If you do not know what it is better to make an apron in the kitchen, then this article is for you. This room is one of the most important. It is used for cooking and eating, so the space must be properly designed. Cleanliness, order, and, of course, beauty - all these are mandatory attributes of the kitchen.
The fastest part of the wall is contaminated near the working surface, sink and stove, so it is recommended to install a so-called apron here. If you choose the right material for its decoration, then it will not only be practical, but will also become a kind of stylish highlight of the space. Let's find out what professional designers advise.
What is a kitchen apron and what requirements should it meet
Before deciding what it is better to make an apron in the kitchen, it is necessary to study what requirements are imposed on it and what it represents.
As a rule, such a room is arranged in compliance with parallel lines, that is, the horizontal lower and upper row of cabinets are taken into account. Between them, a free space of the wall forms, which is called the kitchen apron.
There are certain requirements for its decoration.
- Strength. Do not exclude the possibility of accidental damage to the surface of the apron.
- Moisture resistance. The kitchen space during cooking is filled with steam, which significantly moisturizes the air.
- Environmental friendliness. Harmful substances have no place in those rooms where people live.
- Hygienic properties. Due to the high level of moisture on the surface of the apron, fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms can multiply. To avoid this, it is better to choose resistant materials with a special coating.
- Resistance to temperature jumps. In the kitchen, the air is sometimes heated, for example, while using the stove, then it is cooled, so it will not work to avoid differences.
- Ease of care. It is important that the surface of the apron is easily washed away from contaminants such as soot, grease, splashes of water and others.
- Design. This criterion plays a purely aesthetic role, but its importance should not be underestimated. The surface design (pattern, color scheme) should harmoniously fit into the overall concept.
Material selection
For those who are going to make the kitchen space beautiful and functional, it is important to understand that it must also be practical. This can be achieved only by choosing the right materials for finishing the main surfaces. So what is the best way to make an apron in the kitchen? First of all, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the entire range currently presented in specialized stores. There you can pick up excellent options that will meet all the requirements. If the buyer is not limited in means, then preference can be given to natural stone, mosaic or mirror tiles with facet. For a person of average hand, glass panels are suitable. They are presented in a wide variety of colors and are decorated with all acceptable patterns. If the room is quite spacious, then artificial stone, which is an alternative to expensive natural materials, is perfect. And finally, the budget option - ceramic tiles and PVC panels.
In order to decide what is the best way to make an apron in the kitchen, you need to consider each material in detail.
Natural or artificial stone
The stone finish is ideal for decorating a kitchen apron in large rooms. Its rough uneven surface will give a certain chic. For installation, plates of square or rectangular shape are suitable. Their sizes will directly depend on the height of the kitchen apron. Laying stone on the walls is carried out according to the same principle as laying ceramic tiles.
We highlight the features of this material.
- High level of moisture and heat resistance.
- Does not emit harmful substances.
- The maximum strength level of natural stone.
- An artificial analogue made on the basis of gypsum is quite fragile.
- Sophisticated surface care. An uneven front panel is difficult to clean.
Mosaic
A mosaic kitchen apron is currently one of the most popular finishing methods. This contributed to the original design. Each drawing has no analogues, it is unique in its own way. Mosaic tiles can be made up of small pieces of glass, ceramics, mirrors, metal, smalt. There are combined options. As a rule, several different colors are combined in them - from three or more.
We highlight the advantages of this material. In addition to strength, resistance to moisture and temperature jumps, the mosaic allows you to create not only the most diverse ornaments, but even a memorable photo. Also, this decoration is in harmony with many interior styles.
If we talk about the shortcomings, then it is worth paying attention to the complexity of installing mosaics from pieces of different sizes. Independently cope with this, without having certain knowledge and skills, it is unlikely to succeed. You will have to incur additional costs by paying for the work of qualified specialists. It’s a little easier to lay the mosaic attached to the base. It glues to the wall, and after drying, the seams are treated with a special grout.
Mirror apron
If you need to visually increase the volume of the room, you can use a mirror to finish the apron. Before installation, you will need to carry out preparatory work. This material is quite moody: even the slightest roughness can deform it. The kitchen interiors look great, where mirror and glass aprons are combined. This allows you to give the room extraordinary. For wall decoration use mirrors in the form of panels, small tiles or mosaics. All of these options look equally impressive.
Indisputable advantages he has a lot. These include:
- Visually increases the space.
- Not afraid of moisture.
- Environmentally friendly.
- Fits perfectly into any design style.
- Doubles penetrating light into a room.
- A wide selection of shapes for decoration.
Unfortunately, against the background of these advantages, disadvantages stand out. These include, first of all, the complexity of surface care. Traces of any contamination remain on the mirror, so the hostess will have to not only wash it every day, but also rub it to a shine. It is also complicated by the fact that abrasive materials cannot be used. This material is sold at a rather high price, which makes it available only to a certain category of buyers.
Glass panels
Glass apron for the kitchen is used relatively recently. For finishing, a material about 8 mm thick is selected. It must be shock and heat resistant. The popularity of such finishes is due to a wide selection of design designs. On sale there are options with photo printing, plain, matte and transparent, with a 3D pattern. For applying the image using screen printing or sandblasting method. Often, in order to complement the interior, LED illumination is carried out under the glass surface of the apron.
Consider the advantages of this type of finish:
- When heated, does not emit harmful substances.
- It has a long service life, subject to a neat attitude.
- Ease of care.
- Resistant to temperature extremes, does not absorb moisture.
- Over time, it does not deform.
- Installation does not take much time. If desired, it is easy to dismantle without damaging the panel.
- The possibility of partial replacement.
It is worth noting that this material also has weaknesses. Many housewives claim that you have to wash it often in order to maintain a neat appearance in the kitchen. The surface with a careless attitude is easily scratched. When cleaning the glass apron from dirt, never use hard brushes.
Installing a kitchen apron made of glass
There are two ways to install glass panels:
- bolt mount;
- gluing to the wall with a special solution.
Before installation, you will need to carefully level the surface. Any difference, even the most insignificant, can lead to distortion, and the glass will simply crack. Masters do not recommend the use of paintings more than two meters. It is better to compose compositions from several panels. If the installation is carried out according to the rules, then their docking will not cause problems.
PVC panels
If you want to give the kitchen originality, but there is not enough money for expensive finishes, then make an apron made of plastic. Reviews about this material can be found different. The reason for this is the insufficient level of resistance to mechanical damage. However, there are no restrictions in the design. On sale there are all possible options: plain, colored, with a pattern. Also, the advantages include:
- Easy installation.
- Great for rooms with high humidity.
- All contaminants are easily washed.
- Relatively low cost.
For wall decoration, you can choose panels of different sizes. For example, PVC lining is sold in stripes. Their minimum width is 100 mm. Decorated with a pattern imitating the surface of a tree. Such material resembles an apron made of MDF, but it comes out much cheaper.
You can purchase a wall sheet. Its minimum dimensions are 2.6 m - length, 150 mm - width. The panels also look pretty pretty. They remotely resemble skinheads. You can choose different sizes - from 80 cm.
Ceramic tile
Wall kitchen apron is often laid out of ceramic tiles. This material has long been used in rooms with high humidity. It has a high level of strength, is easy to clean, does not ignite when heated, fatty deposits do not eat into the surface. To finish the apron, you can choose any color scheme and size. On sale are options for square and rectangular tiles.
This material has practically no drawbacks. Only the complexity of installation can be attributed to them. The process itself is quite laborious and time consuming. Let's take a closer look at how ceramic tiles are laid.
Preparation for installation
Before making an apron, it is necessary to prepare the wall. Step-by-step description of actions:
- The height of the kitchen apron is determined.
- Removed the old lining.
- If there are differences, they are aligned.
- A shallow notch is applied using a hammer drill.
- The surface of the wall is primed.
How to lay an apron in the kitchen from tiles?
- Tiles are laid only in the direction from bottom to top.
- The surface of the wall is treated with adhesive.
- Better to start from an open angle.
- Glue is applied to the tiles. Furrows are made with a spatula.
- Attached to the wall, aligned in parallel.
- Repeat with another tile.
- At the joints, a special cross is inserted to maintain the same distance.
It is recommended to wipe the adhesive from the surface after laying 8-10 tiles. Facing the entire wall, crosses must be pulled out. After drying, the seams are overwritten.
Design Tips
It is important to choose the right material, as well as the design of the kitchen apron. Professionals recommend paying attention to some details.
- An apron made of stone is supplemented with a countertop made of the same material.
- For connoisseurs of bright accents, trim from three or more colors is suitable. However, for the main background, it is better to use a plain design.
- They have skinned modern and original in the interior of the kitchen. They are ideal for rooms of any size.
- The unique design of the apron is created using mosaics.
- If the kitchen is large, then you can combine vertical and horizontal stripes.
- Do not be afraid to show imagination by combining different materials, for example, a mirror mosaic with plain or colored tiles.