Microwave in the kitchen: where to put, how to build in

When the microwave appears, the search for free space begins in the kitchen. Sometimes it is difficult to understand where you can or cannot put the device. The main thing is to arrange it so that it is convenient to use daily.

Where to put the microwave oven, how much space it needs, you will learn from our article.

How to install correctly

Regardless of the chosen place, you must follow the rules strictly prescribed in almost every instruction:

• Keep a distance of 60-150 cm from the floor – this is the ideal height for comfortable use. Place lower – you risk getting burned, higher – spilling hot soup, etc.
• Use the arm’s length rule: there should be as much between the microwave and the nearest countertop so that you can put the dishes.
• Make sure that nothing interferes with the free opening / closing of the door. Not sure? Choose the option with a door that can be hung on either side.
• Keep the equipment away from heating devices – stoves, ovens, fireplaces or radiators. No exit? Think over and organize high-quality thermal insulation.
• Avoid touching the case with other kitchen appliances.
• Do not cover the ventilation openings, do not place anything on top – neither dishes nor cutlery. Doubt? Read the review “Is it possible to put the TV on the microwave».

On the tabletop

The location of the microwave oven in the working area is a traditional option. It’s convenient and not difficult. The countertop is a solid support for a weighty microwave, and putting and getting food is more comfortable when it is at arm’s length from the workspace. This arrangement is not suitable for everyone: the stove will take from 50 to 80 centimeters of the countertop, which will be an exorbitant luxury for a small-sized kitchen.

Small work area? Keep looking for a good place to install – it’s not worth sacrificing half a table, there are many other ways.

If there is enough free space, follow the safety rules during installation: do not place the microwave oven near a sink or heating appliances. Read more in the review “How to properly and safely install a microwave».

A window sill isn’t just for flowers. Wide window sill? Great! Put the stove right on top of it. But keep in mind that in winter a double-glazed window can crack due to temperature differences. As for the flowers: rearrange them, otherwise the radiation will not keep you waiting and they will wither.

microwave + refrigerator

In theory, such an installation is possible, but the location is not the best. If the refrigerator is too high, it will be inconvenient to use the oven. The second point: with strong vibrations, the microwave oven can move off the surface. For the same reason, it is not recommended to install it on a washing machine.

Details of the proximity of the microwave to the refrigerator can be found on the page “Can you put a microwave on the refrigerator».

Important! A minimum of 20 cm of free space must be left between the ceiling and appliances to ensure ventilation. To install on the “roof” of the refrigerator, the stove must have legs.

Hanging shelf or bracket

If you can’t find free space in a niche or kitchen set, use the hanging method. Suitable rack, bracket or hanging shelf. When choosing fittings and furniture, be sure to consider the load capacity of materials and the weight of the stove itself. Decided to hang a microwave? Then it is worth fixing the legs.

Undermount installation

Before you build a microwave in the lower furniture tier, you need to prepare a cabinet. It is advisable to abandon the piling up of heavy equipment on the countertop above the stove.

The decision to place the microwave cabinet at the bottom is not the most optimal:

• dangerous for families with children;
• you have to bend over;
• poor ventilation.

In order for the equipment to work without failures, it is necessary to provide 10 cm from the sides and 15 cm of free space at the back.

Wall cabinet. You can also hide appliances in a wall-mounted cabinet. This is not a troublesome business, especially if you take it into account in advance when creating a kitchen design project. If the furniture is already there, you can add a cabinet that is suitable in size.

Embed in headset

The method repeats the previous one, but the locker does not have to be suspended – place the microwave at a convenient height. It is desirable that the built-in electrical appliance is not too far from the working area – it will not be comfortable to carry hot dishes through the entire kitchen.

Above the stove or range hood. As in the case of a refrigerator, a rare and not the most desirable option is purely to save space. The hood and stove will provoke heating of the stove, the location height is not very convenient.

Kitchen island

The option is rare, since only residents of country (private) houses and estates can place the stove in this way. In the small kitchen of an apartment building, there is nowhere to make an island – its construction will require at least a few free square meters. The option is successful in that the working area is as unloaded as possible, and the microwave looks perfect in the interior without creating inconvenience.

Above built-in oven

One of the most functional options, especially the middle line of furniture (at waist level) is the most comfortable for using such devices. To make everything look harmonious, choose stoves of the same brand or in a similar design and color scheme.

Another way out: buying a multifunctional electrical appliance. In this case, the oven has a microwave mode: practical, functional, but expensive. Read the review: “Oven with microwave in one».

Separate room

It’s not about the bedroom or living room. Owners of large multi-room houses can afford to place a microwave cabinet not just on a cabinet or bookcase somewhere in the corner, but in a whole separate room for household kitchen appliances. In addition to the microwave, it can contain a dishwasher, a blender, a meat grinder and other kitchen necessities and delights. The only inconvenience is that you will have to go to another room to use the equipment.

That’s all you need to know about where and how to install a microwave oven. If there are difficulties, ask questions in the comments.