Economy class kitchens: advantages and disadvantages, how to choose furniture (50+ real photos)

Arrangement of a luxurious glass apron in the work area

A kitchen apron is an important design element that no kitchen can do without. It not only performs a decorative function, but also protects the walls of the work area from hot splashes, hot fat, steam and other adverse influences.

Traditionally, ceramic tiles are used to decorate a kitchen backsplash. However, if you want to make your kitchen more attractive, you can replace this material with tempered glass.

Skinali will become a real decoration of the room and transform it for the better.

The main advantages of this solution:

• Glass aprons are made in different colors; they come in matte and glossy, with photo printing and hand-applied designs.
• Installation of this element of the working area is easy and quite quick.
• Using the glossy surface of a glass apron, you can visually enlarge the space of a small kitchen.
• This apron is highly durable and resistant to aggressive influences; it will last for many years without losing its qualities.
• A glass apron is very practical, easy to care for, and microbes do not multiply on the surface of the apron.

Preparatory work

The first day.

Before starting work, it is necessary to clear the room of furniture and equipment, remove the box from the battery (if any). Ideally, work should begin in a completely empty kitchen, but in my case, it was decided to leave the hanging cabinets in place, because... Replacing the wallpaper behind them was not included in the plans.

The next step is to clean the walls from the remnants of old wallpaper. You can use a special wallpaper remover or simply wet the hard-to-remove pieces with warm water, as I did. The most important thing is to have time to scrape off the wallpaper before it dries. To speed up the process I used a spatula.

This time the apron could not be replaced, but clearly needed restoration. I carefully collected the loose tiles and removed the tiles whose fastening was in doubt.

I collected all the garbage in bags and began dismantling the floor covering. The skirting boards and linoleum were no longer good for anything and were sent for scrap, but I carefully removed the fiberboard, which acts as a backing, and left it to wait in the wings. The preparatory work is over and you can admire the results of the first day of renovation.

First day of renovation

Second day

Let me make a reservation right away that I did not plan to level the walls and floor as part of the cosmetic renovation of the kitchen. But the dismantling work revealed misfortunes that I could not close my eyes to.

Condition of the kitchen floor at the time of renovation

Condition of the walls in the kitchen at the time of renovation

The potholes in the walls were plastered over (I used plaster and a wide trowel).

Plastering large potholes in the walls

1. Holes and obvious unevenness in the floor are eliminated using a cement screed. I used the cheapest one.
2. I prepared a solution: water and cement screed, approximately 1:4. Mixed it thoroughly with a construction mixer (in my case it was a hammer drill with a special attachment).
3. For better adhesion, I wet the floor with water.
4. Using fairly sharp movements, I applied the solution to problem areas.
5. Carefully leveled the mass with a spatula.

Cheap kitchen flooring repairs

Installing a TV in the kitchen

It is safe to say that a television is also a household appliance that has become firmly established in the life of every person. And in the kitchen (the room where household members spend a lot of time), you definitely can’t do without it. To enliven the interior with the help of this device, you need to wisely choose the way to place it.

There are several good options:

• Install the TV in a niche, attaching it to the wall.
• Just put the TV on the shelf.
• Hang it high - for example, above the refrigerator.
• Place the TV in the work area at eye level.
• Hang on the wall using a special sliding bracket.
• Place the TV in the corner of the kitchen.
• Place it in the dining nook.

A prerequisite is that the TV must be installed in such a way that it is comfortable to watch while sitting at the dining table.

Installing a sink opposite a kitchen window

A sink installed under a window is a technique that European and American designers often resort to. Especially often, such a solution for arranging a kitchen can be found in country mansions.

Even if the house has a modern dishwasher, the sink will still remain the central part of the work area. A sink located right under the window is also an excellent opportunity to admire nature and listen to birdsong while washing dishes.

Unfortunately, arranging a sink in such a place in urban apartments is associated with some difficulties, but they can be overcome if you follow the advice of designers. Such a solution can completely transform the kitchen interior, making it more interesting and modern.

However, the implementation of such an idea is fraught with some difficulties. It is recommended to entrust such work only to a specialist - that is, a qualified plumber. Extending communications and pipes will be the most critical part of the process.

To organize normal drainage, you will have to raise the drain pipe by about 5 cm - this is the calculation for each additional meter of moving the sink.

In some cases, the sink has to be moved over significant distances - for example, across the entire kitchen, to the opposite wall.

Regardless of what type of sink is installed near the window sill (round, oval, square, recessed, ceramic, composite, etc.), splashes from it will fall on the glass and stain it. This means that you will have to do extra cleaning regularly.

To avoid this situation, it is recommended to install the sink near a deep window sill. If there is a distance of about 20 cm between the window frame and the sink, then you can cover this space with tiles, or choose a special sink with a high side.

If the window sill is at the same level as the sink, you can install the faucet on the edge of the frame - then not all splashes will reach the window and you will not have to wash the glass so often.

Changing the kitchen set

The easiest way to change a kitchen set is if you use various technologies correctly or approach the problem with imagination. The simplest thing is to replace the facades. Today all this is on sale, you can install the hinges and hang the doors yourself. True, not all of the facades you choose may turn out to be cheap, but if you look, you can buy affordable designs in stores.

What else can you offer?

• Just change the handles. It would seem that the set is not the most visible element, but try it, and you will be surprised how your furniture has changed. In addition, you can adjust the design of the handles so that the set itself will differ from the previous one purely stylistically. For example, if you install smooth metal handles on the facades, then the kitchen set itself will be designed in a minimalist or hi-tech style. Patterned handles, preferably ceramic ones, will turn white furniture into Provence style.
• The easiest way is to repaint the facades. In this regard, the kitchen is a room in which you can experiment. True, painting itself is associated with certain types of work, but you can do it yourself. To do this, you need to remove the facades and go over them with coarse sandpaper to remove the old finish. You can use a sander - it will be much faster. Then the surface is sanded with fine-grained sandpaper, that is, the surface is brought to a certain evenness and smoothness. After this, they are primed and painted after drying. By the way, you can paint the facades in different colors and install them alternately, creating a rainbow effect in the kitchen.
• You can do decoupage on the doors. That is, stick patterns or designs made of fabric or paper on them, and then cover them with colorless varnish. The technology is very simple.
• If there are not cabinets installed on the walls, but open shelves, then the back walls can be painted or repainted. The same can be done if glass fronts are installed on the wall cabinets.
• You can age furniture; this is very popular today. If there are scuffs, cracks and chips on the facades of your kitchen, then the effect can be enhanced.
• Everyone knows that glass in the kitchen gives the space airiness and light. But not all housewives want to display what is in their closets. Therefore, it is optimal to install frosted glass on the facades instead of transparent glass.
• The kitchen will change dramatically if moldings are glued to the doors of the kitchen unit. This is probably the easiest option for changing the design of a room.

Aging furniture in Provence style

These are not all the options for remodeling kitchen furniture that can be used today in terms of a budget approach to resolving the issue of renovating a given room. But they are very simple in terms of the process itself. So take note of them.

Read also: Advantages and disadvantages of a corner kitchen 9 sq.m.

Placing a bar counter in the kitchen

Such an element of a modern interior as a bar counter belongs to the culture of America and Western European countries. In fact, this is a kind of dining table that performs several functions simultaneously.

A bar counter can transform a kitchen beyond recognition, making it original and special. It will become a respectable and stylish element of the room, and will emphasize the good taste of the owner of the home.

In what cases is it recommended to install a bar counter in your kitchen? Designers advise choosing this element if:

• The kitchen is small and a traditional dining table takes up too much space.
• If the kitchen space needs to be divided into several functional areas - dining and working.
• If you want to arrange a special corner for installing a minibar (the kitchen should be spacious enough for this).
• If you need to combine a balcony and a kitchen together (in this case, a bar counter can be equipped from the bottom of the wall between these two rooms).
• If the kitchen space needs to be optimized as much as possible, to make it more functional and convenient.

The dimensions of the bar counter will depend primarily on the size of the kitchen itself. The more spacious it is, the larger this design can be. You also need to select special high chairs for the bar counter.

Tricks for decorating an inexpensive kitchen

Budget kitchen is not necessarily synonymous with bad and short-lived. When ordering a kitchen set, the cost is greatly influenced by some points that are difficult to foresee for the uninitiated. Using these simple techniques, you can significantly reduce the price with the same functionality and ease of use.

The nuances of economy class cuisine

1. Corner headsets will be much more expensive than linear ones. This can be played up by placing, for example, a refrigerator in a corner.
2. Simple design : all kinds of stylish accessories that look so good in the photo can be purchased much cheaper on your own.
3. Built-in furniture also significantly increases the price of the kitchen, so if you are on a budget, it is better to avoid it.
4. Simple contours : corner or straight kitchens will be cheaper than an option with a breakfast bar or free-standing island.
5. The furniture “filling” significantly affects the cost of the set: the fewer retractable shelves there are, the cheaper it will be.
6. Independent purchase of furniture handles : even this seemingly mini-detail takes up a decent portion of the price of the furniture.

All sorts of marketing tricks will also help when arranging the kitchen interior: discounts and sales of past collections or just an exhibition version. It is rare, but you can find defective models, the shortcomings of which can be easily eliminated independently and at home.

It can be:

• mini damage to facades;
• chipped glass parts;
• slight discrepancy in color palette;
• unsuitable furniture fittings;
• other minor defects that can be easily corrected.

A good alternative to buying a ready-made furniture set would be to order unassembled furniture. Self-assembly will not take much time, and the price of such a purchase will be much lower.

You should also pay attention to small manufacturing firms that can be found in every city. Their prices for services are much lower than those of venerable companies, and the quality and range are quite decent. The best way to navigate when choosing such companies is on the advice of friends. Do not hesitate to ask for documents and certificates for products, inquire about the “homeland” of your headset and ask to see photos with examples of finished work.

Economy-class kitchens are a popular solution for decorating the interior of a standard Khrushchev-era apartment. Corner and linear mini-sets, selected taking into account the simple recommendations given in our article, will help you make your kitchen interior as functional and beautiful as possible. Reasonable savings and the choice of suitable decor - this is what such decisions are based on.

Arranging a kitchen island

A kitchen island is a multifunctional table that is located in the center of the room, forming part of the so-called “working triangle”. The island makes it easier to move around the kitchen, making it more functional and convenient.

However, it can only be arranged in a spacious room. This kind of interior came to us from the restaurant business and is gaining more and more popularity every year.

The island includes several household appliances that no kitchen can do without. You can arrange them at your own discretion - this could be a built-in island countertop, hob, sink, dishwasher, oven, etc.

In addition, the island can serve as a bar counter, work surface and dining table. In fact, this design replaces a good part of the headset, freeing up the wall.

Using a transforming table in the kitchen

A transforming table can be a real godsend when it comes to arranging a small kitchen. The main feature of this model is that, if necessary, it can be increased not in width, but also in length and height.

If necessary, such a table quickly turns into a fairly compact product that can easily fit into even the most modestly sized room. Manufacturers equip such table models with special devices, thanks to which the control process becomes very simple and easy (even a child can handle the task).

Despite all the undeniable advantages, this model also has some disadvantages: its high cost, inconvenient placement of the legs, some bulkiness and heaviness. However, such massiveness goes well with all classic and traditional kitchen interiors.

Installing a dehumidifier in the kitchen

A dedicated dehumidifier is a simple and effective way to regulate indoor humidity levels. For houses and apartments, manufacturers offer mobile household models that collect excess moisture.

Such devices improve ventilation functions, increase the service life of the building, eliminate fogging of windows, and save furniture from mold and mildew.

Why do you need a dehumidifier in the kitchen?

1. According to research, a person loses approximately 900 g of moisture per day. If the humidity in the room is increased, a person absorbs even more of it and loses less. As a result, excess moisture accumulates in his body, which significantly worsens his health. This leads to an increase in the load on the body - the heart suffers most from increased humidity.
2. High indoor humidity poses a danger to asthma patients - it can cause swelling of the bronchi and spasms, and difficulty breathing. People suffering from arthritis and osteochondrosis also find it difficult to tolerate high levels of humidity. Many types of mold are pathogenic and are sources of increased danger. Installing a dehumidifier in the kitchen helps to avoid many unpleasant diseases.
3. In the humid environment that kitchens inevitably create, mold spores thrive. Fungus appears on the walls, which not only spoils the appearance of the interior, but also penetrates into the human lungs. A compact dehumidifier will not take up much space in the kitchen, but it will help maintain the health of your household and also protect the walls from gradual destruction.

Small budget kitchens - cheap renovation

Small kitchens can be just as beautiful and functional as large ones. You don't have to spend a fortune to create beautiful designs on a budget. For example, using light colors on the walls can open up the space. Yellow, orange, light blue and green are colors that are popular today not only for living and dining rooms, but also for kitchens. Dark colors are known to close down space.

It is also important to know that having too much or too large pieces of furniture will make the space smaller. Use smaller tables and chairs or even bar stools if available. By freeing up floor space, you'll not only make your kitchen look larger, but you'll also have more space to move around without bumping into or maneuvering around furniture.

Kitchen faucets have certainly come a long way over the past few years, both in appearance and functionality. A kitchen faucet with a high arc allows you to place large volumes of dishes. Always consider both form and function when purchasing items, as when designing on a budget, it's important to be practical with your choices.

And the last thing that needs to be done in a budget kitchen design is to free the windows from heavy and dark curtains. Instead, hang curtains that are light and airy to let in plenty of natural light. They will give your kitchen more curb appeal, making it appear larger, brighter and cozier. You can read about which curtains will suit your kitchen and which design to choose here.

Arrangement of an arch in the kitchen instead of the front door

An arch in the kitchen, replacing a regular front door, is one of the simplest and most elegant ways to visually enlarge a room, making it more spacious and bright.

Designers offer a huge number of types and shapes of arches: they can be ornate, classic, strict geometric, ellipsoidal and so on.

To make such structures, you can use different materials: lightweight plasterboard, chipboard, brick. An elegant arch will fit perfectly into the classic interior of a kitchen; it can also be built when arranging a kitchen in any of the modern styles.

An arch will make any room more original and attractive. It is only important to remember that this design has one drawback - it does not prevent odors from the kitchen from penetrating into the rest of the room. To avoid this, you will have to install a good hood above the stove.

Combination of balcony and kitchen

A great way to remodel a kitchen and completely transform it during the renovation process is to combine it with a balcony. To do this, you will have to partially or completely remove the wall between the two rooms.

Designers advise not to demolish the entire wall to the ground, but to leave its lower part to turn it into a bar counter. This design can also serve as a dining table if the kitchen is small.

It is important that the balcony is well insulated. It will be possible to place a refrigerator on the already attached balcony - thus, you will be able to save even more space in the kitchen, freeing up space for other purposes.

DIY budget kitchen

Painting kitchen cabinets

Painting your kitchen cabinetry is one of the most budget-friendly and easiest ways to create a fresh new look, choosing from the latest colors available. If you plan to paint your cabinets, be sure to prime them. There is a special furniture primer and a range of paints suitable for wood, melamine and MDF cabinets.

2.Installation of new countertops

You can radically change the appearance by replacing existing countertops. Laminate is the most economical to buy. If you have the cash to spare, consider add-ons such as heat rods that can be mounted on the surface for a permanent pot rack or a built-in drain board.

Update your kitchen floor

If a tatty kitchen floor is letting the design down, you can put new flooring on top. Most kitchen designers will advise you to simply run it under the baseboards rather than wall to wall, which will further reduce your costs.

Improve your storage spaces

It's amazing how much we accumulate over the years. Try taking a day to sort through your kitchen cabinets and then organize them so that you have access to the things you use every day. Cleaning your countertops can also instantly improve a budget-friendly kitchen design, and it won't cost you anything. Also, try rethinking your storage solutions.

Interesting kitchen renovation ideas (real photo examples)