You are creating an interior for a long period, so a set equipped with new products is the best way to extend the life of the furniture. In this article we will recommend fashionable options for decorating this room and show with examples how modern ideas change the space.
Kitchen with high cabinets and wooden dining area
Fashionable photo wallpaper in the kitchen interior
How to choose wallpaper that will transform your kitchen?
What does a modern interior solution mean?
Some people think that the modern idea is something in the high-tech style or, at worst, minimalism. But it's not like that at all. A modern solution can be called a classic design, a rustic design, or the good old avant-garde.
Long gone are the days when designers could capture the consumer’s imagination with something new and unusual. Now there is simply everything and even more!
Yes, from time to time some very unusual forms of furniture or decoration appear, but they turn out to be very amateurish and cost incredible amounts of money. Therefore, you should not look for something that the world has not yet seen; it is better to learn how to decorate in a modern style, relying on long-known materials and finishing options.
For example, combining wallpaper is a modern and unusual move. If you paste it with solid canvases, it’s boring. The same goes for furniture, textiles and other furnishings.
Here, look at this photo of the kitchen design:
This is a kitchen design in the Provence style. Doesn't this look modern? Very much. Although, this style was invented 300 years ago!
Or, take the same loft: for us it’s modern, but in fact, it’s already a hundred years old.
Environmental friendliness
It must be one hundred percent. This is the main thing that all designers pay attention to in two thousand and seventeen. Natural materials are the main thing in modern design. It is recommended to make floors from bamboo and cork.
Paints must be water-based, and old items must be properly restored.
Kitchen layout: fresh ideas
This year, kitchen-living rooms are not as relevant as before. Probably because people fully appreciated the inconvenience of life without walls and doors and decided that they should give preference to convenience.
In 2022, ordinary kitchens will prevail, in which you can close the door and not disturb anyone. But the partitions between the balcony and the kitchen are being removed. If you have exactly the case where the kitchen has access to a balcony, then you can safely demolish the wall and decorate the room as shown in the photo.
This layout has a plus - it becomes lighter and more spacious. But on the other hand, there is a minus - the windows are too high. Therefore, in this case, we can advise you one thing: if you take on such a layout, then be sure to cut the concrete slab of the balcony and lower the window to the usual level. It will be cozier, more beautiful, and more convenient.
If this is not done, then the kitchen will not look organic, but simply converted from a balcony.
Proper use of space
A small kitchen space should perform as many necessary functions as possible.
The furniture store has many interesting solutions, thanks to which the kitchen will have everything you need, while the space will be economical and convenient for working in the kitchen.
These are pull-out drawers of different types and designs, built-in cabinets and sliding doors that will not interfere with cooking in the kitchen.
What kitchen design is trending in 2022?
The priority is simple forms. Curves and wavy cabinets are a thing of the past. Now they don’t look so interesting, but rather just tasteless and old-fashioned.
Also, overly glossy surfaces are not very welcome (especially in combination with wavy cabinets). In general, the emphasis should be placed not on kitchen furniture, but on appliances, wall decoration, and textiles. But the furniture should be as simple as possible, but at the same time made from natural materials.
The Scandinavian style is very popular now, in which natural wood predominates, combined with plain, white walls and a hog-tiled apron. Here, look at the photo below:
Simple, but so tasteful! The design of the kitchen here is made precisely by this simplicity, and, for all its simplicity, such furnishings cannot be called cheap. Standard, bright cabinets look much cheaper.
Cabinets with invisible handles
Last year, cabinets without handles and with sliding doors were popular. In two thousand and seventeen, cabinets with invisible handles will be popular. It will look beautiful and aesthetically pleasing in any kitchen.
Also, there are options with handles that look like simple decoration. The handles are not only beautiful, but not noticeable and they perform all the functions that they should one hundred percent. So - they are in no way inferior to ordinary handles of any cabinets.
Which style do you prefer?
The minimalist style is still relevant and, in general, it is the embodiment of a modern look. High-tech is already losing relevance, and we cannot recommend it. To be honest, this is a very uncomfortable style and is completely inappropriate for the kitchen.
If you like strict forms, then you can pay attention to the loft. It is much more interesting than high-tech and has the potential for something original. If you are not a fan of such an environment, then you can look towards classics or rustic motifs.
Provence and country are relevant at all times and there is no need to be afraid that your kitchen may not look modern.
But remember one thing: in 2022, authenticity is important. That is, if you decide to decorate in the Provence style, then do it efficiently and do not skimp on furniture. There is nothing nastier than the “Near Provence” setting, when ancient elements are replaced with fake ones...
The same can be said about the classics. If you have already taken this direction, stick to it until the end. Otherwise, it looks extremely ridiculous: a kitchen with carvings and at the same time a smooth, chrome-plated faucet and a stainless steel sink. Here you need at least enamel, or better yet, copper.
Area is nothing, layout is everything! How does the kitchen area affect its arrangement?
Its functionality and ease of use depend on how well you plan the placement of all the elements of your kitchen.
And here you can’t do without roulette!
- First, you will need to measure the length and height of walls, window and door openings.
- Secondly, large-sized household appliances that you already have or that you plan to buy (especially important for a kitchen with a gas boiler - the interior will be built depending on its location).
The kitchen layout project is created based on these measurements.
Regardless of the size of the area, there are five main types of kitchen layout:
- corner kitchens
- direct kitchens
- U-shaped kitchens
- island kitchens
- kitchens with parallel layout
Corner and straight layouts are more often used in small kitchens, and U-shaped and island layouts are used in large ones.
Small kitchen design: tricks for expanding space
- Paint a small kitchen in light shades. This is the easiest way to visually expand the space, even if it is only 4 sq.m.
- Remove the interior door. Moreover, today you can easily get rid of all unpleasant odors using a hood.
- Combine adjacent rooms. In this case, it is not necessary to make a living room combined with a kitchen. If your kitchen has a door to the balcony, combine it with the balcony.
- Install a countertop instead of a window sill and you will get an additional functional area.
See more photos of small kitchen design.
Modern kitchen design ideas 6 sq.m - 7.sq.m
A standard kitchen in Khrushchev is 6-7 square meters.
This space is enough to place only the essentials in the kitchen:
- stove
- fridge
- table
- sink
The kitchen has 6-7 sq.m. It is better to abandon the use of sofas in favor of stools.
And in such a kitchen, give preference to short curtains without a lambrequin.
See all design projects for a 6 sq. m kitchen.
Kitchen interior design 8 sq.m - 9 sq.m
In a panel house, the kitchen is slightly larger - 8-9 square meters.
The layout option directly depends on the shape of the kitchen:
- if the kitchen is elongated, rectangular - choose a straight or parallel layout
- if the kitchen is square - corner or U-shaped.
Life hack: for a kitchen of 8 or 9 square meters, do not use long curtains - they will visually hide the space and literally get in the way.
Here is another real example of a 9 square meter kitchen layout:
Kitchen design 10 sq.m.
Kitchens 10 sq. m are typical for new buildings.
Thanks to the larger area than in a Khrushchev or panel house, you can place a miniature sofa, washing machine, additional storage cabinets or a bar counter in the kitchen.
A kitchen with a sofa will become not only a work area for preparing food, but also a great place for friendly gatherings.
Read also: Kitchen design 10 sq m, taking into account all the secrets of the interior.
Kitchen design 12 sq.m - 14 sq.m
By the standards of the post-Soviet space, a kitchen of 12-14 sq.m (and even more so 15 sq.m) is amazingly spacious.
This is guaranteed to be a kitchen with a refrigerator and a dining table, because there will definitely be a place for them.
In a spacious kitchen you can experiment with the design of the ceiling.
For example, hang a chandelier in the kitchen or use two-level stretch ceilings.
The design of the ceilings for the kitchen should be harmoniously combined with the design of the walls. Let's see what options there are for decorating the walls in the kitchen.
Kitchen layout 15 sq. m or more
Even with a large kitchen area, you need to manage the space wisely; here is a good idea for arranging kitchen furniture on 16 square meters.
What color combination is the most fashionable?
Nowadays it is very unfashionable to choose everything exactly in tone. For example, if you have a red kitchen, then it is not at all necessary to buy the same exact lamp and cover the stools with red covers. It is much better if contrasting colors are selected, but at the same time, they should be combined.
Also, do not forget about the 60-30-10 rule, where 10% is the brightest accent (spot), 30 is the secondary tone, and 60 is the main tone. In practice, this distribution is usually as follows: 60% - walls, 30% - kitchen furniture and 10% - decorative elements (paintings, textiles and other “spillies”). You can read more about this here.
And then remember this: if your furniture is bright, for example, an orange kitchen, then the walls must be light and dim. And vice versa. If the kitchen is completely boring, then you can safely add decorations to the walls or, even better, make some eye-catching textiles.
Dining area as a means of zoning
Kitchen-living room design: photo 2016
Kitchen islands and bar counters are not appropriate in every room. The layout and size of some studio spaces simply do not allow for these furnishings. With limited square meters, interior designers draw a conventional boundary between two zones using a regular dining table. By setting up a dining area between the kitchen and living room, you eliminate the need to carry plates far away. Now you can set the table quickly. And after dinner, guests can quickly move to the sofa room, where coffee will be waiting for them.
Ceilings
In 2022, simplicity and naturalness are most popular. Glossy stretch ceilings still look fashionable, but according to designers, more and more people are choosing matte canvases.
Wooden ceilings, made of caissons or timber, are also very relevant. If we talk about color, then it all depends on the height of the ceiling. For example, in a private house with 4-meter ceilings, ceilings in the color of natural wood are perfect. But in an apartment they will “pressure” and look out of place.
If the lining is painted white, then the look will be completely different and such a ceiling will look stylish even with a small wall height.
This may sound unusual, but now it is much more fashionable if the walls and ceiling are simply smoothly plastered and painted, without any decorations or stucco.
Pros and cons of combining a kitchen with a living room
You can get a spacious, functional “2 in 1” room in two ways:
- add a living room to the kitchen;
- move the kitchen into the living room.
Any of these options requires a carefully designed design. The possibility of redevelopment must be previously agreed upon with the relevant services. Without this, independently carried out repairs that contradict the norms and rules cannot be legalized.
Paperwork is one of the disadvantages of the decision to merge the kitchen with the living room. Other disadvantages:
- in some cases, a separate room is more important than a combined room (for example, for a large family);
- smells during cooking are noticeable not only in the kitchen, but also in the living room;
- a hood for such a spacious room requires a powerful one. As a rule, it can be very noisy;
- The kitchen area should always be kept in perfect order. Dirty dishes and stains on the apron will be visible to everyone in the living room area.
The kitchen area is separated by a bar counter.
However, these disadvantages will fade into the background if the advantages of the combined interior turn out to be more significant for you:
- As a result of the redevelopment, one, large and bright room is obtained. Doors and partitions do not take up additional space;
- you can do several things at the same time: for example, cook dinner and look after the children;
- the amount of time the family spends together increases;
- additional opportunities for decoration appear;
- With thoughtful planning, you can save on furnishings. For example, instead of two TVs for different rooms, buy one.
Lighting: spotlights or chandeliers?
Spotlights are going out of fashion. And along with them - multi-tiered ceilings and plasterboard boxes. The priority is simplicity and naturalness. A chandelier will look good in the kitchen, and if one is not enough, you can enhance the lighting with hanging sconces.
Lamps that imitate ordinary electric lamps, but are 10 times larger in size, are very fashionable now. They are hung on long wires and it looks stylish.
Also, stylized lamps are relevant. For example, a chandelier made of forks or a lampshade in the shape of a teapot or cup. Look at the photo:
Isn’t it true that this is much better than the boring spots?
Where to start a kitchen design project: photo examples
Who said that design should only be done by professionals? Don't be afraid to take on this task, it's not that difficult! You just need to consider a few simple rules that will help you avoid mistakes.
What should you do to prepare for designing the interior design of the kitchen-living room:
| Task | Description |
| Take measurements | You don't just need to measure all the walls. Calculate the distance of window openings and their location, the height of the hood, the dimensions of the ventilation and sewage ducts, the location of sockets and switches. If you mark all this on the project in advance, it will be much easier. All results obtained must be reflected on paper. |
| Learn the rules for arranging household appliances and furniture | Each appliance and cabinet has its own place. The refrigerator should not be close to the stove; the microwave cannot be positioned so that splashes from the sink fall on it. And the sink must be installed so that it can be connected to the water supply and sewerage system. There are other requirements that should be examined before designing a layout. Furniture can also be arranged in different ways. Decide whether the kitchen set will stand along one wall or be positioned in an L shape. |
| Select lighting | Cold light will visually expand the space, and warm spectrum lighting will make it cozier. It is best to place built-in lamps above the workspace, and a chandelier above the dining area. Designers recommend not placing more than three types of lighting in the kitchen. When planning the placement of lamps, consider the location of electrical outlets. |
| Decide on building materials | Finishing materials in the kitchen must be resistant to temperature and steam. It is important that surfaces can be cleaned with a brush and soapy water. Floors should not have a textured surface. If you plan to paint the walls, use moisture-resistant latex paints. It is best to decorate the work area with tiles or glass. |
That's the whole small set of rules. It's time to prepare your own sketch. If possible, try using a special computer program to design your own interior. Make several options and settle on the most acceptable one. Use photos of completed projects for inspiration. Look at what kitchens there are:
Photos of corner kitchen designs:
Photos of the interior design of the kitchen studio:
Online kitchen designer
Choosing a fashionable wall color
The color of the walls directly depends on the color of the headset. If you have it white, then the walls can be contrasting. If it’s bright, then white walls are best. Also, pay attention to the photo wallpaper. The drawings can be anything, even with a 3D effect.
The only thing you need to remember: this will be the accent of the entire kitchen.
And, if you are planning an elaborate set, then it is better to refrain from photo wallpaper, as they will shift the angle and attract all the attention to themselves.
Look at the photo below, this is what it looks like in the interior:
Furniture
Furniture with a wooden body remains unchanged. Preference should be given to environmentally friendly materials without formaldehyde. The modernity of the style is emphasized by elements of plastic, glass, and wood. The working surface of the set is made of natural stone. Countertops made of artificial quartz stone are becoming fashionable, allowing you to choose any color. It is strong and durable and can be matte or glossy.
Stylish kitchen interior in olive and chocolate tones with a countertop made of artificial quartz stone
Furniture should be multifunctional, with hidden capabilities, transformable. Headsets up to the ceiling are preferred. A good solution would be modular systems that allow you to place blocks in different sequences convenient for the owner. Fashionable kitchens of 2022 are presented in the photo. You need to choose models with organizers for compact storage of kitchen utensils. Equipping furniture with rotating and sliding mechanisms and hidden handles will help emphasize modernity. Smooth surfaces will create a special impression of freedom.
Classic modern kitchen in rich blue with built-in appliances
Small multifunctional modern kitchen with built-in appliances and island-type work area
Note! To give the room coziness, open shelves, built-in niches, and cabinets with glass doors are used. They should not be installed a lot and overloaded with accessories; most of the kitchen utensils should be hidden.
What are the most modern floors today?
If you have a kitchen in a minimalist style, then self-leveling floors or tiles would be appropriate. And, if we are talking about more homely styles, then wood “rules”.
Moreover, plank floors, for example, made from deck boards, are considered especially chic. They can be painted or simply tinted.
Laminate and linoleum are not the most fashionable coatings. These are, after all, budget options and there is no special type in them.
Stone floors are also popular, but these are very expensive options and not everyone can afford them. If you really like stone, you can choose ceramic tiles that imitate it. This is not such a modern idea, but it looks decent.
Modern design of a small kitchen 6 sq m
In pursuit of every centimeter, we often miss the aesthetic detail of the kitchen interior. But doing this is extremely undesirable! After all, in addition to dimensions, the visual perception of things is also important.
Inspired by Provence
Mini stove for a small kitchen
Apron - which option is more interesting?
There are just so many kitchen aprons right now! Naturally, the most common option is tiles, and for some reason they stopped considering it, trying to replace it with something more interesting.
But, if you compare beautiful tiles and the cheapest stone, it turns out that tiles are better, cheaper and more beautiful.
Or, take glass too. What is so beautiful about it that you pay that kind of money?
But it’s worth paying attention to stainless steel aprons, they are practical and unusual. True, only if your furniture matches this style.
Colored tiles with patterns and designs
Attic design with a gable roof in loft style
Tiles with patterns will allow you to breathe the colors of sunny Rio de Janeiro into your kitchen-living room design. After all, it is in this city that there is the famous Selaron staircase, all the steps of which are covered with colorful multi-colored tiles. In the loft-style apartment design in the photo, patterned tiles are used to decorate the podium for the bedroom and in the decor of the kitchen area.
Countertops - stone, plastic or wood?
If we are talking not only about beauty, but also about convenience, then countertops made of artificial stone (for example, acrylic) are best. Countertops made of natural stone have a lot of advantages, they are beautiful, solid, indestructible, but...
If you carelessly place a cup or plate on such a surface, it will simply burst, since the stone is an excessively hard material. In addition, it is cold, which means that touching such a countertop while cooking is not particularly pleasant.
Wooden countertops are beautiful, but too short-lived. Therefore, it is best to choose an acrylic countertop. Just try not to take everyone’s boring “crumbs” or “marbled” design.
A few words about bar counters: they are losing their relevance. This is especially true for those with chrome. If you install a stand, then it should be some kind of stylized one, for example, on brickwork.
Why do you need an apron in the kitchen?
Of course, we are not talking about those aprons that every girl sewed during labor lessons at school.
But some analogy can still be drawn.
After all, while a regular apron protects you from all kinds of contamination during the cooking process, a kitchen apron protects the space above the kitchen work area from damage. Most often this is the section of wall between the desktop and the wall cabinets.
There are different types of aprons for the kitchen:
- tiled
- glass
- made of wood
- made of stone
- from PVC panels
The most fashionable kitchens are equipped with glass splashbacks with photo printing.
Such an apron will make even a modest economy-class kitchen original.
An interesting idea: the apron above the work area can be backlit - then it will be convenient for you to prepare your favorite dishes at any time of the day. And it doesn’t matter whether the sun or the moon is shining outside the window.
That’s right, the windows also need to be decorated! But how?
Sink and faucet: which design to choose?
If you have a classic kitchen, then choose brass faucets. And, if you have a kitchen in a modern style, then there is little room for imagination - chrome and stainless steel.
The only thing you can choose here is the shape of the mixer. There are just a thousand and one of them now and they are all very fashionable.
By the way, you shouldn’t chase some crazy unusual faucet design, regardless of its practicality. The most important thing here is a proven manufacturer.
Designer tips
- Nowadays, interiors that are not overloaded with details are relevant.
It is better to focus on restraint and practicality. In such an interior it is easier to create a style without making mistakes.
- Avoid additional parts, sections, cabinets of the kitchen set if you do not like to cook. Standard headsets have everything you need, save space and money.
- Carefully measure the height of the refrigerator and other appliances for their future integration into the set.
- The more inconspicuous the handle of the set, the more comfortable it will be for you to cook near it.
- In a studio apartment, a classic kitchen cabinet can be combined with narrow cabinets. On one side of the L-shaped set, reduce the depth of the cabinets, and on the other side increase it.
- The cabinet is a column in addition to the usual wall cabinets. You can build equipment into such a box or use it as a mini storage room.
- Wall cabinets with non-standard height (900-920 mm). This will visually stretch your kitchen and you will be able to wisely use the empty part of the wall.
- On the “figure eight” and “carousel” shelves you will quickly find what you need, and you will be motivated to clean them up more often and not clutter the shelves with unnecessary things.
- Measure in advance what the dining area will be like if all family members sit at the table.
- Think about what drawers will be located in the corner of the headset, for example, deep storage drawers will fit ergonomically.
- When planning your future set, check that all doors open freely.
- Order roller retractable mechanisms; the ease of use will fully repay their cost.
- Choose an unusual design for drying kitchen items and carefully consider the location for its installation.
- The simplest lighting will make your kitchen more interesting. Especially in a kitchen with a corner layout, additional light sources will look impressive, forming a cozy light square.
Household appliances: are there any new items?
We previously showed the coolest of them in the article “Kitchen of the Future”, be sure to take a look.
In the world of household appliances, there are always new items. But this does not mean at all that you urgently need to change what you bought five years ago. There are no significant changes in design and functions yet, therefore, there will be no noticeable difference between the old dishwasher and the new one.
Of course, it is advisable to take a refrigerator that is not just white, but of some interesting color. Nowadays, built-in appliances are no less fashionable than open ones, but with an unusual design.
Photos of corner kitchens
The more you see different ways of organizing kitchen spaces and get acquainted with the visual embodiments of projects, the faster you will learn to distinguish a successful interior from a bad one.
Observation expands your arsenal of ready-made solutions, so below are photos of examples of the design of a modern corner kitchen.
Determine what style and colors you like and feel free to implement the ideas in your kitchen.
Textiles and decor
Bright accents in the kitchen are usually made with the help of textiles: curtains and tablecloths. The dining area is a very important part of the interior and it is the embodiment of comfort. You need to approach its design responsibly and not rush. The furniture, the combination of colors, the texture of the wall next to which the table stands, and the lighting are important here.
New items 2022
Shelving
The idea of shelving with closed shelves is borrowed from Italian design. Country kitchens are created in a similar way using the Muratura technique. In this case, the frame was made of laminated chipboard, and the tabletop was made of artificial stone.
Corner gray kitchen with glossy facades and open shelves
Open shelves
Open shelves replace partially or completely the upper tier. This technique allows you to decorate furniture with interior decor.
Open shelves
In this interior, open shelves connect the pencil case and the upper modules in the corner set. In this way, a single composition is formed.
Modern corner set with a cooking area on the island
Open wooden shelves are used to store utensils, spice jars and decorative items.
Wooden shelves
Hide the kitchen from prying eyes
It’s great when your kitchen is always in perfect order. However, what should you do if the housewife wants to take a break from her worries and does not want to see her workplace?
A simple transformable screen partition will help solve this problem. Modern designers have developed techniques that make it possible to hide kitchen units.
- Niche. Furniture is built into an existing niche. This visually hides the actual dimensions of the cabinets.
- Coupe. Sliding doors help to completely hide the kitchen from a tired housewife or the indiscreet eyes of neighbors who drop in for a moment.
- Kitchen cabinet. Regardless of their size, roller blinds or doors can transform a set and give it the appearance of an ordinary wardrobe that fits harmoniously into the interior of the living room.
How to combine a kitchen set and living room furniture?
A soft transition of cabinets from the cooking area to the living room allows you to achieve unity of style. This technique is very good for small rooms, where you need to visually combine all the functional parts into one whole.
Quite often, “dissolving” headsets helps. This is achieved by making the cabinets blend in with the color of the walls. Or there are so many cabinets and cupboards installed along the walls that one more remains invisible.
How to prevent guests from taking off their shoes in the kitchen?
In Western tradition, it is considered normal for a person to walk into the bedroom wearing boots. But for the post-Soviet space, such a model is not always acceptable. Especially when the floor is covered with beautiful expensive carpets. And housewives don’t always want to start cleaning after each guest.
A small partition or something like a bar counter helps to solve this issue, which directs incoming people to the right place. The main thing is to give them enough space to undress. Otherwise, your boots may end up next to the sofa on your favorite carpet.
Methods for zoning a room. Decoration of walls, floors, ceilings
The main feature of finishing a combined interior is the correct separation of the kitchen area and the living room area. To do this, use proper lighting, wall tiles or flooring. In the last two cases, the material can be the same, but each part of the room has its own color. It is also appropriate to use different textures. For example, in the kitchen area the floor is laid with practical tiles, in the living room it is finished with laminate or carpet.
Advice. A modern solution for the kitchen-living room is a two-level floor. In one of the zones it is raised several centimeters. The design resembles a podium.
Walls are also demarcated using different textures. At the same time, for the part where the working surfaces are located, easy-to-clean materials are chosen: tiles, ceramics, etc. Finishing one of the kitchen walls with brick or stone remains relevant. Similar masonry can be repeated in the living room, but then additionally painted. A neutral option for a room decorated in any style is white. You can wallpaper a room: the kitchen area - washable, the guest area - textured, without a pattern.
Advice. A wall in the living room, decorated with a textured white panel, looks relevant, fashionable and original. This interior element makes the room even more spacious.
The ceiling in a combined room has many variations. Suspended and tensioned structures are in fashion. Washable wallpaper and foam boards are suitable for the kitchen; plasterboard ceilings are appropriate in the living room. Their continuation in the workspace area can be a tension structure. It is still in fashion, as are suspended ceilings. The last option is universal for both parts of the combined room: a two-level system will perfectly separate them.
Zoning can be done using different floor and wall finishes
