The apron protects the walls in the work area from grease and dirt, steam and heat, while it is always in plain sight and is the first to strike the eye when entering the kitchen. Therefore, it should be, firstly, simply not killed, and secondly - beautiful. In this material we will tell you what aprons are, what pros and cons have different materials, and also what kind of apron to choose for the kitchen in design and size.
Review of materials
Ceramic tile
Ceramic tiles - the most popular material for finishing the apron.
Pros: easy to clean, durable, resistant to moisture, fire, alkalis and acids. The tile is eco-friendly and inexpensive. Among the ceramic tiles there is a large variety of shapes and sizes, textures and designs, and there are a great many ways of laying. The tile can be combined with any countertop, organically fit in both modern and classical interior. If desired, wall tiles can be laid independently.
Minuses: the apron from a tile has a weak place - seams. If the tile itself is cleaned once or twice, then you have to mess with the grout and periodically update it. Another disadvantage is that the styling process is rather dirty and requires a smooth foundation.
Tips for choosing:
- Light tile + light seams - an impractical combination, as over time the seams darken and look untidy.
- To make the apron easy to clean, give preference to a smooth matte tile rather than glossy and / or embossed.
- To seal the seams of the apron from the tile you need to use waterproof grout intended for kitchens.
- For classic kitchens more suitable square small-format tile, as well as tile with a pattern under the majolica.
- The most versatile design option for kitchen apron is a hog-size tile.
- A variety of simple tiled apron will help decorative inserts as in the photo below, borders and accents from the mosaic.
See more details:
Mosaic
The mosaic can be made of ceramics, porcelain stoneware, glass, smalt, stone and metals and sometimes of all these materials at the same time. Sold mosaic already folded on the grid-matrix.
Pros: strength (especially of smalt mosaics), the possibility of facing a curvilinear or simply not too smooth surface, the possibility of making a complex and unique artistic composition.
Minuses: a large number of seams, a high price (higher than ceramic tiles), a little more complexity and high cost of installation, especially when laying a complex pattern.
Tips for choosing:
- If you want to save money, use a mosaic in combination with ceramic tiles, such as, for example, in this interior in the photo below.
Combined kitchen apron of mosaic and tile
- Mosaic can replace the tile "under the mosaic", which is cheaper and easier to fit.
See more details: All about kitchen mosaic apron and more.
Artificial and natural stone
Most often for finishing the apron use tiles (sleba) of natural / artificial granite or marble with a thickness of about 2 cm.
The advantages of granite: due to its density and hardness, granite is durable, not afraid of fire and temperature changes, does not absorb moisture and dirt. The color of the apron of granite can have a very different shade - gray-pink (the most common and inexpensive), yellow, blue, brown, red, black and almost white.
Cons of granite: high price, the need for professional installation. Granite purchased from an unscrupulous manufacturer may be radioactive.
Pros of marble: marble apron is perhaps the most beautiful. Domestic marble can be relatively inexpensive.
Cons of a marble apron: marble has a high moisture absorption, because of which it absorbs grease and dirt. Glitter is lost over time, and some stains, for example, from rust or beet juice may simply not be washed off.
Advantages of artificial stone (agglomerate): ease of care, strength, seamless finished apron, variety of colors and textures, the possibility of restoration.
Cons of artificial stone: high price (higher than the porcelain, ceramics, glass).
Details in the material: Guide to the choice of artificial and natural stone for finishing the apron
MDF and chipboard
Using wood to finish the apron is not practical, not safe and expensive, so it is replaced with budgetary imitations - MDF or laminated chipboard. The thickness of such an apron can be from 4 to 15 mm. As a rule, MDF and chipboard are selected to the tabletop.
Pros: the ability to arrange an apron in the tone of wood or stone countertop, low price, easy and quick installation, even on a curved wall, ease of maintenance.
Minuses: MDF and chipboard are not suitable for finishing the area behind the stove (especially gas), firstly, because of the high flammability, and secondly, because of the sensitivity to aggressive cleaning. Therefore, these materials are combined with a stainless steel insert or glass screen. Another disadvantage of an apron made of MDF / chipboard is the presence of seams between the sheets, which are closed with moldings and corners, which complicates the cleaning of the kitchen and does not look too good.
See more details: MDF wall panels in the apron and kitchen walls.
Metal
Pros: Matt and slightly textured stainless steel is very easy to clean. No scratches, no grease or cleaning products are not afraid of it. The apron from a stainless steel is very durable and wearproof.
Minuses: polished (not matte) steel, though very beautiful, but not very practical, because fingerprints, stains from water droplets and scratches easily remain on it. In addition, the metal apron fits only for modern kitchens.
Glass apron
To decorate the kitchen apron, they use not simple glass, but tempered glass, since it is stronger on impact and safer. If you try hard and break the glass, then it will break not into sharp fragments, but into small and smooth pebbles. The glass apron is hung on special anchors with decorative plugs.
Minuses: glass apron is made only to order just under the individual sizes, cut it at the installation stage will not work. Installation is carried out only by professionals. Another major drawback of glass is the high cost (from 5,000 rubles per square meter).
Pros: glass apron can be washed even with a brush and by any means, it does not scratch, is not afraid of fire, sunlight, temperature changes. Service life is about 10 years. Transparent glass can be installed on top of “fragile” finishes, such as wallpaper or painted walls, photo collages or posters, masonry or wood.
Transparent glass apron in the modern kitchen
Glass screen on an apron painted with graphite paint
And glass is a great base for photo printing. This apron is called skinali.
Skinali with a pattern in the interior of the kitchen-living room
The glass apron is made not only in the form of solid sheets, but also in the form of a tile, which can be folded in traditional ways, for example, as a “herringbone” as in the following interior.
See more details: All about glass aprons for the kitchen - from skins to Plexiglas.
Plastic apron
Plastic wall panels are a good solution for super-budget repair or kitchen decoration in a rented apartment or cottage.
Pros: The main advantage is the low price, which allows you to frequently change the look of the apron. Plastic is easy to clean, can be mounted independently and even on a curved wall.
Minuses: plastic apron is not compatible with a gas stove. It is also prone to scratches, abrasion and fading from sunlight. The service life of plastic is only a few years.
Tip:
- In Ikea, you can purchase a double-sided panel installed in special profiles. Such an apron can be changed independently every day.
See more details: Plastic apron - information for customers.
How to choose the color and design of the kitchen apron
Here are some tips to help you choose the right apron design and fix some kitchen flaws:
- Most often, an apron is selected under the tabletop and they are made either from the same material, for example, stone, or from materials as close as possible in color and texture. What else can you choose when choosing a color and pattern for a kitchen apron? On the color and pattern of facades, walls, floors, curtains and other interior elements.
Blue apron support blue accents
The design of the kitchen apron echoes the wallpaper and facades
- Dark apron - the most impractical. Against this background, dust, water droplets, and splashes of fat will be especially noticeable.
- When choosing a bright color or a motley pattern for the design of an apron, remember that the interior should be made neutral.
- Want to expand the small kitchen visually? Then decorate the apron so that it has as many horizontal lines as possible. For example, it can be striped or ceramic hog tiles.
- Increase the space and enhance the lighting of the kitchen will help and mirror apron. True, it is suitable only for those who rarely cook and rely on a beautiful appearance, because the mirror is very difficult to keep clean.
- Most appetizing food looks on a warm background, for example, orange, red, yellow.
Determined with height and size
The standard height of the kitchen apron is 60 cm, which is convenient for people of medium and high growth. However, if the majority of households are low, then the apron is better to make a height of 45-55 cm. We also recommend to slightly lower the height of the apron if the upper cabinets are opened upward with the help of door closers. After all, if the opening of these doors is not difficult, then to close them, you have to stand on a stool or do it in a jump.
Low apron
For partly or completely kitchen unit without wall cabinets the apron can be issued standard height or overestimated. For example, it may reach the ceiling or occupy approximately ¾ walls. Below are examples of kitchen furniture aprons without wall cabinets.
If you wish, you can protect not only the area above the table top and stove, but also the area behind the hood.
If the work area has a niche, then it is best to veneer it completely.
See more details: The correct size of the apron is the secret of a comfortable kitchen..
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In the old apartment for several years mosaic apron made of ceramics. Looks great, almost as good as new. I see no difficulty in caring for him. When my wall, what's the difference mosaic or ordinary tile? The area for washing is the same. A mosaic looks much better. Now we are moving to a new apartment, doing repairs. I just can not choose, again a mosaic or glass. Although it looks very nice glass with a pattern. Thanks for the article, a lot of interesting information.
I learned about the glass apron relatively recently. My girlfriend began to cooperate with the studio of kitchens, she prepared images for printing on such aprons. I saw many already embodied ideas from just fruits, flowers, some abstractions to whole masterpieces and 3D images. I do not know how practical they are, but the fact that visually they look very beautiful and stylish is indisputable!
I want to add on the glass apron - very beautiful, but very fragile. Even if it is a tempered glass, it may still crack due to temperature changes. Still you need perfectly flat walls or there will be problems with the mount. And one more nuance that the manufacturer of kitchen aprons advised me was not to remove sockets in glass, as this increases the risk of breaking the glass up to 50%.
I like only an apron under a stone or burnt brick. Firstly it fits any style, and secondly it looks very cozy!