A kitchen, the interior of which is made of natural wood, is a real decoration of any home. Many housewives dream of such a place in their home. It is filled with comfort and warmth; such a kitchen always remains relevant and stylish.
Wooden facades are suitable for those who do not want to exchange the luxury and warmth of natural wood for fashionable plastic and aluminum.
In addition, wood is highly environmentally friendly. A set made from this material looks respectable, expensive and noble. Such furniture can serve for a long time, while remaining durable, reliable and attractive in appearance.
Advantages and disadvantages of a wooden kitchen
Despite the cheapness and availability of furniture made from chipboard and MDF, furniture made from solid wood remains as popular and in demand as many years ago.
The secret of such success lies in the unique qualities of this natural material:
- Wooden furniture looks very respectable and solid; it creates an indescribable atmosphere in the house, and also emphasizes the status of the owners of the home. This natural material is the true embodiment of beauty, reliability, high quality and durability. If the wood is well processed, furniture made from it will last for many years, retaining all its original characteristics.
- Natal wood has high aesthetic properties. Thanks to the huge variety of textures and shades of wood, choosing the perfect furniture to suit your personal tastes is not difficult. Thanks to the unique natural pattern, any objects made from solid wood are unique and one of a kind.
- If you properly care for wood and constantly maintain optimal temperature conditions in the kitchen, eliminating dampness, then wooden furniture will last for a very long time (at least 50 years).
- A kitchen made of solid wood is environmentally friendly. It is safe for humans and does not cause allergic reactions. All that household members will feel when constantly staying in such a room is the pleasant aroma of natural resins, which has a beneficial effect on the body.
- Despite the vagaries of fashion and its transience, solid wood furniture always remains at the peak of popularity, it is highly valued and is a true decoration of any home.
When choosing furniture made of natural wood for your own kitchen, you should remember some of its features:
- It is necessary to install a wooden set away from radiators and other heat sources. Natural wood is too sensitive to prolonged exposure to thermal energy and can dry out and crack over time.
- It is very important to ensure proper care of such furniture - you need to buy special products that will allow it to maintain its attractive appearance for a long time.
- It is important to understand that furniture made from solid wood cannot be cheap, and to purchase it you will have to pay a considerable amount. However, given all the advantages of such furniture, this investment should be considered successful.
Natural wood facades
Kitchens made of natural wood are no longer found in stores so often, giving way to MDF and chipboard. There are reasons for this. The price for a façade made of solid wood or veneer is above average. Wooden sets are positioned as luxury furniture for connoisseurs.
Wooden facades are usually made in a classic or traditional style and are not suitable for lovers of non-standard shapes and colors, fans of high-tech and modern styles.
Wooden kitchen styles:
- Classic kitchens are decorated with carved facades, glass cabinet doors with patterns and grilles. Copper and bronze fittings are used.
- The wood texture of country-style furniture is hidden under a layer of opaque paint in soothing shades.
- In the rustic style, the wood is painted over, the furniture is artificially aged, covered with patina and gilding.
- Modern wooden kitchen facades have a strict shape and are coated with colorless varnish. Their beauty is in the natural texture of the wood.
Types of wooden facades
The concept of “wooden facade” can hide several types of furniture. You need to have a good idea of what the kitchen should be like: solid veneer, everywhere or only on the facade.
- A kitchen with veneer looks solid. Veneer is thin, up to a millimeter thick, wooden plates. A kitchen made of veneer looks similar to one made from solid wood, but under the cladding there is cheaper MDF or chipboard.
- Solid solid wood is the most expensive type of material, because it must be free of flaws, knots, and the required width.
- Glued solids (called furniture) are slabs consisting of wooden blocks glued and spliced together.
These materials can be combined. Often the body of the headset is made of chipboard, the back wall is made of plywood or hardboard, and the doors are made of solid wood. A combination of solid frame and veneered panel is possible. Only expensive luxury kitchens are produced entirely from solid wood. A veneered kitchen looks reliably imitates a set of valuable wood species.
A brown natural wood kitchen with glass inserts and carved handles fits perfectly with a light floor.
Wood for kitchen facades: pine, beech
Types of wood from which facades are made:
- oak;
- beech;
- cherry;
- pear;
- nut;
- ash;
- birch;
- maple;
- acacia;
- olive;
- teak;
- wenge;
- ebony, etc.
Hardwoods that are resistant to high temperatures and humidity are suitable for the production of kitchen sets. Oak facades require special tools and skills, since the material is highly durable. Pine and birch are easier to process and cheaper. The most expensive materials are mahogany and ebony, wenge, cedar.
Blanks for the production of kitchen furniture need to be prepared and dried. After cutting, they are treated with compounds against insects and rotting. The varnish protects the elements from moisture. If you decide to make furniture yourself, you will also have to think about protection from the external environment.
For which interior styles should you choose wooden furniture?
Kitchen in country style - furniture made of solid wood suits this interior. All items, from ordinary chairs to cabinets for storing kitchen utensils, should be as simple as possible.
It is necessary that the entire furnishings be associated with rustic comfort; you should not overload it with designer innovations and exclusive items.
A kitchen set made of solid oak in a country style is practical and looks rich.
It is recommended to combine wood with other natural materials: natural stone, ceramics, natural textiles. Wooden furniture can be painted white, but the natural look of wood will also look very organic.
Kitchen in Provence style - wooden furniture will become a true decoration of such an interior. You should choose more elegant things - a round table with bent legs and chairs like this, a beautiful sideboard with an antique tea set, a light shelf for dishes.
The main task of Provencal decor is to create calm, rustic coziness and comfort.
Particular attention should be paid to the little things and decorate the kitchen with pleasant trinkets: figurines, vases, candlesticks, and so on.
Kitchen in Mediterranean style - simple wooden furniture painted white, light gray or pale blue is most suitable for arranging such an interior.
Despite the abundance of furniture and decorations, a Mediterranean kitchen should be spacious.
High-quality textiles will help create the appropriate atmosphere: light linen curtains, a snow-white tablecloth, soft pillows on the sofa, a large lampshade over the dining table. You should not overload such an interior with decorative elements, as it should be quite laconic.
Kitchen in a rustic style - when arranging such an interior, you can’t do without wooden furniture. It can be quite rough and simple. The presence of things from “grandmother’s attic” is welcome: it could be an old massive chest, an antique sideboard, a rough bench, and the like.
Rustic style usually uses natural wood for decoration.
The decoration of such a kitchen will be simple pottery on the shelves and short chintz curtains on the windows.
Kitchen in a classic style - when creating such an interior, you should give preference to elegant furniture made of natural wood. It will go perfectly with expensive textiles and antique dishes.
The natural wooden façade, made from knot-free furniture board, will fit well into a classic-style kitchen.
Gilding is welcome, as well as carved elements on the facades of the set. There is no place for synthetic cheap materials in such a kitchen.
Disadvantages of solid wood kitchens
Initially, it is worth considering such projects if the goal is not to save money, since all wooden furniture is expensive.
Particular attention must be paid to the connecting fasteners, since the material is cheap, and if you install low-quality or cheap ones, you may end up with the doors not holding up and falling. Such kitchens must be periodically coated with a special composition to maintain their appearance as well as functionality.
Due to frequent changes in temperature conditions, the material may lose its appearance and deteriorate. Limitation of the color palette, since wood does not imply a wide palette.
Light wood in the kitchen interior
A kitchen set made of light wood is perfect for furnishing a small kitchen. It will visually enlarge the room, make it lighter and more spacious. However, it is necessary to remember that you will have to take care of such furniture more carefully, since the light surface will show all the small scratches and all kinds of dirt, which simply cannot be avoided in the kitchen.
Interior of a white kitchen with golden patina.
The best shades for creating a harmonious kitchen interior: natural wood color, beige, light gray, white, pastel, café au lait, ivory. The decoration of the kitchen will be light textiles - light curtains on the windows, a lace tablecloth, and the like.
Kitchen design ideas from furniture
Manufacturers offer many options for wooden kitchen sets, as their popularity has only been growing over the years. A white kitchen with a wooden countertop always looks luxurious. It will not only visually increase the space, but also make the kitchen even brighter.
However, due to the fact that solid wood furniture may look a bit heavy, but you still want to buy a wooden kitchen, you can use analogue materials. Or, for example, use different materials during manufacturing.
Dark wood in the kitchen interior
Stylish and practical kitchen made of dark wood.
A set of dark shades of wood looks very noble and expensive. It is ideal for furnishing a kitchen in a classic style. The facades of such furniture can be decorated with carvings and gilding. It will go perfectly with heavy curtains on the windows, a massive bronze chandelier, and expensive porcelain.
A set in dark colors should be chosen if the kitchen is spacious enough. It will go well with materials such as porcelain stoneware, natural stone, glass. A kitchen with such furniture already looks self-sufficient and stylish, so you shouldn’t overload it with numerous decorative elements.
Choosing furniture for a wooden kitchen set
Table - it is desirable that this piece of furniture is also made of solid wood. Its shape can be any: round, rectangular, square, oval. It is important that the table fits the size of the room and matches the overall interior.
The most popular protection option is varnish coating, which will last 5-7 years. A more common coating is water-repellent wax or oil. But it absorbs odors and does not tolerate stains.
A round or oval-shaped dining table model, mounted on one massive carved leg, looks very good - such a piece of furniture will become a real decoration for a kitchen-living room made in a classic style. If the room is small, you can choose lighter models. Their color can be either dark or light.
Chairs - designers advise choosing them in such a way as to create a single ensemble with the table. You can purchase a ready-made set at a furniture store. If necessary, chairs can be made to order. They should be not only beautiful, but also comfortable.
Classic chairs made from natural ingredients.
Recently, light Viennese chairs have been in fashion again, which fit perfectly with Provence, shabby chic, Mediterranean and classic styles. Massive wooden chairs with high backs will look quite appropriate in combination with a wooden set.
Plywood kitchen
Kitchen tables made of solid wood always look very elegant and noble. But not everyone has access to this type of finishing in their interior, so often solid wood can be replaced with plywood.
Such material is not only quite durable, but can also easily bend if necessary. Its features include special surface treatment. The design possibilities of such headsets are also limited.
Choosing curtains for a wooden kitchen
When creating a kitchen interior with solid wood furniture, you need to select appropriate textiles for it. For rooms in Provence, rustic and country styles, light short curtains in light shades are ideal - it can be linen, chintz, cambric.
In a kitchen whose interior is made in a Mediterranean style, long curtains made of light silk, also in light colors, will look very harmonious. The decoration of a classic interior will be heavy curtains made of satin, velvet, and silk. You can also choose elegant organza tulle, flowing down in numerous folds.
Fabrics with a wide vertical stripe will help to lengthen low windows, and visually expand the wall with a horizontal accent.
What is the advantage of wooden kitchens?
Despite the fact that solid wood kitchens are not new, but have been used for quite a long time, their relevance not only does not decrease, but also increases.
The reason for this is one of the most obvious and simple - the naturalness of the material. Interestingly, wood was one of the first materials that began to be used for construction and production, including furniture.
Now solid wood kitchens from the manufacturer can be found with various glossy films, with the addition of metal plates and other additional materials. That is why it is not always possible to buy a kitchen made of solid wood due to the final cost.
Wall decoration in the kitchen with wooden furniture
In this case, it is recommended to give preference to natural finishes. It is best to avoid using traditional washable wallpaper. An excellent solution would be to decorate the walls with decorative plaster. You can also simply paint the walls, choosing light-colored paint.
Decorating the walls in the kitchen requires careful selection of materials.
You should not choose ceramic tiles for finishing such a kitchen, which will simplify the interior too much. In the decoration of kitchens made in Provence, country, shabby chic and rustic styles, you can use dark-colored wooden panels installed against the background of snow-white walls.
Ceiling and floor finishing
To finish the ceiling, you can choose the most traditional materials - for example, plasterboard. A stretch ceiling - matte or glossy - would also be an excellent option. As for its color, you should opt for the classic white shade.
The most important point when choosing a ceiling covering is the quality and wear resistance of the materials from which it is made.
To finish the floor, you can use a variety of materials: natural wood, parquet, porcelain stoneware, ceramic tiles, laminate. You should abandon such inexpensive material as linoleum. It is also important to take into account the overall interior of the room - for example, for a kitchen in a classic style, a light porcelain stoneware floor is suitable.
To reduce the danger of using ceramic tiles, you need to choose varieties with a rough texture for the floor.
When arranging a kitchen in a rustic or country style, you can choose a regular wooden board for finishing the floor. Parquet will decorate a kitchen furnished in Mediterranean, shabby chic or Provence style.
Organization of lighting in a wooden kitchen
If the kitchen with a wooden set and the same furniture is quite spacious, then the organization of lighting can be approached on a grand scale. For example, in its very center you can install a massive crystal chandelier (one- or two-level). A pendant chandelier, stylized as a large candelabra, with candle-shaped light bulbs installed in it, will look great.
When planning how to design lighting in the kitchen, it is worth considering separate connections (in parts) for overhead lighting - this is convenient, practical and allows you to save energy.
We must not forget about additional lighting - designers recommend using several wall sconces, made in the form of the same candles. The best materials for a chandelier that will be combined with wooden furniture are bronze, crystal, glass and ceramics.
How to properly care for a solid wood set
To significantly extend the life of a wooden set, you need to follow some simple rules when caring for it. It should be installed away from direct sunlight. It is also necessary to constantly maintain a stable temperature in the room, avoiding temperature changes.
On parts made of wood, the characteristic heterogeneity of the fibers is always visible, which is not a defect, but only serves as a sign of a real natural material.
It is important to ensure that the wooden surface is not exposed to chemicals that can instantly ruin the wood. To remove dust, it is advisable to use soft cloths moistened with an antistatic agent. You should also purchase special polishing products, which should be used no more than once every 3 months.
Recommendations before purchasing wooden furniture
When inspecting products made from natural materials, pay attention to the presence of knots, layers and cracks. If growth rings are visible on the texture of the wood, they should be distributed evenly over the surface. Natural material can be distinguished by its weight: it is much more massive.
Be sure to buy furniture with a guarantee, since it is almost impossible to determine by eye the raw wood used for manufacturing, however, such cabinets and tables can become deformed within a month after purchase.
Before purchasing, open all the doors and pull out the drawers: the hinges should work easily and without squeaking, and the handles should hold securely. If the furniture is made of heavy wood, leave it to specialists for delivery and assembly.
It is worth considering that such kitchens must maintain a humidity level of 60%. Therefore, it would be useful to have an air humidifier, especially in winter, when the radiators are running. To prevent furniture from becoming unusable ahead of time, use a hood when preparing food.
