When calculating repairs and subsequent arrangement, the owner faces questions about what is preferable: budget kitchens or expensive ones. You can save money on ready-made kitchen sets only during promotional periods, and ordering a set from a trusted company with the right approach will give you the opportunity to purchase inexpensive and high-quality furniture.
Kitchen design in a private house, budget option
The price of a kitchen directly depends on the cost of raw materials - sheet materials and fasteners
Expensive options are made from high quality laminated chipboard, with a thickness of 18 mm. The solidity of the body is ensured by dowels or eccentrics made of wood; the material prevents the appearance of chips on the cabinets.
Cheap versions are made from 16 mm thick laminated chipboard. When assembling the cabinet, Euroscrews are used, which reduces the attractiveness of the kitchen due to the presence of plastic plugs.
When buying furniture, you need to pay attention to the plastic edge: in expensive options its thickness is 2 mm, in cheap ones it is 0.4 mm. During operation, this will affect the wear rate.
Economy class kitchen option photo
Flaws
The design and design of a corner kitchen also has its disadvantages:
- takes up more space, unlike a linear design;
- not suitable for square, spacious and elongated narrow rooms;
- difficult to place in a kitchen of a non-standard shape, with additional structures in the walls and not at a right angle. You will have to make an individual order, which is why an inexpensive corner kitchen will be expensive;
- the lower corner cabinet has to be equipped with special expensive fittings.
What facades can be like?
Economy class includes smooth and solid options without milling. Cheap variations do not have frame, radius or panel doors. Budget versions are models created on the basis of laminated chipboard. But kitchens made from MDF are superior in strength and service life.
Before purchasing, you can ask a consultant to calculate the cost of a set of chipboard and MDF; in most cases, the difference will be minimal.
Designers recommend combining expensive and budget materials:
- lower cabinets - made of MDF in PVC film or chipboard in plastic;
- the upper ones are made of MDF coated with high gloss enamel.
The final version of the furniture will look more respectable and expensive. If you want to buy an inexpensive kitchen with gloss, you can pay attention to facades with PVC film. There will be no mirror shine, but you will be able to save about 25-40% (compared to plastic) or 40-60% (from painted ones).
If you have a limited budget and dream of solid wood furniture, you can pay attention to MDF facades, which are lined with natural wood veneer. They look no different from real wood, but will cost much less.
In low-cost projects, glass facades are rarely used or are used minimally. Transparent glass will cost less than painted or frosted glass, but it is better to stick with translucent versions. Otherwise, the contents of the cabinets will create a feeling of disorder.
Furniture made in the Art Nouveau style costs less than classics. In the first case, smooth and laconic facades are used, in the second - intricate milling, complex finishing, grilles and stained glass inserts. You can pay attention to Provence - rustic style.
Materials for decorating an apron
If a budget renovation is being done, the cost of the splashback can be one of the highest. But you can also use cheap materials that will provide good results at low cost:
- Ceramics. You can find inexpensive tiles, for example, substandard ones - for the work area, ideal geometry is not as important as for walls or floors.
- MDF panels. Special elements can imitate any material, while they are easy to install and inexpensive.
- Glass. If you can’t afford the skins, you can use ordinary glass, on the back of which any image on the film is glued.
- Plastic panels. There are special options for a kitchen apron, and this is the most economical solution that will cost less than others.
- Laminate. You can use leftovers or buy 2 sq. m and just stick them on the wall.
- Paint for chalkboards. If you level the surface and apply this paint, you will get a very stylish and modern apron.
Advice!
Don't be afraid of unusual ideas. For example, wine corks, fragments of dishes or mosaic tiles, river or sea pebbles, etc.
Kitchen accessories
Most of the money when ordering will go on the filling. To save money without sacrificing convenience, you need to adhere to the following principles:
- When planning, you need to decide which lockers will be used most often. The most reliable and high-quality fittings are installed on them; the rest can be made cheaper.
- Lower cabinets are made more expensive - they will be roomy and comfortable. Expensive guides are used on heavy, deep and popular drawers. They place pots, pans, and groceries. The rest are equipped with reliable but inexpensive roller samples.
- The same approach is used for lifts of folding horizontal facades. The best fittings are installed on frequently used cabinets, and gas lifts or similar inexpensive components are installed on the rest.
Particular attention is paid to the handles. From Italian and German manufacturers they will cost more, but the problem is solved by purchasing Polish or Russian options.
They must have a galvanic coating. Chinese pens quickly lose their appearance, become dull, and scratches appear on them.
Economy kitchen in the photo
Which countertop to choose
Popular options for economy-class and mid-price furniture include chipboard countertops with plastic lamination. The final cost depends on the quality of the finish and the thickness of the base. Inexpensive ones are made of chipboard with a thickness of 26 mm. If you buy a moisture-resistant countertop with a volume of 38 mm from the same material, you will have to spend twice as much.
The modules that make up ready-made budget furniture often do not have a common tabletop. This is not the most practical option - the remaining small cracks will become a “receiver” of dirt and water, and the set will quickly become unusable.
You will have to take care of the prefabricated kit more often - liquid and dust getting into the gaps can become a source of mold.
Beveled table top
Plastic in decor
A plastic apron is even cheaper than a ceramic one, and it is much easier to install. When choosing such a material, you need to consider the following factors:
- Ideally, it should be made of PVC, which is used to make plastic tableware;
- It is better to give preference to a solid plastic apron. An apron assembled from pieces will almost certainly collect dirt at the joints of the parts;
- The apron should not extend into the area near the stove. Plastic can melt at high temperatures;
- When cleaning, do not use hard sponges or cleaning powders, they will leave scratches on the plastic.
How to reduce the cost of filling
Most budget furniture is made from laminated chipboard - this is cheaper than producing modules from solid wood or MDF. But laminated chipboard also comes in different prices, and a kitchen whose body is made from Russian plain white chipboard will be inexpensive. This is exactly the option that most companies offer for modular series, from which furniture is assembled to fit the size of the room. This approach is more profitable than making a set to order.
If you want to save money on a custom kitchen, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:
- When drawing up a design project, they carefully measure the kitchen; the set is assembled from standard kitchen modules. The size range can be found in the store or through its official page.
- If not all parts could be assembled from the proposed series, then the remaining non-standard cases can be ordered according to an individual project. The basic rule is that they must completely match the color and size of the rest of the cabinets.
- The modules are equipped with the necessary contents: retractable systems, bottle holders and drying. Some series do not have drawers, then it is better to go with a simple option with a shelf and order additional drawers. Metaboxes are cheaper to buy and install yourself. The same principle is used for retractable storage systems: a housing of a suitable volume is purchased, and the filling is purchased separately.
The fronts and countertops are ordered from the same company that will manufacture custom cabinets. Otherwise, you can contact a company that produces custom-made countertops and facades and install everything yourself.
Modular set
Fashionable colors
Not everything that is popular necessarily needs to be integrated into your kitchen. However, there are current shades that almost always fit well into any design style.
For example, white color. It is actively used in minimalism, eco, scandi and discreet modern style, where it often does not dominate, but only contrasts with a stronger dark color.
The design of a white kitchen in a home can be built on gradually filling the space with bright spots in the form of spectacular colored rugs, dark or gray furniture, and contrasting curtains. In other words, white is the base, the background, and we add everything else in accordance with our vision of the optimal kitchen for ourselves.
Gray color is more calm and restrained. It allows you to create a muted color scenario, but no less effective and stylish. It is no coincidence that in one way or another it finds a place for itself in all modern fashion styles.
You will find a stylish selection of gray kitchens here.
Anthracite is also popular. This is an attribute of high-tech or loft, but use it wisely so as not to cause an unpleasant depressing effect.
Mint or heavenly (azure, blue) refreshes the space and charges it with light and energy. It goes well with a Mediterranean interior; it can also often be seen in Scandinavian minimalism.
beige always remains in demand . By itself, it is quite boring, so it requires a thoughtful selection of companions. To do this, it is best to use a color wheel and sequentially try all the shades of one segment first, and then move on to others if you don’t like anything.
You may be interested in: 143 fashionable beige kitchen interiors
How to save money on built-in appliances
Salons often offer the production of turnkey sets, with the initial calculation for built-in household appliances. The cost of furniture will be 40% higher due to the features of the kit and the price of assembly. You can purchase the devices separately, but the selling company may significantly increase the cost of the kit if it is refused.
Many owners refuse to buy a hood to save money. This approach is relevant for frequent ventilation and infrequent cooking. It allows you to save not only on equipment, but also on a cabinet specially designed for it. Do not forget that the absence of an exhaust system will eventually lead to plaque on the furniture and damage to the cabinet due to exposure to hot steam.
Special household appliances with minimal dimensions will not save your budget. If the area of the room allows (a balcony, staircase or living room does not interfere), it is better to focus on standard equipment sizes. As with furniture, the price for a custom solution is always higher.
If the housewife cooks little and often ventilates the kitchen, you can do without a hood. This way you can save not only on the purchase of the device, but also on a special cabinet for it. However, you should keep in mind: over time, plaque will still appear on the furniture, and the body and facades of wall cabinets may be damaged by exposure to hot steam.
Household appliances of reduced dimensions save space, but not the budget. If the kitchen area allows, it is better to buy standard-sized appliances. As with cabinets, the price for custom models is higher.
Version with hood
Choosing a kitchen style
There are many options here, so it will not be difficult to choose a kitchen design on a budget and with taste for any room. You should proceed not only from current trends, but also from your own preferences. Create a comfortable environment for yourself in which you will be pleasant and comfortable to be.
Most often they choose from the following directions:
- Classics never go out of fashion and are used by those who are conservative in their preferences and choose a restrained and at the same time cozy style. The decor can be enlivened by an original chandelier; the design colors are selected from natural ones; most often the furniture imitates the structure of wood or stone.
- Scandinavian style is ideal for kitchens with an area of 10 meters or less. White is most often chosen as the main color, which fills the space with light. Wood texture and textile additions are widely used. Simplicity and functionality are the main factors that should be adhered to when choosing specific solutions.
- American style is a combination of classics and minimalism. Paneled kitchen facades, retro-style plumbing fixtures, light and pastel colors in the design. If possible, the space is divided into several zones; brick-like tiles are most suitable for finishing the apron.
- Art Deco. A direction that creates a mood of luxury even when using inexpensive materials. He is characterized by a certain pretentiousness and ostentatious respectability. Contrasting color combinations are used, for example black and white, and furniture with catchy, sparkling facades is selected.
- Provence - an unusually cozy kitchen can be decorated in this style. The texture of natural wood is widely used; light and pastel colors are suitable. Natural textiles, porcelain, artificially aged decor and furniture that looks worn by time - all this creates a unique mood of the French province.
- High-tech is a futuristic modern trend, the leitmotif of which is convenience and functionality. No decor, only the necessary elements. Steel facades, modern materials, spectacular lighting are the characteristic features of the style.
- Loft is a popular trend that combines the comfort of a small kitchen and industrial elements. Brick or even concrete, which is simply coated with a protective compound, is suitable for finishing. You can also use various metal elements and wood.
By the way!
If you think through the concept in advance and stick to it, then even at low cost you can decorate your kitchen in style.
Budget interior design options for kitchens
Designers claim that standard kits are always cheaper. For changes in ready-made solutions, you will have to pay extra - before ordering, you need to compare the cost and decide on the choice of furniture.
If the company does not make a markup, then the dubious cheapness indicates problems with the quality of work, deadlines and warranty obligations.
The owner will have to choose the design of an “economy” kitchen on his own - the services of a design agency can cost more than the kitchen set itself. On the Internet there are many ready-made solutions (bright, gray, green, angular and rectangular) for every taste, with the help of which you can put together the ideal solution even with a minimum budget.
Planning methods
Before ordering a kitchen set, you need to draw up a plan for the arrangement of the elements of the triangle: refrigerator-sink-stove and each drawer, both floor-mounted and wall-mounted. It must be remembered that the refrigerator cannot stand in the center. Only on the edge or in the corner. Such requirements can be met by placing kitchen furniture objects:
- in a linear way;
- two-row;
- corner or L-shaped;
- insular (peninsular);
- U-shaped.
Linear arrangement
Triangle objects are placed in a line in two cases:
- the room is rectangular, very elongated;
- There are at least two standard or one large windows on one of the walls. In this case, a working area is placed near a blank wall, and a dining area is located near the windows.
Linear layout.
The linear arrangement of kitchen furniture is laconic and compact, does not clutter up the kitchen area, which can be divided into several zones: dining, relaxation, breakfast.
With this layout, the optimal place for the sink is in the middle, at a distance of 40-60 cm from the refrigerator (separated by the cabinet) and 60-76 cm from the hob (separated by the countertop). If necessary, utility lines are moved. The costs are small, but it's worth it. Additional cabinets can be installed on the side of the stove and refrigerator, or can also be hung.
In this option for placing drawers and objects of the “working triangle”, fittings play an important role - they complement design solutions, create comfort and coziness, and a countertop made of natural or artificial stone.
Double row placement
With a two-row arrangement of furniture, the set is placed along two walls. In this case, there must be two corners of the working triangle in one row, and one in the other. Based on ergonomic requirements, the sink and stove must be neighbors. Other combinations are allowed, but they are irrational from the point of view of the cook’s physical costs, as well as safety: the risk of getting burned when draining boiling water from spaghetti or moving a baking sheet with boiling fat from the stove to the sink increases.
The distance between the rows is 1.3-2.5 m. This means that nothing additional can be installed between them. The option is rare, because not suitable for combination with a dining room. It is mainly used if a passage from the end wall into an apartment or house is needed, or the designer uses it as an original idea to express the concept embedded in the interior. As an example, in the middle of one of the rows the tabletop is used as a dining table.
And now some practical tips:
- It is better to hang hanging cabinets on one wall - asymmetry appears. In this case, the room looks more aesthetically pleasing. If there are not enough of them to store food and dishes, it is better to make shelves on the opposite wall;
- The row with the sink and stove should be functional - less unnecessary movements. The opposite line of furniture is for storing food and dishes;
- The depth of the lockers in each row should be different. Asymmetry appears, the tunnel effect disappears;
- There should be beautiful curtains on the window - they are the center of attention. If the wall is blank, you need bright decor;
- It is better to remove or rehang the door so that it opens into the corridor.
A classic two-row layout, where all design recommendations are taken into account: the drawers have different depths, they hang only on one side, but the rules of ergonomics are ignored - the sink should be in the same row as the stove.
Corner layout
The L-shaped arrangement of the kitchen set is a classic of modern kitchens in cottages, private houses and large apartments, as well as in small Khrushchev-era kitchens. Corner installation allows you to create comfortable, but also practical conditions for being in this part of the home: it’s beautiful, “hot spots” are at hand, it’s easy to delimit the space into several zones.
Corner layout with a dedicated dining area: everything is at hand, a large cutting tabletop, classic delimitation of zones - different floor coverings.
But here you need to remember that an abundance of decor is not suitable for such a layout - it should be kept to a minimum so as not to clutter up the space. Corner sofas with a dining table, a large sink in the corner (precisely large so as not to constantly reach the hanging elements of the set with your head), and many hanging cabinets fit well into the decor.
Island
The island layout is a high-end kitchen design. It consists of a countertop, cabinets and even equipment (sink or stove) placed in the center of the room. For this layout you need:
- plenty of space - at least 15 m2, optimally - 20-25 m2;
- good lighting;
- free passages on all sides;
- When installing the hob, connect the hood.
The “island” fits well with the arrangement of the rest of the kitchen furniture in the shape of the letter “P” or “L”. The color scheme should either dissolve in the surrounding space or be a bright spot.
An island with an L-shaped layout where the island blends into its surroundings.
U-shaped layout
The latest fashion in the arrangement of kitchen furniture is the U-shaped layout, which is gaining popularity at a rapid pace. By using three walls, the owners receive convenience (plenty of places to store anything and everything) and beauty. At the same time, the compact arrangement allows you to free up a lot of space for other areas: lunch, breakfast and relaxation.
In this case, two rules must be strictly observed:
- do not space the corners of the working triangle far apart from each other;
- do not highlight other zones within the workspace, which is formed by a U-shaped layout.
U-shaped layout with successful solutions: the corners of the triangle are correctly located (the sink is near the window, the refrigerator destroys the symmetry due to its greater depth), a solid countertop made of natural stone, on one of the walls the cabinets are not hung to the end of the row.
Finally, a few tips from the professionals.
- Provide a functional purpose for each wall. One carries out the task of storing food; there is a refrigerator, hanging cabinets, and pull-out systems. The second is an area for washing fruits and vegetables and dishes if there is no dishwasher. The third is for the hob, microwave and oven. But you shouldn’t forget about ergonomics: the dryer is above the dishwasher, the oven is at chest level, and pots and pans are stored under the stove.
- The set will look light if you abandon wall cabinets on one or two walls. You can compensate for the lack of storage space with tall cabinets and pencil cases.
- The refrigerator and cabinet in the form of a column are placed at the ends of the legs of the letter “P”, along the edges of the set.
- If there is a window, then this is an ideal place for washing.
- Asymmetry can be achieved in two ways:
- reduce the depth of the cabinets;
- shorten one of the legs of the letter “P”.
