Hanging shelves in the kitchen: varieties and choices

Traditionally, when furnishing kitchens, they use oversized furniture modules, but in recent years, more and more users prefer hanging shelves instead of bulky top cabinets. This solution makes the kitchen brighter, more spacious and stylish. Let's dwell on the pros and cons of shelves, their varieties, design and subtleties of choice.

Wall shelves are considered the best solution for storing tableware, kitchen utensils, cereals, spices and other products. Among the main advantages of such structures are the following factors.

• Practicality. They take up very little space, visually expand the room, make it much lighter and more voluminous. In addition, open shelves allow you to quickly find any item you need.
• Multifunctionality. On the shelves, you can always mark both kitchen items and decorative items, for example, flowerpots with flowers, pots with indoor plants, figurines and even cooking books. Such structures are not only part of the storage system, but also an element of the interior.
• Big choice. The shelves are available in a wide range of types; wood, plastic, metal, glass and other materials are used for their production. They can have a variety of sizes, shapes and designs, which is why everyone can choose for themselves the option that will best meet the ideas of the owners of the premises about functionality and at the same time correspond to the style of the room.
• Ergonomic Open wall shelves can be hung at any height and often act as a link between wall cabinets. Unlike models, the doors of which have to be constantly opened and closed, the shelves are more convenient to use. Moreover, they are easy to clean.

At the same time, one cannot fail to note some shortcomings, which for many housewives become an excuse to reject the idea of ​​using such structures.

The storage capacity of the shelves is much less than that of the cabinets. For example, it is unlikely that it will be possible to place large pots, pans, cast iron and other elements of kitchen utensils here.

The shelves are open for viewing, they attract attention, so you have to think carefully about the details of placing objects on them. So, not everyone may like the dishes on display, food bags and kitchen utensils.

The contents of the shelves quickly become dirty with dust, so cleaning has to be done more often.

Depending on the design features, there are several types of wall shelves.

• Open. Such products can be classified as decorative and functional, they provide quick access to the dishes and make it possible to organize the storage of many items necessary for kitchen work without creating clutter with cabinets.

• Closed. These models have back and side walls, and are additionally equipped with doors (they can be hinged, sliding or lifting). As a rule, closed structures are optimal for storing pungent spices, fragile items, cereals and other bulk products.

• Corner shelves. These devices are optimal for small spaces. They are compact and ergonomic, therefore they are used with maximum rationality, especially in confined spaces. Usually they are hung in the corner above the countertop or near the corner sofa.

• Lattice shelves. These products are produced in a wide variety of designs, they differ in shape, size and color scheme. Such structures are able to withstand quite tangible weight loads, which makes them very convenient for storing tableware.

• Shelves with built-in drawers. These designs are as close as possible to traditional kitchen cabinets, but they do not clutter up the space and do not interfere with the spread of light, and therefore contribute to the visual expansion of the kitchen and a more comfortable stay in it.

• Backlit shelves. This is a very interesting stylish solution, and also quite practical. Such shelves can become an independent light source, usually LED strips, spotlights or small sconces are built into them.

For the manufacture of wall shelves, different materials and their combinations are used, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The most common solution is laminated chipboard shelves. This is a cheap material that is easy to form and assemble - the boards are easily cut with a circulating saw, so when making shelves, you can embody the most unusual fantasies and design ideas. Products can be of any shape, from standard rectangular to radius. At the same time, this material is considered less durable than all others.

Metal items usually have a rather graceful configuration. Due to the increased strength characteristics of the metal, such devices can withstand significant loads, they are extremely practical and durable. Metal fits best into kitchen interiors decorated in high-tech or modern style, chrome lattices add sophistication and sophistication to the product, emphasize the impeccable taste and high income of the owners of the premises.

Metal shelves look best in a kitchen where items with metal and glass surfaces are already installed.

Wooden is the most common solution. Wood is considered an environmentally friendly material, and in addition, it allows you to fill the kitchen with a sense of warmth and family comfort. Wooden shelves are often decorated with carved openwork elements, so they harmoniously fit into traditional classic interiors, for example, country and Provence. The tree looks especially impressive in combination with elements of shabby chic and eco-style.

Plastic - these products are classified as economy class. Plastic is resistant to moisture, therefore such devices will be indispensable for drying kitchen utensils. In addition, plastic shelves are on sale in a wide variety of color palettes, so everyone can choose the best option for their kitchen. Plastic is lightweight, easy to clean, but it can deform under the influence of heat, so keep such shelves away from the stove.

At first glance, glass wall shelves seem fragile, but in reality this is not so - not ordinary glass, but specially tempered glass with a thickness of at least 6 mm is used for their manufacture, it can withstand quite impressive loads.

Stone shelves - such a solution is rarely used in the interior., since the stone has a significant weight, which creates an increased load on the walls and fastenings. Of course, a shelf made of marble or granite has a decorative, expensive and impeccable look that immediately attracts attention, but if the installation quality is insufficient, such structures are likely to fall, and they are very expensive.

If you are determined to ditch standard kitchen cabinets in favor of shelves, it is important to make the right choice. First of all, you should decide on the purpose of your purchase: what function will the structure perform in the kitchen, what products you intend to place on it and what will be the approximate weight load.

• Be sure to take into account the size of the room and the stylistic design of the interior. So, for a small-sized kitchen, narrow shelves that do not burden the perception of the room will be the best choice, and for spacious kitchens, you can choose more massive wide models.
• The appearance of the shelf must certainly be in harmony with the design of the rest of the items in the kitchen.
• If you have a certain choice, it is better to give preference to models with suspended fasteners - you can dismantle this shelf at any time in order to wash and clean it from dirt.
• When choosing options, it is better to purchase a narrow multi-level shelf instead of a wide single-level shelf - this design will allow you to place a large number of the most diverse items.

Shelves become not only a functional part of the kitchen storage system, but also a decorative element that can either emphasize the design concept or nullify all efforts to decorate the interior. That is why, when choosing shelves, one should take into account the general idea of ​​decorating the kitchen.

So, classic style and provence go well with open hinged wooden shelves... And if you make them artificially aged or carved, then they will fit well with the shabby chic style. Shelves decorated with original floral ornaments will help to place the necessary accents in country or eco-style interiors.

Lovers of hi-tech and modern style can be advised of products made of ferrous metal or glass. Such surfaces in tandem with chrome elements will give the kitchen decoration some mystery and even a slight feeling of being on an alien space object. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners in such a room will invariably be perceived as part of a fantastic adventure.

Supporters of ultra-modern interiors, as well as those who like to mix styles, can recommend shelves with various types of lighting. In addition to a spectacular appearance, they will create additional illumination of the working area.

For information on how to make a shelf in the kitchen with your own hands, see the next video.