be damaged by a strong blow.

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Glass work area

The use of glass in the interior always looks modern and stylish. The advantage of this type of material is hygiene. The glass worktop is the easiest to care for due to the absence of seams and joints.

Glass is remarkable in that it allows you to implement the most daring design solutions. Behind the glass panel you can place posters, photo wallpaper. The pattern can be applied to the glass itself using various techniques:

• stained glass painting;
• acrylic paints;
• photo printing;
• sandblasting drawing the image;
• sticking a special film and so on.

For the manufacture of wall panels for the kitchen, only tempered glass is used. To enhance strength, some models are covered with a thin layer of protective film. On impact, the glass may simply crack, but not shatter into small pieces.

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Kitchen apron made of metal sheets

Metal is the most durable type of material that is not subject to any impact. However, this option is applicable only in a minimalist or high-tech interior.

The metal has only two textures - glossy and matte. But their competent combination allows you to create a stylish and modern look of the kitchen. For harmony in the interior, the rest of the furniture should also have metal elements.

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Wooden wall panels

For the design of kitchens, natural or veneered wood is used. Natural material is environmentally friendly and the safest for humans.

With it, you can create a cozy and warm atmosphere. Wood is perfect for any interior style. With the help of products of various shapes and sizes, you can implement the most daring design solutions. The tree can be used in the form of simple, alternately laid, slats or lay out an image of small elements of various shades.

Regarding the cost, the building materials market offers options for any budget:

• inexpensive - pine, linden, alder;
• more durable, expensive - oak, cedar, others.

The wooden array must be waxed on all sides. Impregnation protects the product from moisture, insects, light mechanical impact.To increase the strength, the surface is also covered with a layer of varnish. But over time, the protective coating will need to be updated.

It is better not to have wooden elements of the working area near hot surfaces and open flames. During operation, microcracks form on the protective coating. It is important to varnish the wood in time so that the structure of the material does not deform under the influence of moisture.

Wooden elements should be protected from constant exposure to moisture. They can be washed, but water should not be allowed to stand, especially near the joints. Do not use detergents containing chlorine on the surface. The substance may damage paintwork.

The disadvantages of this type of design can also be attributed to the relatively high cost of material and assembly price.

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Criteria for choosing wall kitchen panels

When making a choice in favor of this type of design, you should pay attention to the following points:

• Product quality. When inspecting demo models, you need to make sure that the entire structure is of high quality. Pay special attention to the joints. The material must be processed evenly on all sides.

• Build quality. If the installation of the structure is carried out by the company, it must be ensured that there are no large gaps between the elements. All joints must be of high quality. In the case of tiled masonry, it is important to correctly putty the distance between the tiles.

• Guarantee. A conscientious performer provides a guarantee for all types of work performed. If fragments of the coating were damaged during transportation or installation, it is replaced at the expense of the company.

• Price-quality ratio. Budget options for kitchen aprons are best suited for decorating a kitchen where you do not have to cook often. If the working area is fully used, it is better to give preference to more durable models made of reliable, wear-resistant materials.

All kitchen aprons, except for tiled ones, are mounted at a distance of 2-3 cm from the wall. This is necessary in order to ensure natural air circulation and prevent the formation of condensation, mold.

Wall panels for the kitchen are a convenient, practical, modern and stylish design option for the working area. Kitchen aprons will not only complement the interior of the room, but also protect the wall from the influence of moisture, cleaning products and temperature changes.

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Photo gallery - wall panels for the kitchen

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