A kitchen with a sink by the window is an original design solution that is increasingly being used during renovations. This stylish solution has found its application both in apartments and in private houses and cottages. A kitchen sink in a window sill will become the center of attention in the room.
Many designers offer non-standard solutions for kitchen interiors.
Kitchen set design
The most optimal method of using free space in a small kitchen is to install a sink near the window. Agree that it will be very nice to cook food and at the same time watch what is happening on the street. You can organize a niche directly in the headset itself, or you can place it in the window sill. Today we will talk about what are the advantages and disadvantages, what design solutions exist.
One of the ergonomic and popular ideas was a sink for washing dishes by the window.
In a large room
The design of a large room can be interesting. At the moment, the solution to “unfinished repairs” is relevant, when the entire space near the opening is left without additional decor. In this case, an interesting solution would be if the frame is painted in a catchy color. If it would be difficult to do without curtains, then roller blinds would be the best option. If the room is large and has several windows, then you can consider the option of decorative curtains.
In Europe, such a decision is not uncommon.
It will not be difficult to place it directly under the window opening in the house, which cannot be said about a city apartment. The first problem you may encounter is the need to lengthen water communications. After this, it is necessary to position the countertop, which will involve installing a sink under the window opening. You can line up the entire set right next to the window opening. Near it there will be a sufficient niche for growing flowers.
The sink takes up a significant amount of space in the kitchen, which usually reduces the countertop area.
In a small room
The most optimal solution for placing elements in a small room would be lengthwise. In this case, you can make good use of every centimeter of space.
A kitchen sink combined with a window sill allows you to increase the work area, making the cooking process more comfortable.
If you think through everything down to the smallest detail, then the window opening will become the main decoration of the kitchen and its advantage. By using additional space, you can increase the working plane. While cooking, you can observe what is happening outside the apartment.
Even if one person washes the dishes, another can quite freely use any part of the kitchen set.
Most kitchens are slightly elongated. In this case, it would be advisable to arrange the furniture lengthwise. Nearby you can place not only cabinets, but also a sink. At the bottom you can make shelves for dishes and all sorts of small items. The advantage of this arrangement of furniture is that the battery will be completely covered by cabinets. There is also no need to overload the kitchen with decorative elements.
Proximity to the window allows you to avoid using artificial lighting for a longer period of time.
Corner kitchen set
With the correct placement in a corner kitchen, you can achieve a visual increase in the room. If the room is of a non-standard shape, then it would be advisable to place it on the side of the window opening to disguise the battery. An attractive corner kitchen cabinet can be placed in the corner area.
It is enough to open the window slightly while washing dishes, and excess moisture will evaporate much faster.
Note! In the corner part you can place a plasma or shelves for dishes. By designing a corner kitchen, you can create a comfortable work area that resembles a triangle in appearance.
During this work, it is much more pleasant to look out the window than at a bare wall or rest your forehead against a cupboard with dishes.
By arranging the furniture correctly, you can significantly save space, which is the optimal solution for small kitchens. With the help of wooden furniture you can add sophistication to the room and make the interior unique. In Europe, for example, this arrangement of the sink has become commonplace and it is difficult to surprise anyone with this.
The kitchen set must be planned so that the height of the countertop does not exceed the height of the window sill.
Advantages and disadvantages
Kitchen design, which involves a corner layout of the workspace, has a number of advantages:
- Compactness - furniture and household appliances take up less space;
- In the corner you can place not only a work area, but also a dining area - the corner sofa is compact, and the drawers under the seat allow you to save space on the shelves;
- The corner layout of the room allows you to clearly divide the kitchen into a work area and a dining area.
Functional use of a corner kitchen: dining area, sink by the window, built-in appliances
Disadvantages:
- If the kitchen has niches or ledges, designing a corner element is quite difficult. Extra uneven walls add not only hassle, but also extra zeros to the cost of furniture and repair work;
- If the kitchen is small, most often the sink is placed in the corner. In this case, space is really saved, but such a sink is not very practical to use - there is not enough space in front of it. This problem is especially noticeable for owners with a large physique.
Corner kitchen with work area around the perimeter of the window
Where to place the sink
The most optimal location would be a sink opposite the window in the kitchen, installed under the opening. Agree, it’s very nice to wash dishes and at the same time watch what is happening in the yard? The tabletop can be placed on the window sill itself or an opening can be made in an already made one, but for this it is necessary to make it much wider.
It is better to purchase a sink as deep as possible to avoid splashes.
On the windowsill
A significant advantage is the space saving. At the same time, you get an additional working surface. This is very convenient for a studio where the kitchen with a sink by the window is combined with the living room.
The countertop must be plastic or natural stone, otherwise it may swell and deteriorate.
Near the window
Often, when planning a wash right next to the window opening, they create a wide work surface. Thus, the working area becomes wider, which will never be superfluous.
The installed sink and faucet should not interfere with the opening of the window.
Between two windows
If you are lucky and have two window openings in your kitchen, then the sink can be placed between them. There is much more light in such a room, which means that there is no need to install a large number of additional lamps. In addition, under it there will be an additional niche for various little things.
Planning the interior of a kitchen with a sink by the window depends on many factors: room area, shape, planned budget, preferred color scheme.
You can place indoor plants that will receive much more light and moisture. You can also place a greenhouse with shoots near the sink.
A cozy and good solution for a large kitchen space.
Sink by the window: advantages
In Europe, and in many American countries, placing a sink near a window is not something fantastic. Of course, their houses are designed in advance for such a layout; the necessary communications are laid immediately when the house is built. Why is a kitchen sink under a window such a popular solution? Should owners of domestic apartments resort to something similar?
The undoubted advantages of placing the sink by the window in the kitchen are:
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Excellent view from the window
And it doesn’t matter whether you live on the first floor or on the last. In the first case, washing dishes will be accompanied by watching your neighbors or passersby, and in the second, you will have an excellent panorama of the city or nature.
Daily routine work will turn into relaxation and meditation while observing life around you from the window. There is no longer any need to stare at the blank wall in front of the sink in the corner. After all, you see, we don’t often just look out the window to observe city life. Undoubtedly, from a psychological point of view, placing a sink near a window in the kitchen is worth it.
Daylighting
If your kitchen layout involves the location of the wet area in the corner, then the main disadvantage is the need to turn on the light even during the day, because this area is often deprived of natural light.
When placing a kitchen sink near a window, the problem with lighting is solved exactly half - now the light will only have to be turned on in the evening. And this will significantly save you energy consumption.
Increase in working surface
Most often, if we are talking about standard apartments in houses of the Khrushchev or Brezhnev type, the window sill is located at the level of the tabletop. This means that when moving the sink, you can order a countertop combined with a window sill. In turn, this leads to an increase in working space for the housewife, which is so lacking in small kitchens.
However, the space under the window in a typical kitchen always remains unused, and moving the sink to this area will add functionality to the room, making the most of the entire area. This solution is especially relevant when combining a kitchen and a living room - the work area can be moved under the window, thereby freeing up one of the walls of the room for other furniture.
Disadvantages of moving the sink to the window and options for eliminating them
Among the disadvantages of the location are the following:
- Water and sewer lines need to be relocated.
- Wood may begin to swell due to temperature fluctuations, so it would be preferable to use artificial stone.
- When moving the pipeline, pay attention to the quality of installation. This will ensure that you can use the system for a long time and have peace of mind that you won’t flood your neighbors.
The sink is quite deep, and the distance from the glass is maximum, which will not allow splashes to reach the window.
Advantages:
In addition to significantly saving space, you also make work more comfortable. We are talking about natural light, due to which the need for additional lighting disappears. Especially if previously the sink was in the corner of the room, and even under the cabinets. The same solution will be significantly more comfortable.
Modern Western-style kitchens are often complemented by a sink located directly under the window.
Washing dishes will be much more enjoyable from a psychological point of view. After all, it will be much easier for every girl to switch from the daily routine if she sees picturesque beauty through the window opening.
Note! Ventilation is another advantage. Water near the window will dry out much faster, which will prevent furniture from swelling and dampness.
In addition, by arranging a workplace, you can create a unique kitchen design with a sink by the window, which is not yet so common in our country.
This solution is typical for kitchens in apartments and for rooms in country houses.
Stylistic decisions
Relocating piping, heating equipment and plumbing is important, but so is the design of a kitchen with a sink by the window. It should also be thought out in advance. Interior planning depends on many factors: the area and shape of the room, the budget, the preferred color scheme.
The main options for the location of the kitchen unit:
- The letter "P". This option is suitable for a narrow or square kitchen. For greater functionality, the maximum number of corner shelves is used. In a narrow kitchen, it is better to place the kitchen unit along the window - this will visually expand the space. On the walls to the right and left of the window, narrow vertical furniture sections with glass facades (transparent or frosted) will look good. Such a move will visually shorten the length of the room and place the right accents, for example, on window decoration or a recreation area.
- The letter "G". In most cases, this layout is used in a small kitchen. Almost the entire kitchen set is placed in one row, and the smallest part of the wall is complemented by a small piece of furniture.
- Arrangement of all kitchen elements in one row. The sink, kitchen cabinets and stove are placed along one wall. An option for spacious kitchens in cottages or private homes.
The window itself in the kitchen can be located in different ways: be one large bright spot or narrow and tall, have several sashes or be located in the corner of the room. If there are several windows in the kitchen, a cupboard for dishes is installed in one of the corner openings.
It is also rational to allocate space on the sides of a narrow and tall window for wall cabinets or open shelves. And if the kitchen area allows, it is better to leave the entire wall with the window opening empty and decorate it with tiles. It will look stylish and practical.
For a kitchen with access to a balcony, an original option would be a design with a combined loggia. This unusual design solution will significantly increase the space and add natural light.
We have selected a collection of photos of a kitchen with a sink located near the window/windows. Perhaps you will find a suitable layout and design for your home or apartment.
Decor ideas
The design of a kitchen with a sink by the window, for obvious reasons, excludes the use of window shades and curtains. With this layout, it is the window that becomes an aesthetic element.
Taking into account the style of the room, the following decorative elements will highlight it:
- Roman or roller blinds, blinds made of dense material or bamboo;
- small lambrequin;
- bright frames;
- moisture-loving flowers on the windowsill behind the sink;
- a small ceiling light directly above the sink;
- a small ceiling shelf with porcelain vases, ceramic or clay pots, decorative dishes or other stylish elements.
Decorate the sink and window sill in the same style. Add bright details to the interior. And you will get a stylish kitchen from Western design magazines - the dream of any housewife.
Subtleties of moving the sink to the window
There are some nuances of the location, which we want to talk about further. For example, to prevent splashes of water from scattering throughout the room and work surface, you can use a deeper sink, at the bottom of which you can put a rubber mat that will prevent water from splashing. An excellent solution would be to install a protective screen that will absorb all the splashes.
A sink like this will become the center of attention in your room.
When installing it near a window opening, pay attention to which direction the frame opens. If it cannot be moved to a more convenient place, then you may have to limit yourself to micro-ventilation. Think in advance about whether such ventilation will be enough for you.
The sink located under the window is a design solution that receives a lot of positive reviews.
Algorithm for moving a sink
First you need to dismantle the radiators and install heated floors if necessary. Next, water is supplied. A tabletop is installed where the hole will be made. Then the mixer is installed and directly connected to the water supply.
If you have a classic window with wooden frames, then it is better to replace it with something more modern.
What problems arise during planning?
Slab location. According to SNiP, it cannot be placed under the kitchen window. This is not practical either: grease and splashes from cooking food will fall on the glass. The gas stove is placed at the outlet of the pipes, the electric stove is placed at the outlet installed for it. It is better to move it away from the window opening, to one of the edges of the headset.
Radiator. In apartment buildings it is installed under the window sill. It cannot be covered with furniture, and it will not be possible to use cabinets with blind doors in this place. There are two options: make lattice doors through which heat will enter the kitchen or not install a cabinet at all, leaving only a sink or work surface. If this is a private house, it is better to abandon the radiator in favor of a heated floor (not laid under furniture installed on the floor). This will allow you to use all the space near the walls.
Tabletop. They try to combine it with the window sill, but it is better if it is 1.5-2 cm higher. It is easier to make it narrow (according to the depth of the opening). This will help increase the usable area, but you should not clutter the window sill so that the sashes can open freely. You can put indoor flowers, spices, napkins, and other small things on it.
Washing. Water and sewer pipes are rarely installed under the window (unless it is a private house). More often they are placed against one of the walls. If you are finishing a kitchen in a new building or doing a major renovation, the pipe outlets can be moved. The sink is installed under the window so that splashes do not fly onto the glass (otherwise they will be constantly dirty, and mold may appear in the corners of the frames). It is better to install a deep sink and either a flexible faucet or a faucet with a low spout. This will protect against splashes. The tap is positioned so that it does not interfere with opening the window. If it is large, with only one flap that swings open, it is better to move the sink under the blind flap. If not, move it forward, install a low faucet that will not interfere with the movement of the window frame.
Lighting. Work area lighting is often built into the top row of cabinets. If you don't have it, you can use:
- pendant ceiling lamps on long cords - the lampshades should be located above the working surface (they are shifted towards the window opening);
- turning lamps or sconces on flexible rods. When turned on, they are pulled out to the countertop or sink; if they are not needed, they are moved to the side;
- lamps built into the window frame.
Interesting ideas for decorating a window with a sink
A sink near the window in the kitchen, as in the photo, is an original solution for most kitchens. In a small apartment, this solution will significantly save space. If the sink is located under the window opening itself, and the dishes are placed on the window sill, then this creates more space for preparing food.
Double-glazed windows with plastic frames are the best option for such conditions of high humidity.
In the home, this solution also has its advantages. In this case, beautiful picturesque pictures will open before your eyes.
Window sink in different styles
More and more often, a sink is installed under a window opening, and at the same time, this design solution fits perfectly into various styles.
A sink located under the window is suitable for many kitchens.
For example, for a kitchen made in Provence style, a characteristic feature is the use of curtains. Most often, they are sewn using fabrics that allow air and light to pass through perfectly.
In the loft style there is no place for a cute print on the curtains. In this case, the windows may be left without decoration at all. More and more they resemble windows in a production facility.
In this case, it would be reasonable to use roller blinds or blinds.
In a minimalist style, the task of curtains is to add comfort and coziness to the room. The most common options for curtains in a minimalist style are blinds, roller blinds, Japanese curtains, Roman blinds. The most commonly used colors are blue, white, brown, milky, red or plum.
The print is used extremely rarely.
If the room is small and you are trying to save every cm, then this arrangement will be a reasonable solution. When decorating a kitchen in the same style, you can achieve an original solution and make the kitchen very similar to the room from European magazines. And cooking and eating in a beautiful kitchen is much more enjoyable.
