Kitchen cabinets - types, purpose and selection rules

It is difficult to imagine a kitchen design without cabinets for storing food, cutlery and other household utensils. The interior of one of the most important rooms in the house should inspire the creation of culinary masterpieces, be comfortable, functional and aesthetically attractive.

Kitchen cabinets in the interior - types and purpose

In post-Soviet times, a kitchen set was a standard set of furniture; today, the range of cabinets present on the furniture market offers a variety of stylistic and design solutions.

When choosing furniture, you should first of all be guided by the size of the room. The basic rule for choosing storage systems for a small kitchen is rational use of space. You should not overload the room with unnecessary pieces of furniture.

To make your kitchen look more attractive and interesting, use cabinets of different heights in your interior.

According to their purpose, kitchen cabinets can be divided into several main types:

privates with regiments;
storage systems for built-in equipment;
drying cabinets.

Cabinets that will enrich the kitchen

Usually in a kitchen set it is practical to use various systems or tall vertical kitchen cabinets that allow you to store all your utensils. To make perfect use of every centimeter of the surface of our kitchen, it is worth choosing cabinets with internal shelves.

Kitchen cabinet interiors use self-locking mechanisms (to prevent doors and drawers from slamming), wire baskets or carousels to improve organization and order.

Recently, the most fashionable furniture for the kitchen are cabinets with white fronts, glossy or matte, usually without handles. It is also fashionable to combine white cabinets with wooden tops, while black and white kitchens with steel appliances give the interior an exceptionally modern and elegant design.

Types of kitchen cabinet designs

To organize a functional and comfortable space in kitchen equipment, different types of kitchen cabinets are used:

mounted;
floor;
corner;
cabinets.

Each type has its own functional purpose and design features.

Wall mounted kitchen cabinets

Wall-mounted models are located in the top row of the kitchen unit. The key purpose of furniture is to store utensils and food preparations; extractor hood cabinets can be classified as a separate category. Wall-mounted storage systems are characterized by compact dimensions and relatively low weight.

The main structural elements of the hinged module are the frame, internal filling, and facade. Based on the design features, wall kitchen cabinets are divided into the following types:

closed;
open;
combined.

Products of the first type are a standard cabinet with doors and shelves. In open systems there is no front part; the piece of furniture is often used to store decorative elements and jars of spices. Combined models combine elements of closed and open cabinets.

Above the sink, as a rule, there is a cabinet with a drying rack. The main difference of this wall-mounted module is the presence of a rack for drying cups, plates and a tray for collecting drainage water.

Floor row of kitchen cabinets

Floor modules are one- or two-door cabinets installed on the floor under the countertop. Floor-standing models are much more massive and spacious than the upper modules.

The lower row cabinets are used for storing massive household items (pots, kettles, pans) and built-in appliances. In addition, the floor modules act as a support for the kitchen countertop.

In addition to standard cabinets equipped with shelves and drawers, a cabinet under the sink is installed in the bottom row of the kitchen unit. The piece of furniture is used to hide utilities (sewerage, water supply pipelines, filters for water purification, metering devices), and storage of waste collection containers. Structurally, the sink cabinet is a hollow cabinet without a back wall.

Corner models

Corner cabinets are used for L-shaped kitchen layouts. The piece of furniture makes it possible to make the most efficient use of the free corners of a small room, and is characterized by large capacity and compact dimensions.

Based on location and design features, there are several types of corner cabinets:

mounted;
sink cabinets;
cabinets.

Kitchen pencil cases

A pencil case is a piece of furniture that combines the functions of the upper and lower row modules. The main difference between a pencil case is the height of the storage module; as a rule, a column cabinet occupies the entire space from floor to ceiling. Based on the number of sections, pencil cases are divided into single- or multi-door models.

The functional purpose of furniture depends on its design features. Pencil cases with rich internal equipment are used to store a large amount of food, cutlery and other kitchen utensils. A refrigerator is hidden behind the façade of a hollow high cabinet.

Combined type pencil cases are especially popular. In the upper and lower parts of the column there are systems for storing utensils and products, the middle hollow part is used for installing built-in equipment.

Accessories that add style

Each kitchen cabinet is stylish and beautiful in itself. But you can give it a special and unique character by adding decorative elements to it. One of these types of methods is unconventional handles, another is the original materials used in the cabinets.

As you can see, there are many options to freshen up your kitchen without hiring a remodeling professional. Simply choose the main color of your home and decide on the style of your kitchen cabinets.

The cheapest and simplest solution is a ready-made set of kitchen furniture, which includes a cabinet under the sink and wall kitchen cabinets. Kitchen base cabinets are usually combined with a countertop - this can also be included or you can buy one yourself.

It's worth taking advantage of stores that offer individual kitchen cabinets for assembly into kits. This solution is even many times cheaper than custom-made kitchen furniture, the advantage of which is that a specialist adapts the furniture to our needs.

Also, pay attention to the functionality and ease of opening doors - you shouldn’t skimp on this. The most typical are hinged doors in kitchen cabinets. The cheapest opening system - hinges connecting the cabinet to the body - costs about 150 rubles, and for other mechanisms you will pay up to 1,500 rubles. They should be used when there is enough space in the kitchen.

However, side cabinets are difficult to open in corners where two doors collide and in tall and wide furniture. A hinged door is found in low and wide hanging cabinets where traditional opening would be awkward and where regular doors look disproportionate. This method of opening cabinets, however, is more expensive.

Standard sizes of kitchen cabinets

The standard depth of kitchen wall cabinets ranges from 30 to 43 cm. The height of the wall units can reach 36, 72 or 96 cm. The width of the top row modules varies in the range of 15-80 cm.

Floor storage modules have a depth of about 50-60 cm. The standard height of cabinets is 85 cm. Typical width of the elements of the bottom row (in centimeters):

Designers recommend choosing floor cabinets whose depth is slightly less than the width of the countertop. A tabletop slightly overhanging the cabinets looks much more attractive.

Filling – types of kitchen cabinet storage systems

All the functionality of kitchen furniture is hidden behind its front part, so it is very important to choose kitchen cabinets with well-organized interior space. Roll-out and pull-out storage systems are used to complete kitchen sets.

The modern furniture market, along with traditional stationary shelves and drawers, offers a huge range of internal contents:

mesh baskets are U-shaped metal containers that are fixed on the side walls or on the inside of the facade. Often used to fill the empty space of a sink cabinet;
rotating carousels - an axis installed inside the cabinet on which rotating semicircular shelves are located. The maximum radius of rotation of the shelves around the axis is 2700;
magic corner - rectangular shelves or drawers connected to each other by rotating elements. The front row of drawers is fixed on the inside of the facade. When the doors are opened, a row of shelves unfolds in sequence;
bottle holders - specialized narrow shelves equipped with high holders.

How to organize storage

Hanging sections

Wall cabinets are great for storing tableware, cups and glasses. This type of cabinet is usually located directly above the sink. Place a dish drainer on one shelf so that after washing, drops will drain from the plates and they will dry faster. On the second you can put glasses and mugs. In the same cabinet it is convenient to store plastic or glass containers for food, which are used for the refrigerator or taken with you to work. You can read about installing lower cabinets in the kitchen by clicking on this link.

If the dishes are not dried on a towel, but placed directly in the closet, then a special absorbent mat must be laid under the dryer. It needs to be washed regularly.

In one place you can collect all drinks: teas, coffee, cocoa, etc.;
bottles of syrups, honey and even vegetable oil can be conveniently stored in a wall cabinet;
You can keep sweets next to the tea (this way they won’t be in everyone’s sight, and you won’t have the desire to reach for chocolate again);
for convenience, it is worth having several small baskets in which seasonings, gelatin, baking powder and yeast will be stored;

An open wall cabinet, beautiful baskets and tin cans will help make the shelves as beautiful as possible without losing their functionality.

It is also convenient to store cereals in wall cabinets. It makes sense to buy beautiful plastic boxes so as not to bother with bags every time. This will add additional order and allow you to quickly pour out the required amount of cereal when cooking.

Floor stands

Floor cabinets for the kitchen are designed for large items that are difficult to remove from wall cabinets. It’s convenient to store all the pots, pans and their lids in one place. You can also put plastic and aluminum bowls here that are used for preparing food. A corner kitchen cabinet saves a lot of space in the kitchen.

In a pull-out floor cabinet you can store a supply of food purchased for future use. For example, boxes of cereals, packs of pasta, sugar and flour. You can also put away empty jars of jam and other preserves here. Supplies can be stored against the far wall, and transparent containers with different cereals can be placed in front if there is no room for them in the wall cabinets. You can read how to organize the storage of vegetables in plastic boxes here.

For flour, you can even buy a large container or use a deep pan, pour everything into it at once - this way the flour will be hermetically stored, will not become damp and will not crumble, as if it were used straight from the bag.

In the floor cabinet there is also room for fairly large equipment that is not used by the housewife very often: a mixer, auger juicer, deep fryer, grilled toaster, food processor, etc.

Drawers

Soldering utensils are most suitable for drawers. They may be in special stands in plain sight, but buying a divider for a drawer will help keep the kitchen in order. Openers, a garlic press, and a mortar for making puree are also stored here. A meat mallet, ladle and spatulas also fit well here if there is no room for them on the hooks by the stove, which improves the ergonomics of the kitchen.

To prevent the drawers from deteriorating and becoming overgrown with mold, the appliances must first be air dried after washing.

You can put baking tools in a separate drawer: rolling pin, silicone or metal muffin tins, foil and parchment paper. This is also a convenient place for cocktail straws and canapé sticks. Some housewives put cake candles, plastic bag clips and other small items here. You can also put an immersion blender with an attachment here. You can learn about the restoration of kitchen units in this material.

Watch a video about modern devices that will come in handy in the kitchen and help organize convenient storage:

Kitchen cabinet opening systems

Kitchen furniture sets differ not only in their internal contents, but also in their opening systems. There are several main types of mechanisms:

swing;
lifting;
retractable

Swing opening systems are used in the designs of upper and lower row modules. The main mechanism of the system is furniture hinges. In turn, door fittings are divided into the following types:

overhead, inset or semi-overlay hinges with an opening angle of 95-1100;
hinges with opening angle 120-1600;
hinges with built-in motion closers.

Lifting opening mechanisms are designed to equip wall cabinets. The opening system includes special fixing elements that securely hold the doors in a horizontal plane, and closers. To open the door, just lift the edge a little. Lifting systems use spring mechanisms or gas lifts.

The operating principle of the retractable opening system is based on the use of roller or ball guides. Opening systems with partial or full extension are available on the market. The advantage of the former is a more affordable price, the latter are more convenient to use.

Serial and individual production of kitchen cabinets

Equipping a kitchen space is not an easy task, the ideal result of which will be a functional and comfortable room where cooking is easy and enjoyable. Therefore, when purchasing kitchen furniture, it is necessary to take into account both the overall dimensions and the features of individual components of the overall set.

When choosing kitchen furniture, you need to consider its size, design and functionality.

The standard sizes of kitchen modules were developed taking into account the dimensions of a person of average build, as well as in accordance with the typical layout of kitchens in apartment buildings. In any case, it is advisable to take your own measurements of the entire room, calculating the required height, length and depth of the proposed furniture.

A kitchen set is a set of individual modules that can be arranged at your discretion, but after installation, changing the location of a particular cabinet will be problematic. Therefore, care should be taken in advance about the correct placement of furnishings. It should be taken into account that kitchen cabinets, as elements of a set, can be mass-produced or made to order.

Manufacturers of cabinet furniture are guided by generally accepted and their own standards, according to which conveyor production is established. Special machines cut out and cut out the parts of future cabinets, after which they are assembled into specific furniture forms. Their production has been put into production.

Serial cabinets are manufactured in accordance with generally accepted standards

Standard cabinets do not always fit into a specific room. In such a situation, it is worth resorting to the help of manufacturers who make custom-made furniture. Specialists will take individual measurements and create a furniture design in accordance with the kitchen layout, taking into account all the requirements and desires of the customer. You should know that the price of custom-made furniture is significantly higher than the cost of standard cabinets.

Base and legs

The lower part of the floor cabinets is equipped with legs or a plinth. Cabinet legs can be stationary or adjustable. To protect the lower space from dust, a plinth is used - a decorative strip that is attached to the legs of the kitchen unit.

Based on the material of manufacture, the following types of bases are distinguished:

aluminum;
plastic;
planks made of chipboard or MDF.

You can hide electrical wiring or supply water hoses behind the decorative strip. Often the base is equipped with ventilation grilles, which are mounted near the built-in oven or refrigerator.

How to keep order

To maintain order, you must follow the following rules:

Return things to their place immediately after use, since prevention is always better than cure, do not put off cleaning until the weekend.
If you make it a rule to immediately wash the dishes after yourself, put all ingredients away when preparing food, and quickly wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth after eating, then the kitchen will always be clean.
Regularly inspect products and throw away spoiled ones.
It is food packaging that clutters up cupboards the most.
Before your next trip to the store, you need to look at what you already have at home, check the expiration dates, and only then make a shopping plan.
Storage of bulk products in containers. If you use spices and grains straight from the bags, they often fall apart right in the cupboard. To avoid this, cereal containers and spice jars will help. It looks beautiful and helps keep it clean longer.

How to choose Zetta kitchen furniture can be read in this article.

An audit must be carried out at least once a month. If a product is about to expire, it should be used as quickly as possible. Spoiled food may cause mold or small flies to appear in the cupboard. This is especially true when root vegetables and other vegetables are stored in floor cabinets.

Approach your purchases wisely. A thoughtless purchase of dishes, household appliances and other small items can clutter the room and cause a mess in standard-sized kitchen sets. If you want to buy something new, then it’s better to replace the old one: after buying a new cup, you can send the old dishes to the dacha, and after buying a food processor, sell a tabletop electric oven or hand mixer on the Internet.

Kitchen storage ideas in our video:

Photos of kitchen cabinets

Modern storage systems allow you to modernize limited kitchen space; well-thought-out details maximize the service life, functionality and comfort of the kitchen set.

Dominant colors in the kitchen

Designers recommend using as much light and color as possible in the kitchen. Color enlivens the interior, gives it shine and unique character. Depending on your preferred interior design style, green, red, yellow and orange will look great in the kitchen. So choose the color you like and bet on bold decisions.

Kitchen cabinets in original colors will determine the character of the kitchen interior. You can choose an intense, strong color or be tempted by a more subdued one. Each of the colors chosen will bring a dose of positive energy and unique character to the room.

The color can be just an accent (for example, on one or two kitchen cabinets), or the color of the entire kitchen unit. However, it should be remembered that an overabundance of colors also overwhelms the space. Intense colors of kitchen cabinets should be muted by soft colors of walls and floors.