Corner shelves for the kitchen: types and features of use

Open corner shelves are suitable for kitchens of all sizes, but they are especially good for small rooms. Unlike closed hanging boxes, the shelves do not make the space heavier, brighten up the corners, keep the lightness and volume of the room.

The advantages and disadvantages of such designs will always find their supporters and opponents. For a complete understanding of the corner models, let's take a closer look at their pros and cons. The merits include the following criteria.

1. They decorate and hide an empty nondescript corner.
2. They are functional and decorative - useful in any case.
3. The design takes up little space, unlike the upper cabinets, it does not clutter up the space.
4. The doors of closed corner drawers interfere with each other during use. This does not happen with open shelves.
5. Products are so simple to manufacture that they can be made by hand.
6. The choice of models in terms of configuration and color is quite large, which allows them to be matched to any stylized setting.
7. An open view makes it possible not to waste time searching for items.
8. The cost of such products is lower than that of closed wall cabinets.

Corner shelves are good in many ways, but they also have their drawbacks.

1. Dust accumulates on them.
2. Items on the shelf should always be in perfect order. These shelves are open to the view of everyone entering the kitchen.
3. You can't put old unsightly utensils on them, as well as large objects - kitchen appliances or pots.
4. If there is a stove or sink in the corner, the shelves will get greasy and splashes.

Corner shelves are divided by location (floor, wall, hinged), by material, purpose and design features. The location affects the design of the products themselves. Floor models can be much more massive than desktop options.

In fact, consisting of boards and awnings, such furniture is not difficult to make yourself. Simple designs can be varied by the number of shelves, the distance between them, size and material. Simple corner shelves are sometimes sold complete with a cabinet in which you can hide household items, and put spices, cups and other little things in an open place.

They are made of wooden slats, but more often they are metal products that are attached above the corner sink. These models are used for drying dishes. In the design of some modern trends, where the presence of chrome-plated metal is required, lattice shelves can be placed in any corner of the kitchen without being tied to the sink. They are laconic, without unnecessary decor, visually maintaining lightness and spaciousness in the room.

More complex models of corner shelves may have drawers for spices or other small items. Doors complicate the design, which cover selective sections of a multi-tiered corner structure.

Corner shelves are often equipped with lighting. If they are intended for decoration, lighting favorably illuminates exhibits. If the shelf is in the working area, the functional area receives additional lighting, which is very convenient during cooking.

They use different types of lighting fixtures, for example, in the dining area above a cozy sofa on the shelves, you can fix a pair of sconces to create a romantic atmosphere. When using LED strip, you should choose products with low lighting so that it does not dazzle, but only draws attention to the decor. They illuminate well, but do not dazzle correctly placed spotlights in the lower parts of the shelves.

Country-style interiors, shabby chic, Provence use fresh juicy greens in their decoration. Corner shelves dedicated to flowers can be made of wood or wrought iron. Often they have bumpers so that the pots of herbs do not slide down.

Each material is good in its own way, and it does not have to be wood, chipboard or MDF. More moisture-resistant materials are relevant for the kitchen, so in the interior of such rooms you can find shelves made of glass, plastic, metal and stone.

Graceful and airy glass shelves let in light, they are light and beautiful. The decor on them is visible from almost all sides, soft lighting makes the corner just "magical". Tempered glass with a thickness of 8 mm is used for the shelves.

In terms of strength, it cannot be compared with wood or metal, but it is relatively durable, freely withstands several dozen thick cookbooks. The disadvantages of glass structures include their whimsical care. They easily collect dust, but an attempt to remove it with a damp cloth ends up with streaks. Glass shelves will decorate the kitchen v fusion style, minimalism, neoclassicism.

In large products, completely metal shelves are not so common. Usually chrome-plated supports or the entire frame are installed on which wood panels are laid. But there are nifty little lattice structures, they are entirely made of steel and are plated with chrome. Beautiful wrought iron shelves can be made entirely of metal or combined with wood. Metal shelves are protected with a special coating that protects against corrosion. Such products can be suitable for modern technostiles - hi-tech, minimalism, loft.

Wood has always been used to make furniture. It has a wide variety of colors and a unique pattern for each product. Wood is an environmentally friendly material, it radiates warmth and a healthy atmosphere; the more wood in the interior, the more comfortable and calm the kitchen is. For use, the tree is treated with special insect impregnations, covered with moisture-resistant paints and varnishes.

The wood is durable and strong, the corner shelves can withstand kitchen appliances and a large amount of crockery. It is used in classical, historical, rustic styles, as well as in ecological and ethnic styles. Even modern interiors that prefer glass, metal and stone cannot do without wood. The material is easy to process, so it is often used to make handmade shelves.

Chipboards are a great alternative to expensive wood. It is they and the products made from them, having a democratic cost, are able to decorate every home. The slabs are covered with veneer imitating the species of any, even exotic wood. For corner shelves in the kitchen, it is more convenient to use chipboard lined with plastic (postforming method). It is a durable material that is easy to clean and can last for a long time.

You should know that in home use, MDF boards are safer than chipboard, which are impregnated with toxic adhesive mixtures. This composition is capable of evaporating when the ambient temperature rises, which is often the case in the kitchen.

Shelves made of natural or artificial stone add surprisingly richness to an unsightly corner. They can be massive floor-standing or compact, as if glued to the wall. The stone is used in modern techno interiors and in almost all types of country. It is good for classicism, baroque, empire and other historical styles. The disadvantage of such shelves can be the high cost and heavy weight of the material.

Corner shelves have a large number of models made of different materials with a rich color range, which makes it possible to choose a product for any stylized kitchen. Let's see how you can decorate interiors in different styles.

• Provence kitchens have a white color or delicate light shades of mint, blue, olive, cream. The shelves are simple and natural, painted in the color of their surroundings. Although they are functional, they are often used as decorative items, displaying old-fashioned crockery.

• Small tabletop corner shelf hi-tech made of metal and completely devoid of decor, which is typical for this direction.

• A compact, distinctive wooden shelf that can fit anyone village direction.

• Classic combined suspension structures open and closed is a good example for a small kitchen.

• The decorative corner shelf fits perfectly into the style Russian country.

• Exhibition open corner shelf suitable for style rustic or American country.

• Bright kitchen in scandinavian style without top cabinets, it is equipped with convenient corner and straight shelves.

• Open corner shelves in style minimalism usually decorated with spotlights.

• Glass decorative shelves for small kitchens can be used in any historical direction.

• Open shelves located in the second tier make the interior lighter and visually more spacious. Such options are often used in the loft style.

Corner shelves can be installed on the floor, on a table, or hung on the wall. Any of the 4 corners of the kitchen will work for them. Let's take a closer look at the accommodation options.

Ideal positioning of shelves, as utensils and other essential kitchen utensils are literally at hand while cooking.

In this part of the working area, it is convenient to use lattice shelves... They can be in the form of tiny products suspended on rails, they are filled with little things. And they can be fixed on the wall or installed on the table above the sink and used for drying dishes.

The beautiful shelves in the dining area harmonize well with the furniture and create a cozy atmosphere.

The presence of corner shelves in the kitchen makes life much easier for the hostess. To make your corner even more functional and effective, you can use several proven ideas.

• It is convenient to place movable spice shelves in the corner above the countertop; they can change their position on two adjacent walls at the request of the hostess.
• The rotating shelves in the corner of the lower tier of the headset are practical. If it were not for the idea of ​​rotation, then it would be very difficult to get to things located in such a place.
• An interesting idea is to install round stands with a rotation element at the junction of adjacent shelves. This rounds the corner and makes it easier to access.

Items that need to be easily and quickly accessible (tea, coffee, spices, cereals) can comfortably sit on open shelves. If you put the little things in beautiful jars, such a corner will become decorative and functional at the same time, it will pleasantly brighten up the working environment in the kitchen.

See below for more details.