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The corner kitchen is one of the most popular planning solutions. It combines convenience, compactness and efficient use of space.
Corner kitchen design options in 2022
There are several variations of the corner kitchen:
- L-shaped kitchen set;
- U-shaped kitchen;
- kitchen with a bar counter located perpendicularly;
- a kitchen with a perpendicular “peninsula”;
- kitchen set attached to a tall cabinet-pencil case.
The choice of one form or another depends on various factors: the size and shape of the room, the stylistic direction and the desires of the owners.
Design of a small corner kitchen
For those who have a small kitchen, the issue of design and space planning is especially acute. It is important to use every square meter effectively, and also not to visually weigh down an already miniature room.
An excellent solution for a compact room would be a corner suite with retractable storage systems. This allows you to place kitchen utensils even in the deepest places of the cabinet. You can order non-standard furniture, for example, large in depth or height.
Another interesting option is to provide special panels that can be pulled out if necessary. It can be a folding surface of a countertop or a dining table. Using a window sill under the work surface is a great idea for a small kitchen. Due to this, you can free up space for installing other furniture or get additional space for cooking.
There are also many shades and finishing materials for small-sized kitchens. It can be colorful furniture facades made of plastic or natural canvases with the texture of natural wood. The choice always depends on personal preferences and the overall design concept.
Corner kitchen-living room design
The kitchen-living room is perfect for lovers of large and bright spaces. Unlike an isolated room, it is more comfortable and spacious, it has more light and air. The most important thing here is to clearly delimit the space into zones. Corner kitchen ideally solves this issue.
A kind of “barrier” between the kitchen and the living room can be a bar or “peninsula”. Another option is a glass partition. There is an opportunity to “hide” the kitchen in the literal sense of the word. Now on the market there are special systems like a wardrobe or a screen that completely hide the kitchen and countertop at the right time.
Modern corner kitchen design
With the right layout, the corner kitchen takes up minimal space. Its main advantage is that the refrigerator, sink and stove can be placed according to the triangle rule – at the same distance from each other. This will make the kitchen comfortable, as everything will be at hand.
The corner kitchen is well suited to rooms of different sizes, as the furniture is located along two adjacent walls. If you choose furniture up to the ceiling, there will be additional storage space.
Of course, a kitchen of this form has its drawbacks. It cannot be built into a non-standard form space. Protrusions, recesses and uneven walls are likely to become an obstacle to installing a corner kitchen. In addition, the L-shaped set is more expensive than the linear one, since it involves the installation of a retractable structure for easy access to the corner of the cabinet.
Design of a corner kitchen with a refrigerator
The refrigerator is the most used attribute in the kitchen. Its ideal location is on the side of the headset. If possible, the refrigerator should be installed closer to the table or to the entrance to the room. Built-in models look very stylish, which literally “merge” with furniture facades. This is especially true for compact spaces and classic styles. And for loft-style interiors, designers often offer freestanding refrigerators that will play the role of a bright accent.
Corner kitchen design with breakfast bar
The bar counter always makes the interior of the kitchen more interesting and modern. It can play the role of a dining table, a mini-bar or an additional work surface.
A stylish bar counter harmoniously fits into almost any stylistic direction: for classic interiors it is often made of natural wood or stone, for modern ones it is made of metal or synthetic materials. And for compact rooms, there are special two-level models that have several functionalities at once.
Popular questions and answers
“In the classical sense, for any kitchen, the ideal is the functional diagram of a triangle that combines the hob, sink and refrigerator. In the case of a corner kitchen, this arrangement is most effective. The only complex node of such a kitchen is, in fact, the corner itself, which requires complex design solutions for the cabinet arrangement.
A good solution would be to have a corner sink with a technical cabinet underneath and an open dryer on top. It is more expedient to install the refrigerator in that wing of the corner, which is closer to the entrance, and the hob, respectively, on the other side.
Roman Suvorov, lead designer at Locus Interiors:
“The effective distribution of space, as well as the overall design of the corner kitchen set, is based on many external factors, such as: the size of the room, the location of windows, the style of the interior, the type of finish, the materials of other furniture, etc.
There is no universal recipe here, but there are general principles that make it possible to make a corner kitchen ergonomic and comfortable. When organizing the space, observe the route along which the products “travel” during the cooking process: cooling, washing, cooking. Try to keep the appliances in the kitchen in this order, with gaps in the free surface of the countertop. If possible, do not install the sink in the corner of the headset, or use special corner kitchen modules for this. If space permits, install a kitchen island with a worktop or an induction hob.”
Olga Lipskaya, architect-designer:
“I advise you to abandon the location of the sink in the corner, as practice shows, this is not comfortable. It is also best to avoid sharp corners. They are good for magazine photos, not for life.”
“From the point of view of the color scheme, the corner kitchen has the specifics of light refraction, since the furniture is located in different planes. With light tones, this effect is more visible than with dark – light-absorbing shades.
When choosing shades for a corner kitchen, you need to proceed from the same logic as in any other kitchen. The color scheme should fit into the overall concept of the interior and advantageously emphasize all design solutions.
Roman Suvorov:
“I recommend not to use very bright colors and colorful photo printing in the corner kitchen – this is the last century. Choose the color of the facades to match the surrounding finishes. A universal solution would be a combination of a matte gray surface and a wooden texture of moderate contrast.”
Olga Lipskaya:
“As for color, it’s better to start from the preferences of the family. There are no bad colors, there are bad shades. But it is better to zone small spaces with the help of color: for the cooking, relaxing and eating area, etc. I also recommend combining textures and different degrees of surface gloss. So you visually increase the space.
“Electric lighting in a corner kitchen requires a more zoned lighting solution compared to a straight kitchen. Here, the backlighting of the countertop, located under the wall cabinets, becomes more relevant. In addition, the zoning of a corner kitchen in most cases does not involve the installation of a table or island in the center of the room. Hence the asymmetric arrangement of light sources.
In general, the lighting structure is built on three points:
– countertop lighting
– local lighting of the perimeter of kitchen furniture for more comfortable use of cabinets;
– lighting of the dining area, or table area.
Roman Suvorov:
“Illumination of the work surface should be uniform over the entire area of the countertop. To do this, use an LED strip with a moisture-proof diffuser. Traditionally, you can place a chandelier or a modern lamp above the dining table. This will give a fill light during the meal. Accent lighting as spotlights is appropriate for food preparation and food processing areas, or, for example, if the hosts are engaged in food blogging, to highlight key scenes.
Olga Lipskaya:
“If we talk about lighting, then “scenario” is important here. In any kitchen, lighting of the work surface is a must. Lighting in other areas is an individual matter. For example, in small rooms it is better to “hide” it or place it on several levels.”
“The working area of the corner kitchen is outlined by the so-called “working triangle”, the two sides of which are formed by the corner kitchen furniture itself. The table should be placed as far as possible outside this triangle. Of course, it all depends on the dimensions of the room itself, as well as other factors such as the location of windows and the front door.
In addition, it is important to determine the function of the table itself. If, for example, the table is supposed to be used as an additional work surface, then it makes sense to place the latter closer to the work area, but indented from its center.
Roman Suvorov:
“When planning a dining area, pay attention to the free area of the kitchen. Do not place the table closer than 60 cm from the kitchen fronts for normal passage between them. Most kitchens will fit a rectangular table. If the room is spacious or combined with a living room, you can also put a round table, but always make preliminary measurements and markings on the floor.
Olga Lipskaya:
“The table is an integral part of the kitchen, and in conditions of limited space it is better to give preference to hanging console tables, small squares with rounded corners that unfold when necessary. A round shape in a small kitchen is suitable for a small family of 2-3 people. When choosing a dining table, always take into account several seats. Two is the minimum that creates a good effect.
Think over the area above the table so that it can be changed at any time. It can be a composition of paintings, shelves with indoor plants or festive dishes, panels and much more. A few words about serving. Never leave the table empty, it looks sad. Fresh flowers in vases are always relevant here.”