Design Features
Typically, a cupboard is usually placed in the living room or dining room, that is, where guests are received. This is very practical, because all the items necessary for serving will be at hand. Such a piece of furniture can consist not only of transparent glass shelves; many models have a blind section at the bottom for storing things not intended for viewing.
Furniture for dishes can be equipped with lighting in the form of light bulbs or LED strips for a more effective display of the contents. The back walls are often mirrored.
In addition to beautiful porcelain and crystal utensils, you can place other items in the china cabinet, for example:
- books and collectibles;
- vases;
- figurines, souvenirs from trips;
- elite alcohol;
- sports awards, certificates;
- photos;
- antique weapons.
There is a wide variety of cupboards available. They are classified according to materials of manufacture, colors, sizes, styles and models. In addition, they can be practical or have a purely decorative function. It all depends on the preferences of the owners.
Standard and non-standard sizes of kitchen cabinets for dishes
Wall cabinets for storing dishes have the following standard parameters:
- depth – 30 cm;
- width – 30-120 cm;
- the height depends on the kitchen ceiling, the height of the hostess and can be 36, 72 or 92 cm.
In order to organize the kitchen space as efficiently as possible, a wall cabinet for storing dishes is equipped with shelves that divide it into specific storage areas. It should be noted that the parameters of the product also depend on its function and the overall dimensions of the kitchen modules. Most often, drawers and shelves are made individually for specific cabinet models.
You can purchase ready-made sets of kitchen furniture, or have cabinets made to order according to individual sizes.
Helpful advice! The height of the top cabinet will be ideal if the first shelf is at eye level of the hostess. This is where essential items should be stored. In a china cabinet these are usually plates. Also, the level of the cabinet must be calculated based on the height of the product itself and the total number of shelves.
When choosing furniture, special attention should be paid to the depth of both the floor and wall modules. A cabinet with a standard depth of 30 cm allows you to place plates of regular sizes. If this parameter is violated, then the operation of the cabinet will be inconvenient, since it is impossible to place an ordinary portion plate in it. As for the lower cabinets, where the standard countertop has a depth of 60-90 cm, their dimensions will be several centimeters smaller. The dimensions of the drawers depend on the size of the cabinets themselves, although their depth can be adjusted individually.
At what height from the work surface should you hang kitchen cabinets?
The standard height for placing an upper cabinet above the countertop is 50-56 cm, although this is not the main condition. First of all, the level of fastening of hanging cabinets is regulated not by mandatory standards, but by individual characteristics. In particular, the average height of family members is taken into account, and most importantly, the height of the housewife herself. An equally important parameter is the dimensions of floor-mounted kitchen cabinets and cabinets. The rule here is: the deeper the lower module, the shorter the distance should be from the countertop to the upper cabinet, since the housewife will need to reach for the doors.
The height of kitchen cabinets above the countertop, equal to 50 cm, was determined based on the average dimensions of kitchen appliances. For example, this arrangement will protect the upper cabinet from the harmful effects of steam produced by a multicooker or electric kettle.
The optimal distance between the upper and lower kitchen cabinets is 50 cm
It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the housewife must freely get items from the upper shelves. There are exceptions when the height of wall kitchen cabinets is much higher than the standards. Typically, such cabinets are installed in rooms with high ceilings. It is also very important that furniture does not block smoke ventilation ducts, and that gas and ventilation pipes are located above the cabinets and not inside them.
In addition to the above, you should also take into account the aesthetic side of kitchen design. The installation of cabinets should not spoil the interior of the room. Surprisingly, every 10-15 cm is important in arranging a kitchen. It is necessary not only to conveniently place the upper modules, but also to choose the correct height of the kitchen cabinets from the floor.
Varieties
Cupboards for dishes in the living room vary in type and method of placement. They can be arranged in different ways, depending on the area and shape of the room. The following models are distinguished:
- Floor-standing - can be placed in any suitable place.
- Hanging - located on the wall, often in combination with a floor chest of drawers. You should not overload the hanging structure with a large number of dishes, because it can withstand less weight than its floor-standing counterparts.
- Built-in - they are usually mounted in a recess or niche in the wall in order to make maximum functional use of this area.
- Corner ones - needed to save space; they can be quite deep and roomy. A corner cupboard can have round doors or be in the shape of a trapezoid.
By type, furniture for storing dishes is divided into buffets, sideboards, and display cases. The first consists of three sections. The lower part has blank doors, the middle one has an empty niche, and the upper part has glass facades. Buffets are one of the first china cabinets that are still in use today. They are versatile, practical, but are better suited for a classic living room.
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The sideboard consists of two parts: the lower compartment is closed (for cutlery), the upper compartment is glazed. It has more capacity than buffets. Transparent doors are often decorated with wooden partitions, and in some models glass is even installed on the sides for a better view of expensive, beautiful dishes.
To add lightness to the interior and more effectively display the contents, a display cabinet is suitable. This is furniture with completely glass facades, often with a mirrored back wall. This element of furniture will emphasize the refined taste of the owners, but it is less practical and serves more for decoration. There are double-sided display cases, that is, glass covers the front and back of the cabinet. This gives you an overview of the content from both sides. They are used to zone the living room and separate the dining area from the recreation area.
Nowadays, china chests of drawers and cabinets are gaining popularity. The first ones are relevant when the living room area does not accommodate a full-fledged closet. Such pieces of furniture may have small transparent sections for displaying dishes or beautiful souvenirs. Since the chest of drawers is most often low, you can also put decorative items on it, for example, a vase of flowers or candlesticks.
A wall-slide is a complex of different cabinets and shelves, with a niche for a TV. This furniture is multifunctional; it alternates open areas, glazed elements, and drawers with blind doors. For small rooms this is the best storage option.
Built-in
Mounted
Floor
Angular
Additional functionality
For deep wall-mounted modules, it is worth choosing additional lighting, since most of the working surface will be darkened. Spotlights that are installed on the bottom of the cabinet are suitable for this purpose. They can also be attached inside the dish unit.
For retractable systems and swing doors, closers should be installed. They will allow you to softly close doors and slide drawers without creating loud slamming sounds. Cutlery trays are designed to organize the contents of drawers and keep all items in their place.
In cabinets with transparent doors where glasses are stored, special holders can be attached to the top of the shelf. Glasses are hung on them with their stems up, which significantly saves space inside. To store and simultaneously dry dishes, special drying racks with a bottom tray for draining water are installed. For towels, ladles, skimmers, spatulas and other large kitchen utensils, it will be convenient to have special hooks for hanging.
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Spotlights
Closers
Glass holder
Rack dryer with tray
Kitchen utensil hooks
Manufacturing materials
Today, furniture manufacturers supply the market with cupboards for every taste. Models made from solid wood are classified as premium. Usually oak, walnut or pine are used to make them. Such furniture will last a long time. In addition, a massive wooden sideboard looks solid and emphasizes the status of the owner.
Living room cupboards made of MDF are in no way inferior in appearance to wooden ones, but they are a more budget-friendly option. Furniture made from chipboard or fiberboard is even more affordable. It is not durable and has a long service life. Such cupboards are not resistant to moisture - if water gets in, the boards can become deformed and delaminate. There is also veneer furniture. It is a chipboard board, on top of which a thin plate of natural wood is fixed. Veneered furniture looks better, but is also short-lived and sensitive to water.
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For modern living rooms in minimalist or high-tech style, plastic cupboards are suitable. This is a very practical material, resistant to external influences. Unfortunately, plastic furniture is difficult to find - it is a non-standard material.
Glass elements are present in almost any china cabinet. These can be facades, shelves. The thickness of the shelves must be at least 5 mm to support the contents. Often the design of chests of drawers and sideboards uses a mirror on the back wall. It can also be used to decorate facades.
To decorate handles or doors, metal elements and gilding are often used. Some models have decor in the form of rhinestones and stones.
Shelves are most often made of glass, plastic or acrylic. In classic massive models they are made of wood. In products made from chipboard, there are shelves made of the same material as the cabinet itself.
Variety of colors and designs
To ensure that the tableware furniture looks harmonious in the room, select those models that match the style of the living room. A massive cabinet made of solid wood in natural shades will suit a classic interior. For a room in a palace style, it would be appropriate to use gilding and rhinestones on furniture, as well as carved elements.
You can decorate a glass facade with sandblasting designs, which always look impressive.
For a room in the Provence style, light shades of cabinets are often chosen. An antique or artificially aged buffet will look especially interesting. You can decorate white furniture yourself using decoupage technique. The result will be a truly unique item.
For a Scandinavian-style apartment, you can choose a cupboard in bright blue or yellow. This direction also includes furniture in white, brown or gray shades. Ethnic style is characterized by the use of only natural materials, so the china cabinet is chosen in a wood shade with a laconic design.
For hi-tech or minimalism, furniture with clear geometric shapes, without unnecessary decor, white, gray or black is suitable. A sideboard with imitation stone or metallic shine on the facades looks great. Also, in rooms with a modern design, display cabinets are often used.
Any cabinet will fit into a loft-style room – from an antique sideboard to a completely glass one. The color of furniture is often chosen dark or close to natural. This design combines seemingly incompatible things, but overall the result is spectacular.
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Tips for choosing
You need to choose a cupboard based on the overall style of the living room, as well as its dimensions. A massive, bulky solid wood cabinet is not suitable for a small room. Conversely, a miniature sideboard or buffet would look out of place in a spacious living room. The same applies to the style decision. When choosing new furniture, you need to consider whether it will suit the design of the room.
In a living room with a small area, it is better to put a light-colored wardrobe, and in a large room you can place dark, massive furniture. If the room is overloaded with decor, as well as an abundance of interior items, then it is better to choose a small sideboard for dishes.
An important criterion for choosing a cabinet for dishes in the living room is the quality of the manufacturing and assembly materials. You should check the strength of the fasteners, and also inspect all glass elements for cracks and scratches. Thick glass should be used, or better yet, tempered glass. It is stronger than usual, and if it breaks, it will not shatter into many fragments. It is also worth paying attention to the quality of the fittings.
Placement nuances
In most cases, the cupboard is one of the central elements of the living room furniture. Most often it is placed along the wall, but in spacious rooms such a piece of furniture can separate the dining area from the rest of the living room.
If the size of the room allows, then you can install not one, but several different cabinets united by a single design. You can complement the ensemble with a chest of drawers, a hanging mirror, shelves and even a dining group. If the living room is small, then to save space you can install a corner cupboard.
Corner cabinets for the living room are placed in such a way that the open doors do not come into contact with other furniture and do not block the passage.
An important point: furniture should be positioned in such a way that it receives the maximum amount of light. This way all the expensive dishes will be better visible. You can also use lighting to more effectively display the contents of the cabinet.
Such a practical and at the same time spectacular piece of furniture can decorate any living room. But in order for the china cabinet to look organic, you need to choose it wisely. When all selection criteria are met - appearance, functionality, size, design, quality - the furniture will last a long time and will delight the owner.
Arranging a china cabinet
Railing systems
First of all, it is worth noting that roof rails make it possible to make any kitchen more stylish, comfortable and multifunctional. They are a peculiar part that has the shape of a pipe and its diameter is about two centimeters.
With railing system
Moreover, it can be presented in the form of a simple bar. Using special holders, the system is installed on a vertical surface. As for cabinets intended for storing dishes, the device is mounted directly in the inner area of its door.
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Dryers
A dryer is an integral part of every kitchen, as it allows cups, plates and other kitchen utensils to dry well. It is important that thanks to the wide range of their variety, every housewife will be able to dry the required amount of dishes. It is for this reason that you need to be very responsible when choosing this element.
With functional drying
First of all, it is necessary to measure the distance of the cabinet walls, as well as its depth and height at which it will be installed in the future. Today, dryers are available in standard sizes, namely: 400 mm, 500 mm, 600 mm, 700 mm and 800 mm.
Moreover, the measurement of the distance between the drying place for cups and plates cannot be ignored, since it should not be less than 300 mm. As for the lower area, it should be located at a distance of at least 60-70 mm from the pan itself, which is designed to directly collect water.
Accessories
Nowadays, there are special nets that are installed in the cabinet area and are designed to store kitchen utensils. Hooks are also installed that can be used for a variety of purposes. You also can’t ignore drawer trays designed for direct storage of various cutlery.
With mesh for kitchen utensils
They are made from metal mesh and also from plastic. Their location in most cases is the drawer of the lower table. Moreover, they may have different quantitative coefficients.
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