How to choose and place a bar counter for the kitchen?

Now, in both modern and traditional types of interiors, many people put a bar counter in the kitchen - in a small room it can replace a table, and in a spacious kitchen it can be an addition to it. The bar counter has many advantages and can be very convenient. If you are thinking about buying, in this article you will find recommendations for choosing, possible colors and materials, as well as features of the placement of the bar counter.

The design of a kitchen with a bar has its own characteristics. Such interiors can be very diverse - it all depends on your desires and needs. The bar counter unexpectedly fits well into a wide variety of interior styles and serves a variety of purposes.

The choice should be based on whether you have a large or small kitchen, how often you cook, how many people are in the family and what kind of layout you want. A kitchen with a bar counter can be suitable for both a studio and an ordinary apartment. The parameters of kitchens with a bar are as follows.

• One of the most common options is set with a sink in the corner, on one side of which is a work area for cooking, and on the other side is a bar counter that can be used instead of a table. It is a convenient, simple and versatile option for both large and small kitchens. Depending on where you place your kitchen, the work area may be larger or smaller.

• The bar counter can be very small, combined with the working area - this model is suitable if your apartment is large enough, and in addition to the bar counter, there is one more table. In this design, the rack is divided lengthwise - on one side you can sit down and have a snack, and on the other side you have a table top. This option contributes to the competent zoning of the room and will fit perfectly if you are planning to equip the kitchen-living room.

• Now in modern headsets built-in household appliances are often made under the bar - it can be an oven, stove, refrigerator or dishwasher - whatever is convenient for you. Built-in appliances have many advantages - this approach allows you to make the most of all the available space in your kitchen. In addition, for built-in appliances, the facades are made the same as for ordinary cabinets. This allows the entire kitchen to look solid, which is especially true for small spaces.

• The bar counter in some cases stands by itself and has nothing to do with the headset at all. It can be made of any material and placed parallel to the kitchen wall or at an angle.

• A variety of transformers are popular - for example, in some headsets additional pull-out tabletops or folding bar counters are provided. It is also very convenient in confined spaces - you can unfold them only when needed.

It should be borne in mind that in the headset, the rack and cabinets form a single whole. Sometimes it is important to visually separate them, but they must necessarily have some common elements. In addition, it is extremely important to take into account practical features - for example, there is sometimes a rather narrow passage between the bar counter and the headset, and the counter itself, as a table replacement, is convenient only for a small number of people.

Modern technologies allow you to create furniture for every taste - most often in stores they sell modular kitchens, in which parts can be easily changed to one another, creating your own design. The only exceptions are non-standard kitchens: for example, if you have a very small area. The kitchen can be straight, angular, U-shaped, or it can consist of two headsets running in parallel. In some parts, it does not have upper cabinets - this is typical for a large kitchen.

The kitchen consists of cupboards, drawers, open shelves - all this storage space depends on the size of the room. In modern headsets with a bar counter, built-in appliances are often used - this is very convenient and beautiful. All kinds of transformers, folding tabletops, pull-out work areas or parts of the kitchen on wheels are also popular - modern possibilities will allow you to arrange the space conveniently for yourself in everything.

Many people fell in love with bar counters precisely because of their diversity - their design can be no less variable than the design of the headset itself. Indeed, you can choose a model for every taste. First of all, the bar counter is a rather high narrow tabletop - it is either wall-mounted or across the kitchen. Which bar counter will be in its parameters is up to you.

The size of the bar can be any. We are used to long counters in bars, but this is not necessary in kitchen design. For a small kitchen, equipped for a family of one or two people, the bar counter can be very short - this is a mini option, like a small table.Most often, bar counters are made from 1 meter or more, but in many stores you can order a counter of the exact size you need, because its production is very simple - it will not be difficult for the master to shorten the countertop.

The shape of the bar counter can also vary significantly in different headsets. Most often it is a rectangle - this shape is simple and convenient, it is easy to place it along the wall and provide maximum space savings and a wide passage. However, the counter can bend in any direction and have a whimsical shape - if you have a lot of room in the room, you might want to consider a similar twist in your kitchen interior design.

Sometimes the bar counter is fully retractable, and this is also very convenient - for example, if you are dining with a larger company than usual, and there was not enough room for everyone at the table. It can also serve as a light snack throughout the day. The folding bar counter has the same functions - this is also often done in headsets: when assembled, such a counter can be a countertop for working in the kitchen, or simply a more compact counter. Modern transformers are very versatile and delight with their practicality and originality. For some types of interiors, a rotary transformer stand is well suited - it can be turned in one direction or another depending on your needs.

Sometimes the bar counter is used as practical as possible, placing drawers and storage shelves under it. Indeed, this place can be successfully used if you do not have enough headset cabinets, however, sitting behind a counter, at the bottom of which there are solid cabinets, may not be very comfortable. If the counter replaces your dining table, you should only make one or two small drawers under it. It is worth placing cabinets up to the floor only if your space is an addition to a full dining table - then this solution will be convenient.

Bar counters in modern interiors can differ significantly in the material from which they are made. Wood racks fit well in many interiors. You can consider dark wenge wood, mahogany or light wood, and even combine them together - this will give the interior environmental friendliness and allow you to feel like a part of nature. Also, artificial stone is often used to decorate the bar counter - it can be matte, glossy, imitate marble, or have any inclusions and any color.

Let's consider the main features, advantages and disadvantages of each material.

• Solid wood is one of the most expensive materials, it will fit into many interior styles and, with proper care, will be very practical. You can choose from a variety of options - wenge, mahogany or light, lacquered or raw, and you can also paint the wooden bar in any color. It will match a wooden set in an environmentally friendly interior, but it often goes well with other materials.

• Often bar counters are made of drywall - This is an inexpensive and fairly practical option that fits well into any interior. Such a surface can be given any color and shape - it can look very stylish and beautiful.

• Glass option bar counter is also sometimes found. This is not the most practical solution, because glass gets dirty easily, but such racks always look great. The glass can be thin or thick, finished at the edges, or in a metal or wood frame.For modern interiors, unusual colored glass with backlighting may be suitable.

• Fake diamond it is also very convenient if you choose a high-quality acrylic option. It can be given any color and texture; options with all kinds of inclusions or imitation of marble are popular. Acrylic stone is suitable for both modern and classic interiors.

To choose a beautiful and suitable bar counter for your kitchen, you first need to decide on the style of your interior - its design and color will depend on this. There can be many options, consider some of them.

• The greatest variety can be noted in a modern style: Any material is suitable for it. Sometimes gradient painting, enamel coating or addition of backlighting to the bar counter is used. As for the shape, its design can also be anything from a straight stand to a curved or round one. The colors should be chosen depending on the interior. Deep shades of black, purple, warm gray, emerald, as well as natural wood tones are in vogue now.

• Country style, chalet, Scandinavian or Provencal style mainly wooden racks are used. They look great and will allow you to feel like a part of nature without leaving the city. Racks made of rough untreated wood are especially popular now - they look very solid and stylish. However, painted or lacquered wood can be fun too, so don't be afraid to combine different natural woody tones. As for the shape, it is more often a straight stance, but occasionally they are also curved.

• If you choose classic style or its variants, acrylic stone is best for you - it is lighter in weight and cheaper than natural, and you can make a stylish imitation of marble from it. Such racks are made straight or round. The acrylic stone stand will look luxurious and create a solemn atmosphere in the interior. As for the colors, these are mainly light colors - white, gray, pink and beige. Complex color combinations are also possible due to different inclusions.

• For high-tech style a rack made of plasterboard, acrylic stone or glass may come up - sometimes materials are interestingly combined and combined with each other. And the possible forms of such racks are extremely diverse. You can find the most unusual curved and round options, although in the minimalistic options preference is given to the traditional straight, narrow stand. If your interior is rather restrained, you can make a visual accent on the bar counter and paint it in bright catchy colors - orange, yellow, fuchsia, turquoise or scarlet. For light interiors, shades of gray and ocher are suitable. If your interior is in dark colors, consider complex composite colors: plum, deep blue, olive, or reddish brown.

The models of possible bar counters are very diverse. First of all, when choosing a specific option, it is worth starting from the size of your room, as well as from its layout and the need for zoning. The kitchen can be rectangular, narrow and elongated or square - these features greatly affect the arrangement of furniture and the choice of the correct headset with a bar counter - most often they are recommended to be purchased together.

For many, the kitchen occupies a relatively small space: both owners of apartments in old buildings and residents of new buildings can face such a problem. The following solutions are suitable for the bar counter.

• Choose the lightest model if you have little space - pale shades visually help expand the space. In the interior, you can use white, cream, pink, blue, light green and other shades - they should also be repeated in the color of the bar. If the kitchen is large, you can give preference to dark colors - for example, it can be black stone or dark wood.

• If you have a spacious kitchen, you can use both dark and bright shades. At the same time, you do not need to choose too many different colors - make sure that the bar of the selected shade will harmoniously fit into the interior. Even if you focus on it in the interior, it should in some way overlap with other furniture or accessories in order to be a harmonious part of the ensemble.

• Consider practicality. If you live alone, perhaps the narrowest bar counter, combined with the countertop, will suit you, and for the whole family, the counter should be wide and large enough. When choosing, start from exactly what you need the rack for. For a full meal, it should be reasonably wide and comfortable, and for light snacks, there are fewer requirements.

• Pay attention to the materials from which the bar is made - it should organically fit into your space. One of the most popular materials for countertops and racks is now considered to be acrylic stone - it is quite versatile, it can be successfully painted in any desired color and given the desired texture. Nevertheless, it is also worth considering plastic, wood, ceramic tiles.

• Consider the convenience of cleaning the room. Glossy and glass surfaces are often fingerprints that spoil the look of the stand and headset. It is also best to avoid pure white by replacing it with more complex pastel shades. White surfaces get dirty very quickly, and this is especially inconvenient in a kitchen.

• If you have a small kitchen and you want it all to look like a single whole, it is better to purchase all the furniture from one manufacturer, including the bar counter. Usually, the furniture that comes with the kit has already thought out common style solutions, and all of it is perfectly combined with each other. In this case, you can fit a new rack into an already finished kitchen design - for example, if you decide to replace the dining table with it.

In the placement of furniture, it is very important to use space efficiently - this is especially true for small kitchens, but it is also important for spacious rooms. In a large kitchen, it is important to correctly zone the space. - this can be done through differences in finishes, lighting or furniture color, the border can run in the middle or divide the room into unequal parts.

Bar counters are free-standing or combined with a kitchen set in an apartment. The latter option is suitable for standard rooms - for example, in modern standard apartments, corner or U-shaped headsets with a bar usually fit perfectly - they look like a single array and are good in any room. However, in studios or in rooms with a non-standard layout, you can often find free-standing bar counters - this solution gives you freedom in placement - you can try different options. However, very often, even a separate stand is placed close to the headset and moved with it - this allows you to make the space integral.

If you have a small kitchen area, layout will be especially important. It is most convenient to think over a design project for a rectangular kitchen.This arrangement leaves a lot of opportunities to vary the kitchen sets and the placement of the counter - you can use a straight line, a corner, and even an island set with a bar counter - it all depends on how many cabinets you need, which shelves, what size the refrigerator will have and how much space you need to cook. At the same time, the stand itself is often placed by the window - this is a beautiful, convenient and practical arrangement option. In a large kitchen, a set and a long counter can take up the entire space or be combined with a living or dining room.

If you have a square kitchen in your house, you can turn it into a rectangular kitchen using a straight kitchen unit. This shape is more harmonious and convenient in terms of location. The bar counter can be placed along the opposite wall or at an angle to your headset. In these cases, you will have a lot of free space both for a pleasant meal and for cooking. Such layout options will be optimal even for a large family. In a large square kitchen, you can try to place a bar counter around the perimeter, placing chairs along the walls - this is an interesting option for any style in the interior.

Usually a narrow kitchen becomes a problem in design. For convenience, it is also worth trying to reduce it to a classic rectangle. A good solution would be a corner kitchen set and a corner bar, located at opposite ends from each other. Also, in a large narrow kitchen, you can consider two parallel headsets that will run along short walls, and along the long wall you can place the bar counter itself - straight or curved into interesting shapes.

In small studios, the issue of saving space in the kitchen is also very important. In this case, the bar counter is very useful for zoning the space, allowing you to separate the kitchen area directly from the living space. The headset can be straight or angled. This also applies to the combined kitchen-living room.

Consider color and texture when placing furniture. For example, matte and glossy materials do not always look good together, but they are great if you are zoning a space - for example, your kitchen itself may be glossy, and your dining area may be matte. Also, if you need to visually expand the space, you should use cold shades in the back of the room, and warmer ones at the entrance. Do not try to combine too many colors and textures at once in a small space - there should be no more than two primary colors.

In interior design, the most important thing is to find the right color combinations and place the furniture correctly. If you are in doubt about arranging your kitchen with a bar counter, pay attention to the work of professional designers - they will inspire you to your project.

• A small free-standing bar counter will fit well into a laconic interior and is suitable for a family of one or two people. If you have a living room with a dining table, or if you just rarely dine at home, this option may also be quite reasonable. The design of the bar is very modern and interesting - it is built on an extraordinary geometric shape and combines two materials: wood and plastic.

• In a stylish and bright Scandinavian-style kitchen, the bar counter is a direct continuation of the headset and looks very beautiful. There are lockers underneath, but part of the space is left empty to make it comfortable to sit. This option is very beautiful and practical not only for a small, but also for a spacious kitchen, if you want to leave as much free space as possible.Pay attention to the interesting combination of different textures of materials - white gloss reflects light and fills the room with light, while pale wood creates an eco-friendly atmosphere in the interior.

• The bar counter can perfectly serve for zoning space in a studio apartment - on one side there will be a kitchen area, and on the other - a living area. The bar counter represents a physical boundary, so even if you decide to keep the entire interior of the studio in a single color scheme, zoning will still be successful. The laconic interior looks good thanks to complex colors - a milky shade of white and a cold version of brown are used in the bar counter - these colors are repeated in other elements of furniture and textiles.

• The bar counter by the window is a pleasant stylistic solution that interior designers love very much. This is especially suitable if you have a beautiful view from your window - it will certainly be nice to have breakfast and look out the window. In addition, such a solution significantly saves space, since it allows you to directly press the bar counter against the wall. The solution is perfect for a narrow or square kitchen in a modern style.

For information on how to make a bar counter for the kitchen with your own hands, see the video below.