Requirements for purchased furniture
New furniture, purchased in a store, or made to order, or made by hand, must fully comply with the following requirements:
- Strength. The countertop and support posts of a kitchen table must withstand significant loads.
- Resistant to moisture and detergents. A table surface that becomes warped from several wet cleanings is completely unsuitable for use in the kitchen. It should be remembered that the kitchen area is a place of constant presence of scale, greasy deposits and dirt, and therefore abrasive and chemically aggressive compounds are often used to clean the surface.
- A convenient shape that will optimally combine with the overall style of the interior and fit into the furniture line. An important rule for kitchen appliances and furniture is a combination of compactness and maximum practicality.
- Great importance is attached to safety. When purchasing finished products, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the manufacturing company and the quality composition of all parts. When working independently or placing an order, you should clarify all the nuances of special surface treatment. Absolutely any wooden surface must be treated with an antiseptic, antipyretic, moisture-resistant and antifungal composition.
- Metal structures are coated with anti-corrosion solutions. This approach to work can significantly extend the service life of the table, as well as protect residents from the development of fungal infections.
- The kitchen is a place for storing various products, dishes, and other small accessories (towels, sponges, detergents). Organizing storage areas is one of the leading tasks in kitchen interior design.
- It is important to ensure that the selected table model is equipped not only with retractable systems, but also with an additional folding panel (folding table for the kitchen).
- It is necessary to take into account the number of family members so that there is enough table space for all residents of the apartment or private house. For large families, it is better to give preference to sliding tables for the kitchen, which, if necessary, can significantly increase in size.
A fairly extensive list of parameters is presented to the kitchen table from the designers. When choosing a particular model, the color scheme, the materials used, the texture of the countertop, and, of course, the shape are important.
Before making a purchase or placing an order, you should carefully consider the features of the future interior of the kitchen area, the purpose of the selected furniture, and its location.
Criterion No. 1. Chair type
The choice of a specific type of chair depends on the dimensions and features of the table, and the preferences of the owners. In general, there are:
- classic medium height with backs;
- bar stools with and without backs are higher than classic ones;
- stools;
- low furniture;
- benches.
What to choose
. If you use a bar counter or kitchen island as a table, then it is logical and most convenient to purchase bar stools. Traditional interiors with standard-height tables can be complemented with classic models or stools. If the interior is in Japanese style and the table is lower, then low chairs are the best option.
Advice!
If you have a large family, then a bench is an excellent solution. It will also be appropriate in such directions as Scandinavian, oriental, and boho style.
Buy or make it yourself
An important question that most apartment owners face when choosing new furniture: buy a table for the kitchen or build it yourself. Purchased models have an undoubted advantage due to many factors:
- Large collection and range of products released to the market.
- Wide price range available to every buyer.
- The existence of special programs for virtual selection of furniture in accordance with the real interior. For example, choosing a table in Leroy Merlin is quite easy thanks to the presence of such a virtual application.
However, not all manufacturers have an honest approach to the manufacture of products. It is for this reason that there is always a large percentage of apartment owners who create kitchen tables on their own, especially if they have adequate knowledge of construction tools.
In addition, the advantages of independent work include the ability to adjust the size, shape, choose the material and decorating compositions yourself. Step-by-step instructions from experienced craftsmen also help in the work.
Criterion No. 2. Design nuances
Includes ergonomic seat, backrest, legs and armrests. In some cases - their absence or presence. Here recommendations and nuances may be as follows.
Seat:
- Hardness/softness.
Soft models are quite comfortable, but during operation they can be pressed due to significant loads. Hard ones will last longer. - Adjustment.
In some furniture options, the seat is adjustable. This can be convenient for families with children, as well as for bar counters: in a high position they are suitable for spending time in the kitchen, otherwise - as additional furniture for the table in the living room (in case of visiting guests).
Back:
- Presence/absence.
Models with backrests allow you to lean back and get comfortable. The same cannot be said about stools. However, the latter can be placed against the wall to provide additional support for the person sitting. - Adjustment.
Often in kitchen chairs the position of the backrest can be adjusted, which is especially convenient for children. And this way you can create the most comfortable place for each person sitting.
Armrests:
- Yes / no.
Not mandatory, but a very pleasant element for leisurely enjoying a meal and conversations. - Comfort.
When purchasing a chair with armrests, pay attention to the width of the seat. The fact is that the small width in combination with the armrests will be inconvenient for people of heavy build - this fact must be taken into account.
Important!
Maximum equipment of a kitchen chair with all the “tricks” - adjustable seat and back, armrests, pleasant upholstery fabric - is important for studio apartments and small homes in general, where the kitchen is the main place for gatherings at the table. When it is not possible to sit, say, in the living room at a large table and soft armchairs, the most comfortable kitchen chairs will create a favorable atmosphere for long gatherings, celebrating various events, and so on.
Choice of colors
Thanks to the ideas of designers and the resourcefulness of manufacturers, the modern buyer has the opportunity to choose the appropriate model from a wide range of kitchen tables. It has long been known that the optimally selected color of a structure can turn a nondescript, dull room into a real “paradise”.
In addition, the design community knows the visual effect that can be achieved successfully using color compositions:
- White dining table for the kitchen. A matte or glossy surface can significantly expand the boundaries of the room, giving the appearance of a spacious room.
- The black model for the dining area is used exclusively in abstract design directions, most often to create contrast with the color background. Such a table for the kitchen can be found at a reasonable price in Leroy Merlin.
- Varnished monochromatic coatings, which can be found among the product range of large retail enterprises. For example, kitchen tables can be found in Leroy or IKEA.
An interesting color can be seen on the surface of stone countertops, which contain marble chips (as well as granite, mica and many other natural impurities).
A greater variety of colors and shades can be found in the furniture catalog from manufacturers and suppliers of finished products. Here, customers are offered a set of auxiliary accessories: oilcloth for the kitchen table, compositions for washing and cleaning.
Interdependence of the overall concept and meal kit
People are faced with the problem of how to choose the right table and chairs for a functional room in different occasions. This is not always the result of an abundance of offers from furniture factories and creative studios.
Often, even in an extensive assortment, it is impossible to find the required dimensions in an environmentally friendly or preferred material or favorite color for some stylistic reasons. Methods for solving the problem facing the designer depend on the overall concept and area of the room.
Wooden countertops in the kitchen
The most common designs are tables made of wood. In the production of large companies, they use wood only from species that are safe for humans (fir, ash) and do not contain harmful resins.
Thanks to special impregnation and decorative coatings (for example, transparent acrylic varnish), the surface of the furniture acquires a stylish glossy shine, becoming a decoration for any kitchen and dining room.
Sliding dining tables for the kitchen are most often made from this material. The wood is great for making additional panels. Transformer-type designs can be made even at home, with minimal skills in using a plane and a jigsaw.
Styles
Wooden chairs are used in a variety of styles. Let's consider the main directions of design.
- Country. All chairs support the principle that the simpler or more natural, the better. The seats are square in shape; branches, snags, and stumps can be used as decoration. Designers strive to get closer to nature.
- Rococo/Baroque. The chairs have curved legs, asymmetrical backrests, and hanging armrests. Such furniture is always upholstered. They can be decorated with carvings and gilding. The chairs are more like armchairs.
- Provence. Another rustic style, but with palace manners. The legs are made only curved, the backs are oval with a soft insert. The seats are often in the form of a low square chair.
- Modern. The base material is wood. There are no specific rules. All models are distinguished by the presence of designer decor. Floral and plant patterns, as well as elven-style decorations, are often found.
Tempered glass in the interior
If you have a kitchen combined with a balcony or a dining area located on the loggia, you can safely purchase a miniature round table made of tempered glass. This type of furniture is perfect for small family breakfasts on an open balcony or on a glazed loggia with wide windows and a beautiful panorama.
In addition, a huge variety of models is offered to buyers: with smooth glossy glass, with decorative coating, with a corrugated image on the surface.
Criterion No. 5. Dimensions
The illusory simplicity of choosing a chair for the kitchen concerns the size: many people think that there are no rules here. However, in reality this is not the case.
The fact is that there are no clear standards for the dimensions of this furniture. The standard dimensions of a classic chair will be 80-90 cm in back height, 43-45 cm in seat height and 40-45 cm in depth. But keep in mind the fact that even a few centimeters can be decisive. In addition to the height of the backrest and seat, there is the height of the footrest and armrests, the depth of the seat, and the width of the legs/seat/backrest.
To correctly determine them, “try on” a chair: sit in it, check whether your feet are on the floor and whether your knees are bent 90 degrees, whether it is comfortable to hold your hands on the armrests, whether your shoulder blades feel comfortable, whether the seat is wide enough. Only testing the model you like will allow you to choose the most comfortable solution.
Artificial stone furniture
In stores you can find countertops made of artificial stone, which are sufficiently durable and have an original decor. In production, they are made using a mixture of a special hardener and stone chips, which gives the surface a bright iridescent shade. This can be a dining table, a work table, or a bar table for the kitchen.
Frame
The basis of the chair is the frame. It can be performed using various methods. The simplest option is a wooden frame made of dies. They are connected to each other in a groove. This is a durable design. In some cases, another crossbar may be added.
The joints must be glued. This provides protection from drying out and loosening. Sometimes, instead of grooves, a connection with tenons is used.
It is possible to find wooden chairs with a metal frame. This provides additional strength and durability to the product. Caracas can be made entirely of metal or combined with wood. In the latter case, only the corners are made of metal, which make the connection more durable.
All metal elements must be regularly treated against corrosion.
Models made of natural stone
Tables made of natural stone remain a real work of art, the result of joint efforts of designers and manufacturers. Onyx, granite, marble, slate, and mica are used to make kitchen tables.
Rocky rocks give the surface of the product sufficient strength, incredibly beautiful decor and a pleasant glossy shine.
As a rule, such tables are not equipped with additional storage space, retractable systems, are high in cost, and require strict compliance with the chosen design direction.
