Choosing a kitchen corner: nuances and rules for choosing furniture

A small kitchen can be a real problem for the inhabitants of the house, if you do not find the right design solution. One of such solutions can be a kitchen corner - a compact and eye-catching element of the interior.

Kitchen corner: general information

A kitchen corner is most often a set of a sofa, table and chairs, ottomans or stools. It comes in different sizes, but in none of the options does it look cumbersome, taking up only unnecessary free space. For small rooms, where it is necessary to accommodate a rather large family or a group of guests, it is a salvation. In a large area, it can act as a convenient zone divider. Storage of things is considered another useful function: shelves built into some corner models, can turn into a mini-library, bar or just a small warehouse for an infrequently used kitchen utensils.

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Choosing upholstery

First of all, let's pay attention to the upholstery of a piece of furniture. The following materials are used for the manufacture of modern design kitchen corners:

synthetic fabric - it is inexpensive, easy to care for, hypoallergenic. The fabric is breathable, highly resistant to moisture and dirt, and does not fade after washing. Do not opt for the cheapest fabric, as it quickly begins to attract static electricity;
pile fabric (plush, velor) - looks stylish, pleasant to the touch. Unfortunately, it is sensitive to direct sunlight and does not tolerate washing well;
jacquard - decorated with unusual patterns, is expensive, but does not suffer from cleaning;
leather is breathable, resistant to dirt and dust. Easy to clean, looks impressive. Not very well bought due to the high price, it is made mainly to order;
artificial leather is an excellent substitute for real leather. It is inexpensive, but it looks as good as the natural version. It serves for a long time and faithfully, it is cleaned of dirt without any problems.

Materials and design

The material that serves as the basis for the manufacture of the frame determines the strength and durability of the entire structure. A compact kitchen corner is usually made from the following materials:

Chipboard (laminated chipboard) is far from first-class quality, low price and short-lived service. It is very easy to care for laminated chipboard, but it is important to make sure that the material is made according to safety standards and is not toxic (required environmental class E1);
wood is an option for those who care about the environment. It is extremely difficult to care for a wooden corner: it is afraid of too high temperature and humidity, therefore it must be treated with special compounds. The most affordable birch and pine. It will be much more expensive to buy models made of beech, oak, ash or walnut;
metal is an environmentally friendly, durable, durable material, easy to clean. It looks stylish and impressive, and attracts the attention of guests.

In order to save money, you can combine expensive material with cheap ones. For example, the sides are made of chipboard and the legs are made of wood. Combinations based on contrast look advantageous. Try a wrought iron base with large, soft pillows.

Types of kitchen corners

There are several categories according to which the types of kitchen corners are divided:

By form:

L-shaped - a corner sofa that fits compactly into even the smallest kitchen;
U-shaped - able to accommodate more people, but also takes up more space;
round or triangular kitchen corner - designed for irregular wall recesses.

To size:

Think about how many people you plan to fit in your kitchen. Remember the main rule of ergonomics: the average person is comfortable to sit in a place with a width of at least 60 centimeters.

By configuration:

only a sofa - is the basis for a corner, the most inexpensive option, but the least functional. Suitable if the buyer plans to independently arrange the dining area by choosing a table and chairs from a different material or other colors;
sofa and table - good value for money, does not take up too much space;
sofa, table, chairs - a multifunctional solution that requires large material costs and large free space. All components of the set are designed in the same style, which gives the impression of comfort and harmony.

Hard seat corners

The option to leave the corner without upholstery is considered the most practical, but also the most inconvenient. Imagine sitting for a long time on an ordinary bench made of wood or metal. There is a chance that you simply did not like any type of corner decoration from those that you met in stores. In this case, you can stock up on a variety of multi-colored designer pillows and lay them out on the surface of the corner.

Corners with soft seat

A kitchen couch is much more comfortable than a hard one, but the material can sag over time in those places where the greatest pressure is exerted. The following are used as seat fillers:

foam rubber is cheap, but the structure of the substance is quickly destroyed under the influence of high temperatures, moisture and pressure of the human body. Serves regularly for about 2-3 years;
polyurethane foam is a more environmentally friendly, durable and high-quality material. High elasticity properties, quickly restores its original shape. Serves regularly for about 10 years.

Combined models

You can take the seat without upholstery, place it as a corner piece, and add soft fenders on the sides. Shelves or drawers can be built into such a corner. This combination of textures looks unusual and advantageous, demonstrates your creativity and non-standard design approach to interior decoration.

By configuration

In stores in Moscow and other large Russian cities, there are various options for kitchen corners, differing in functionality and appearance:

a transformer with a sleeping place - the sofa turns into a bed. The method of unfolding the surface differs depending on the model. However, you will have to pay a large sum for an extra bed in the house;
with storage space - drawers, shelves or pull-out compartments are built into the side walls of the sofa or placed under the seat. The most thoughtful option for a small kitchen, where there is no required amount of space to accommodate all things;
mini - looks compact (sizes start from 1 square meter), is inexpensive. A narrow kitchen corner is suitable for the smallest kitchen;
with a built-in bar - in the corner part, the manufacturer can place several shelves designed for drinks or flowers in a vase. On the other hand, this can be inconvenient, since the whole sitting place is occupied by the decor item;
with a table - kitchen corners for the kitchen with a table act as a ready-made furniture set. It is convenient because you do not need to spend a lot of time choosing and combining different pieces of furniture. Pay attention to the size of the table: it is often made small, designed for one or two people;
collapsible - the wings of the sofa can be detached from the base of the structure and moved in a different direction. Thus, the sofa can be fitted into any corner. If desired, the side sections can be turned into an independent piece of furniture, used separately.

Please note that the corners are divided into left-handed and right-handed. Not all models can change the direction of assembly, so carefully consider where you would like to place the corner in your kitchen.

Corner models

Models are symmetrical, and they are elongated to the right or left. The latter are suitable for premises with an area of more than 7 square meters. Square models look small and do not attract attention, fulfilling all the necessary functions.

Linear sofas

There is a solution for a very small kitchen, where it is sometimes difficult to even fit. These are often found in Khrushchevs. Here, instead of a full-fledged corner or sofa with a backrest, a bench or a bench will do. It will be located in a straight line along one of the walls, take up a minimum of space and still remain comfortable and attractive. For added comfort, you can attach pillows to the wall using Velcro tape.

The nuances of choosing a design

It is not always possible to successfully order a kitchen corner in an online store, based on photos and descriptions alone. A piece of furniture is best seen and tested in real life. When choosing, pay attention not only to appearance. Check out the structural strength and comfort of the seating. Pay attention to all the features: the height of the back and the width of the armrests, the softness and elasticity of the filling, the material of the upholstery and base. Ask the seller to tell you about all the models in as much detail as possible, correlate the size of the furniture set with the area of your kitchen. Happy shopping!