Kitchen panels: practical and beautiful design of walls and backsplash

Renovation of the kitchen requires special attention from the owners, since the specific use of this room implies high humidity and significant risks of contamination for all surfaces. For this reason, kitchen panels are one of the most popular finishes. They are made from different materials and in order to figure out which option suits you best, you need to familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Kitchen panels: the advantages

Kitchen panels are widely used due to a number of characteristics. First of all, it is resistance to moisture and steam. In addition, such panels are not deformed as a result of exposure to high temperatures. Another positive quality is environmental friendliness. Walls designed in this way are easy to clean and do not absorb odors that you constantly encounter in the kitchen.

A significant role is played by a large selection of materials, as well as colors and textures. A wide range allows you to choose the design absolutely for any interior, and at the same time decorate the space. Moreover, such panels can be dismantled at any time, and their installation or replacement does not take much time and can easily be done independently.

Benefits of using aprons for the kitchen

Consider a few arguments in favor of buying kitchen panels and using them as an apron for the work area:

1. First of all, it is worth noting the cost of such a solution. The prices of wall kitchen panels have a fairly wide range, which makes it possible to choose the right option for any wallet.
2. You can install the panels yourself. Photos of kitchen panels, supplemented with step-by-step instructions, will help you familiarize yourself with the mounting process and do everything right. In addition, you do not need any specific tool for work, and you can easily get by with the set that is available in every home.
3. Panels can be installed using several different methods: using glue or special crates. Behind the panels you can easily hide all the necessary wires. At the same time, the draft base does not need preliminary preparation or alignment.

As can be seen from the proposed arguments, wall kitchen panels are an excellent option both for budget repairs and if you are ready to radically transform the interior. Excellent technical characteristics and ease of installation allow this solution to take a leading position among the rest.

Panel design for the kitchen: PVC, glass and wooden aprons

It is difficult to say unequivocally which kitchen panels look the most advantageous. Much here depends on the area and interior of the room, as well as the personal preferences of the owners. However, experts suggest considering a few recommendations that will help you navigate the huge selection of products and choose the most suitable option:

• the use of bright colored panels is acceptable in cases where the rest of the kitchen furniture has a fairly neutral color scheme, or the area of \u200b\u200bthe room is large enough;
• take into account the features of lighting: for a dark kitchen it is better to use light panels, but for a well-lit space, color options are also suitable;
• pay attention to how the panel you have chosen will be combined with the rest of the furniture: they must be made in the same style or just look harmonious;
• since the kitchen is one of the most polluted rooms in the house, it is worth considering this when choosing finishing materials. For example, on snow-white, as well as on glossy black panels, all splashes will be visible. If you are not ready to deal with washing them after each meal, it is better to choose another option;
  

  Aprons for the kitchen made of plastic can be of various colors

• consider using LED lighting around the panels: such a solution can become not only an additional source of lighting, but also perfectly decorate the interior;
• if necessary, you can think about installing shelves at the locations of the panels. This will give you extra storage space for small items such as spices.

Kitchen panels can serve as an addition to an existing interior, or become its main accent and decoration. The main thing is to choose a color and pattern that will not bother you in a month and will not annoy you over time. If you want to be sure that your choice will please you for a long time, choose the most neutral colors and patterns.

Varieties of wall panels for kitchen: photo and description of materials

Depending on the material from which the panel is made, it may have certain characteristics. Some options are more popular, and the operation of others requires compliance with certain rules. Consider all the existing options, their advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic kitchen panels

PVC wall kitchen panels are made from solid PVC with the addition of a minimum amount of softener. This production technology makes it possible to obtain a material that is most resistant to water, fat and high temperature. Such panels serve for quite a long time, and, subject to careful handling throughout the entire operational period, retain their original appearance.

Among the additional functions that plastic kitchen wall panels can perform are heat and sound insulation, since the porous structure of the inside of the sheet allows you to perfectly absorb sound waves and not release heat from the room.

As for the installation and further maintenance of the panels, this option can rightfully be called one of the simplest and most practical to use. The design of the panels can be almost anything. Including it is worth considering the option of wall kitchen panels with photo printing. You can purchase ready-made products, or you can choose the image yourself and make an individual order.

Among the disadvantages of finishing the kitchen with plastic panels, users note the low resistance of the material to various kinds of mechanical stress. This limits the range of cleaners that can be used to clean the surface and excludes those that have a granular texture.

Helpful advice! Given the characteristics and capabilities of this material, it is often used not only for wall decoration, but also for other purposes. For example, you can consider installing a ceiling made of plastic panels in the kitchen.

Glass kitchen panels

Another extremely popular option is glass kitchen wall panels. They are also called skinali and are most often used to decorate the space above the work surface – a kitchen apron. Such panels appeared not so long ago, but very quickly took one of the leading positions.

In order for the panel to have sufficient strength, heavy-duty tempered glass is used for manufacturing, the thickness of which is more than 4 mm. Thanks to a special processing technology, such panels are resistant to impacts, high temperatures and are not prone to deformation. In addition, any chemicals can be used to clean them. All these characteristics allow you to safely place glass panels in close proximity to the stove and work surface.

Helpful advice! As an original interior solution, you can use not solid panels, but folded from individual pieces of glass – a mosaic. This will create a creative accent in the room and generally diversify the interior.

The main advantage of glass panels over all the others is a perfectly smooth surface, in the pores and microscopic scratches of which dirt and dust cannot accumulate. The only thing you should pay attention to during the installation of the skinali is that the distance between the source of open fire and the panel must be at least 7 cm. This is due to the risk of damaging the pattern on the panel, and in some cases the material itself.

As for the choice of colors, there are no restrictions for glass panels, you can use your own photos or any image you like as an image.

MDF kitchen panels

The use of wall kitchen panels from MDF has become possible quite recently, since such products made of wood chips react negatively to moisture and do not tolerate direct contact with water. However, modern manufacturing technology provides for the presence of a protective layer on the panels, consisting of PVC film. Such lamination makes the surface more resistant to external factors.

Depending on the chosen model, the panel may have a smooth or textured surface, and in some cases imitate various textures. Wood-effect wall panels made of MDF are very popular. This design looks very impressive, and it is much easier to remove stains and splashes from it than from natural wood.

Nevertheless, such panels cannot boast a fairly high level of strength, and it is possible that over time they can crumble and collapse. Although their high heat and sound insulation properties more than cover these shortcomings. Moreover, it is very easy to replace a damaged panel yourself.

Helpful advice! To combine interior details with each other, you can choose a countertop made of the same material and in the same style as the wall panels.

Wood wall panels for kitchen

One of the most expensive options are wood panels. Not everyone can afford to renovate a kitchen with natural wood panels. However, those who wish to equip the space in country or Provence style may consider such a solution. Also, this option is very fond of eco-style adherents.

Of course, the use of wood panels in the kitchen entails a number of difficulties and nuances that must be taken into account:

• wood has excellent absorbent properties, which means that it will be quite difficult to remove dirt from such a surface;
• in order to avoid deformation and fire, the material must be located at some distance from sources of open fire and high temperature;
  

  Exquisite wood panels

• contact with water is also highly undesirable for panels made of wood, therefore it is not worth washing them at all, and it is better to use a damp soft sponge for cleaning.

These difficulties are often the reason why owners refuse to purchase wood panels. However, those for whom the environmental friendliness and safety of the material is a decisive factor quite often resort to using it in the kitchen.

Artificial stone kitchen wall panels

Perhaps the longest service life can boast of panels made of artificial stone. Possessing super strength, such material is resistant to any mechanical stress. In addition, this design looks luxurious, especially if the interior provides for the presence of other elements made of the same material, for example, it can be a kitchen countertop.

No external factors can affect the stone: temperature changes, water or steam – all this will not leave a trace on the surface. Washing and cleaning from grease and dirt also do not present any difficulties for the hostess. And the variety of styles that can be complemented by such panels is almost limitless.

Among the difficulties, perhaps, only painstaking work on fitting and installation can be noted. Due to the fact that the material is rather difficult to cut and requires extremely careful handling during installation, it is not recommended to do it yourself without proper experience. In this case, it is better to entrust this matter to a specialist and be sure of the result.

Another popular, but recently appeared solution is brick-like wall panels. This design will fit perfectly into loft, hi-tech or minimalist interiors. Today, there are two options for creating such panels: using raw material or with a colored surface coating.

How to choose and buy wall kitchen panels: standard sheet sizes

Regardless of the reasons that prompted you to give preference to wall panels, you will have to make a choice in favor of one or another material format. There are two options for sale: sheet and rack panels. Consider what advantages these solutions differ in and what is best for your kitchen.

Sheet panels look very similar to plywood, which has a rectangular shape with a length of about 3 meters. The use of this option is justified when the kitchen area is quite large, and you do not have to fiddle too much with cutting and fitting elements. Although it is worth recognizing that due to the lack of a large number of joints, such panels look very good.

Slatted panels are oblong planks with a length of 2.4 to 3.7 m and a width of about 30 cm. This design method is convenient if you need to lay out a corner, or the design area is not too large.

Another option is tiled panels, which are arranged according to the same principle, but have a square shape. The standard size of such elements is considered to be 98×98 cm. It goes without saying that the color and texture of the panels can be anything you like.

Wall kitchen panels: prices for different types of materials

Looking through the photos of false kitchen panels, the question involuntarily arises about the cost of such a design. And here it is worth noting that the material plays a decisive role, as well as the complexity of its processing and the availability of printing. The more multi-color image will be used, the higher the cost will be.

For example, a solid wall panel for a plastic kitchen with photo printing of a standard image will cost you about 1,500 rubles. Of course, in this case we are talking about products of a domestic manufacturer, since any branded designs from foreign manufacturers significantly increase the cost of panels.

MDF kitchen panels are not much cheaper. The prices of aprons (photos of which can be seen in the manufacturers’ catalogs) demonstrate the opportunity to purchase a worthy item starting from 1000 rubles. At the same time, you can buy wall kitchen panels from MDF both in a completely finished form, and those that are intended for further self-processing.

Glass wall kitchen panels are the most expensive. Glass, better than any other material, can withstand any load, and also provides unlimited design possibilities. However, you will have to pay for a high-quality and beautiful panel. In particular, models with photo printing can cost from 4200 to 7000 rubles per linear meter. Of course, this is a rather high cost, but it is worth noting that the service life of such panels is very long, and they look just amazing.

Significantly increase the cost of the panel can order an individual print pattern on the surface. Many, not wanting to use standard solutions, want to choose an image on their own. This, of course, requires additional costs, but at the same time it allows you to give the interior individuality and originality.

The technology of self-assembly of kitchen panels

The use of kitchen panels instead of tiles has become popular due to a much simpler mounting technology that can be easily implemented on your own.

Helpful advice! If the panels are made of wood, then before gluing they must be treated with an antiseptic composition that will prevent the development of fungus and mold.

If you need to fasten panels in the form of tiles, then the distance between the elements of the crate should be as small as possible. In some cases, for more reliable fixation, transverse jumpers are used. All joints between the work surface, floor or ceiling and the panel are closed with skirting boards. Regardless of the material of manufacture of the panels, the installation is carried out end-to-end, and elements that do not match in size are adjusted to the desired size.

Another important point is to think in advance about the location of sockets and switches. If you order a sheet model of the panel, it is better to initially determine the location of communications, make accurate measurements and ask the contractor to make the appropriate holes. So you can minimize the risks of spoiling expensive material during self-assembly. If you use rack panels, then it is quite possible to do everything without the help of specialists.

It is difficult to underestimate the positive aspects of using kitchen panels. Having all the characteristics that are necessary for the use of this type of wall covering in high humidity conditions, the panels also have an excellent appearance. And even with minimal care, they will last a long time. It is enough to look at the photo of plastic kitchen panels in various interiors to make sure that this option is deservedly popular.