Mirror apron for the kitchen: features, varieties, selection and care

The kitchen apron was invented to protect the walls in the kitchen from dripping grease, steam and hot splashes. If the area between the work surface and the wall cabinets were finished with ordinary plaster or paper wallpaper, then repairs would have to be done every six months. The apron is made not only from tiles, chipboard and MDF. Let's talk about mirrors in the kitchen.

A mirror backsplash for the kitchen is better than other materials at preventing dirt. It has other virtues as well.

• High strength. If the apron is made of tempered glass, it is not afraid of temperature extremes, high humidity and open fire.
• Easy maintenance. Dirty stains that appear during operation are removed with a sponge soaked in water and a mild detergent solution.
• Resistant to mold and rot. They do not eat into the structure of the mirror due to the absence of pores, roughness and do not multiply on it, as in the places of contact of ceramic tiles.

Along with the advantages, the apron has 2 irrefutable disadvantages.

• Ceramic tiles have more strength than tempered glass, but still it is difficult to break it with a hammer with one blow.
• The glass is easily scratched if cleaned with an abrasive detergent. Household chemicals containing hydrofluoric acid are not suitable for cleaning.

Mirror apron is made of tempered or raw glass. The first option is not affordable for everyone, and the second is more democratic in price. The difference in cost is explained by the fact that tempered glass is highly reliable, as well as the fact that when broken, it does not shatter into small and sharp fragments.

Tempered and damp glass is given the following look.

• Mirror cast panel. If the kitchen area is small, then it is used to finish the area between the work surface and the wall cabinet. Its length is up to 3 meters, and its thickness is from 6 mm. By installing the panel as a single unit, you save yourself the hassle. It harmoniously fits into the interior of the kitchen in hi-tech or minimalism styles.

• Mirror tiles. On the kitchen wall in the work area, an ornament is laid out of tiles of various shapes and sizes with mirror or matte surfaces. If the tiles are laid out with "bricks", they will get the most popular type of apron design for the kitchen. In this case, it is better to prepare in advance for painstaking care: although the joints are coated with a transparent and dirt-repelling sealant, it still accumulates, spoiling the appearance and violating the integrity of the structure.

• Mosaics. They are sold in various shapes and sizes. In a kitchen decorated in Art Nouveau, loft or hi-tech styles, a "picture" is assembled in the desired place on the wall from small pieces of mosaic or from a single matrix, which has a flexible and elastic base. Mirror mosaics, as well as tiles, are troublesome to maintain, but a small ornament well masks traces of dirt. It is distinguished by its high price and complexity of installation.

There are the following types of mirror surfaces.

• Satin. The surface of the base is chemically affected. The result is a matte kitchen apron or an apron with patterns and ornaments. Satin glass does not reflect light. This option is not suitable for cases when they want to expand the space.
• Colored mirrors. They can be green, bronze, purple, pink, or any other color. They play up the decoration of the kitchen unit and walls. They are chosen both to match them and in contrast.
• Artificial aging. This finish is chosen when decorating a kitchen in a classic or vintage style. There is a slight haze effect on the apron while retaining the reflection function.
• With drawing. This design option is chosen to give the interior exclusivity. Any pattern is applied to the mirror by transferring it to a film and gluing it to it or by sandblasting its outer side.

When used correctly, the mirror expands the space. If you do not take into account a number of nuances when placing material on the set, then this effect cannot be achieved. A kitchen apron is a finishing material that takes up the space between the base and wall cabinets of the headset. The work area is almost always considered as a whole. Therefore, you cannot split the gap by finishing with an apron from a mirror only the area near the sink or above the work table. If you apply it over the entire area between the bottom and the top of the headset, then the furniture will lose its bulk.

An apron is not made up only of a mirror if the distance between the wall and base cabinets is large or there are only shelves on top. Otherwise, it will appear larger than it actually is, and the top and bottom will look like scattered elements. It is better to choose a mirror to match the color of the wall decoration or the upholstery of the kitchen furniture.

The interior is formed taking into account the shade of the surface of the mirror apron.

• If the kitchen set is white, and the kitchen itself is decorated in high-tech style, then the mirror is chosen dark tinted.
• If the furniture is made of solid wood, and the finishing contains materials of golden color, then the mirror is selected in a light shade.

Using a mirrored apron in the decoration of the kitchen, the kitchen table is placed in front of it.This will increase family well-being. In no case should a mirror panel be placed in front of it. Otherwise, the household will develop a depressive state and causeless fears will appear. If a person unpleasant for the hostess appears on the threshold of the kitchen, then immediately after he leaves, the mirror is wiped, thereby expelling negative energy.

Of all the materials for finishing the apron, the mirror is the most practical, luxurious, original and elegant. It complements a classic or contemporary kitchen.

The pros and cons of a mirror apron, see below.