Stretch ceilings are a convenient and practical solution for a modern kitchen. It can compete well with any finishing material for the ceiling. This product is reliable and durable, which is especially important for the kitchen. You can install a suspended ceiling in the kitchen over the entire area, or you can use it to make an insert in a plasterboard structure.
Advantages of a stretch ceiling
The advantages of arranging such a coating include the following parameters:
- Beautiful ceiling design. Depending on the technology and materials used, this type of ceiling covering may have a matte or glossy texture.
- With the right approach to work, the coating forms a perfectly flat surface. For example, stretch ceilings look great in the kitchen-living room.
- PVC ceilings are not afraid of high humidity, temperature changes, and synthetic detergent compounds. Textile surfaces are highly sensitive to such influences, which limits their use in the kitchen area.
- It is with the use of tension fabrics that a unique opportunity arises to equip ceilings with several levels.
- The coating used reliably masks existing defects on the ceiling, which is often used by designers and craftsmen in practice.
- You can install a suspended ceiling in the kitchen with your own hands.
Another quite important criterion is cost. The materials used for repair work are available to consumers at very reasonable prices.
Carrying out repairs with your own hands can significantly reduce the financial investment of apartment owners, but will require proper experience and skill. Photos of suspended ceilings for the kitchen are presented in catalogs from manufacturers, and the choice depends on the owner.
Which color to choose
It all depends on how your kitchen is decorated as a whole: the color of the ceiling often echoes the walls or pieces of furniture. The result is a harmonious and harmonious color picture.
If yours is glossy, has a significant amount of usable space, and uses a multi-level design, it makes sense to highlight one of the levels in rich red. Such a bright shade will always set a positive mood. What else is needed for a healthy appetite?
Dark shades work well in tall and spacious rooms. They bring orderliness and nobility to the interior, so they are ideal for classic, restrained designs or a loft prone to industrial motifs.
Shades can and should be combined with each other so that the color landscape of the room is natural and balanced. Too loud colors (green, light green) are diluted with a snow-white surface or universal light beige and cream elements.
Designer tips
Irina
founder of the interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
When choosing a color, remember that the glossy texture enhances the shade. Matte or satin, on the contrary, muffles. Based on this, you can select an acceptable color intensity and get it, when implemented, exactly as it was intended in your imagination.
Disadvantages of a stretch ceiling
Despite many practical advantages, installing a suspended ceiling in the kitchen is associated with a number of disadvantages:
- Textiles are not always suitable for use in the kitchen area; they are very sensitive to the effects of saturated vapors and greasy deposits. For this reason, suspended ceilings in the kitchen are made from more durable and impact-resistant materials.
- Difficulties in carrying out wet cleaning.
- Installation of tension fabric is a rather labor-intensive process that requires a lot of experience and a creative approach from the master.
- Even the best suspended kitchen ceilings are very sensitive to mechanical damage. For this reason, the care of stretch fabric should be approached with extreme caution.
- Ceiling coverings of this type are not at all used in rooms with a small height, because any material used hides 10-12 cm of free space.
Changing the tension fabric can cause a number of inconveniences for apartment owners, especially when the upper floors are flooded. It is even more difficult to choose the optimal lighting for structures of this type.
Difficulties lie not only in installation issues, but also in issues of optimal design combination.
What should you not be afraid of?
There are still many myths around suspended ceilings and their use in the kitchen. This is all the more surprising since everyone now has access to information, but, nevertheless, we will try once again to debunk them here and now.
It will quickly turn yellow from grease and soot. Polyvinyl chloride fabric is not afraid of either the sun's rays or steam with fat impurities rising from the kitchen stove, so even the snow-white fabric will definitely not lose its freshness. But this does not at all negate the fact that it needs to be looked after. More details about this in a separate paragraph below.
Over time it sags and wrinkles. If the stretch ceiling is poorly stretched, it will sag and wrinkle immediately , and not after some time. We recommend that you contact reliable specialists to avoid such problems.
The fabric tears easily. Yes, it can be torn and damaged if you do not follow basic cleaning rules and use abrasive detergents with aggressive ingredients. But in general, it is quite dense and elastic, so it is not at all a fact that a cork that bounces off while opening a bottle of champagne will be able to break through it as easily as, for example, any sharp object.
If flooded, it must be replaced immediately. The most famous stereotype that can be easily destroyed by watching just one video on the topic. We attach it below.
Vinyl fabric contains impurities hazardous to human health. On the contrary, suspended ceilings are environmentally friendly and meet sanitary standards. It is no coincidence that they have international certificates and are popular in the EU zone, known for its strict quality criteria for finishing products.
May ignite. They cannot and do not ignite because they are completely fireproof and according to this indicator they have a level of KM2 or KM3. This means that they only melt when in direct contact with fire (like most other materials), but cannot ignite from a spark or elevated temperature alone.
Matte ceilings
One of the most versatile and widespread types of ceiling coverings is matte stretch ceilings in the kitchen. It has a perfectly smooth surface and a pleasant texture.
Due to the inability to reflect light, it always requires additional installation of lighting fixtures. Widely used by designers for arranging a classic, Scandinavian style of interior, as an interesting contrast for arranging Baroque or Provence.
Secrets of care
To maintain shine and remove traces of cooking, glossy stretch ceilings need to be wiped from time to time. You can moisten a napkin in a 10% solution of ammonia, and then wipe it dry again.
Any product containing acetone or solvent is strictly unsuitable for care.
Matte and satin surfaces can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, but only with the softest and most gentle brush possible. Otherwise, there is a high risk of scratching the surface. If there are any stains that are difficult to remove with a regular rag, use a school eraser. It will help get rid of the stain and will not leave a trace behind.
To clean fabric ceilings with a pronounced wicker structure, use brushes with very soft bristles - they are most effective. Difficult to remove stains can be removed with a soap solution with a neutral PH - after which you need to walk over the surface with a dry cloth.
Textile ceilings in the interior
Textile bases are not always used for installation in the kitchen due to design features. However, new production technologies have significantly changed the attitude of consumers towards such ceilings. Today, all textile materials are pre-impregnated with polymer compounds.
This approach can significantly improve the quality characteristics of the material used and increase its resistance to moisture and high temperatures. To clean surfaces, use exclusively dry cleaning.
Stretch ceiling levels
In addition to the main material, home owners can choose the levels of ceiling slabs. Today there are two such options: a single-level and a two-level suspended ceiling in the kitchen.
Lighting for stretch fabrics
A special question that concerns many owners of stretch ceilings is how to optimally choose lighting in a kitchen with a stretch ceiling. Due to the characteristics of PVC and textile fabrics, a number of requirements are imposed on lighting devices:
- Lamps heated above 60 degrees are not applicable. Higher temperatures can irreversibly damage the tension covering.
- The lampshade should not have sharp corners, protrusions, rough edges or joints, which can also lead to damage to the material used.
- During the wiring process, there should be no defects or malfunctions that could lead to a fire.
- It is necessary to have reflectors that prevent the scattering of light into the space above the tension covering.
Lamps are selected taking into account these criteria, as well as focusing on the design of the room. Premises with a shortage of square footage require brighter lighting and the presence of a large number of artificial light sources.
In practice, four main types of lamps are used:
- Traditional incandescent lamps.
- Halogen lamps.
- Energy-saving lamps. They are the best option due to the low heating of the surface, but they are more expensive compared to conventional options.
- LED lamps, which also do not heat up, are excellent for installation in suspended ceilings.
Lamps are installed around the perimeter of the room, along the tiers of a two-level ceiling, focusing on the area of the kitchen, the number of levels, the presence and number of natural light sources.
Spots
Super-functional modern lighting fixtures that can be easily directed to a particular area or object. There are suspended, overhead, built-in ceiling or furniture spots, with industrial, ordinary or sophisticated lampshades. For all this they are valued by designers.
Spots are suitable for huge spaces and kitchens in Khrushchev, and the variety of shapes and models gives them a green light in every interior direction. Decorate the metal crossbar with your own hands, as we advised in the case of the chandelier, and bring the spot closer to soft classic styles.
One such lamp will gently highlight a picture, niche or other accent detail of the interior, and several lamps will illuminate a spacious room.
Spots and spot systems are useful when rearranging furniture, because they will provide the right direction of light for cooking or eating. Examples of spots are waiting for you in the photo.
Installation features
Due to differences in the materials used, the coating installation methods also differ. For textile bases, the “cold” method is more typical, in which the fabric is simply stretched along the contour of the room.
A more complex method is used when installing PVC coverings. For this purpose, a so-called gun is used, which heats the plastic. The material stretches, acquiring special plasticity as a result of heating. The covering is carefully pulled over the pre-established contours.
At the same time, there should be no failures during the repair work, otherwise the canvas will not receive a perfectly flat surface. Therefore, if you do not have the necessary skills, it is better to entrust the work to a specialist in installing suspended ceilings.
In this case, preliminary preparation of the ceilings is carried out, and gross defects are eliminated (small defects will be hidden under the coating used).
Materials, prices and manufacturers
Stretch ceilings are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC film) or polyester impregnated with polyurethane.
The first option is the most famous. If your renovation budget is limited, then vinyl is your choice.
Fabric ones are distinguished by texture - weaving (pronounced or barely noticeable).
Fabric textured with shade
There are differences between fabric and vinyl according to the installation method. The PVC film is stretched using a special heat gun onto aluminum profiles pre-installed around the perimeter. Fabric ones do not require such equipment; they are attached to a frame.
Care will also be different: fabric can only be dry cleaned, PVC film can be washed with water or soapy water.
You can clearly see the prices, pros and cons of each material in the comparative table below.
| Materials | Price* per 1 sq.m. | Advantages and disadvantages | |
| + | — | ||
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | From 150 rubles (Chinese production), from 350 (European production). With photo printing – from 2,500 rubles | 1. Large difference in cost. 2. Large selection of designs. 3. They save you from flooding by holding water. | 1. Airtight (not suitable for damp areas). 2. They have restrictions on the use of chandeliers and lamps (read in the last paragraph). 3. Large rooms will have seams. 4.Easy to tear. |
| Fabric (polyester+polyurethane) | From 450 rubles (Descor), from 880 rubles (Clipso). With photo printing – from 2,500 rubles | 1. They breathe and completely eliminate the risk of fungus formation. 2. More durable. 3. Seamless. 4. Compatible with any chandeliers. | 1. They cost more than PVC films. 2. Waterproof only up to 2 days. 3. There is less choice in design. |
*Prices are indicated for the Moscow region. In regions, the cost may vary slightly.
The price is for material excluding installation. The price for the work is about 400 rubles per sq.m.
Among all manufacturers of vinyl ceilings, the French brands have the best reputation: Barrisol (premium), Alkor Draka, EXTENZO.
German production - RENOLIT, Lackfolie, and Belgian - PTCM Polyplast gained trust.
Russian production lags somewhat behind European competitors in terms of technology, but is also gaining momentum. Among Russian companies, one can highlight SAROS DESIGN.
China represents the budget segment, but this does not mean that there are no quality ones among the Chinese. The MSD and Gline brands have good reviews.
The most popular brands among fabric manufacturers are those with patented manufacturing technology:
- Descor (Germany). They are distinguished by a universal design, the surface is smooth with a slightly noticeable weave;
- Clipso (Switzerland with production in France). Unlike its German competitor Descor, the fabrics of this brand have a more pronounced weave texture;
- Cerutti (Italy). This brand focuses on multi-layering, making them durable and airtight.
See also about the pros, cons and environmental safety in the video:
Ceiling design
The latest production technologies make it possible today to give ceiling coverings a special design and style. These can be plot compositions, 3D effects with various variations.
The optimal choice of color scheme depends not only on the preferences of the owner himself, but also on the available free space in the room. For a miniature kitchen, it is better to use a matte white ceiling.
For larger rooms, the choice of models is more varied: from neutral to lush colors. In modern design trends, preference is given to mint and light blue shades, geometric patterns and plot images.
