Kitchen apron panels: overview of varieties and selection tips

Wall kitchen panels made of PVC for tiles and photo printing, made of MDF and other materials managed to gain popularity in the field of interior design. They are easy to install, have an aesthetic appearance, and make it easy to transform the interior at no extra cost. You can choose panels for an apron in the kitchen, taking into account the layout of the room, the proximity of heat sources and other factors.

Some options are suitable only for use next to induction stoves, other types of interior panels on the wall can be placed next to open sources of fire, and not be afraid of deformation.

Choosing panels for an apron in the kitchen, you can easily obtain the optimal finish for wall kitchen surfaces - inexpensive, high-quality, safe. Among the obvious advantages of using ready-made modules for finishing space above the work surface, a number of factors can be distinguished.

1. Ease and simplicity of fastening, transportation, storage. Almost all panels are adapted to work with them alone, do not require complex manipulations. You can transform the design of the kitchen work area in one day.
2. Unlimited Design Options. You can find one-color and multi-color solutions, versions with prints, 3D or photo printing. Vivid pictures, original ornaments with ethnic motifs, unexpected abstract drawings or strict graphics - all the most daring ideas are available for realization.
3. Affordable cost. Paneling is affordable even for people with a small repair budget. With the right choice of material, the result will look no worse than when using more expensive elements of wall decor.
4. Variety of options. Panels are made of different materials - from polymer to wood-based, you can find the best solution for the kitchen with different requirements for fire safety and durability of the apron.
5. Ease of update. An inexpensive apron based on panels is easy to replace with a new, no less attractive one. It is suitable for those who like to experiment with interior decoration.
6. The ability to mask communications (pipes, wiring, ventilation ducts) when attaching to the crate.

Not without flaws. Many apron panels burn out under the influence of external factors, become brittle, and crack. Wall modules made of MDF require careful sealing of the edges. Special glass panels are quite expensive and heavy. Fiberboard easily collects moisture, can be deformed. PVC panels, especially bright ones, can fade over time and lose their attractiveness.

The basis for the manufacture of a kitchen apron can be panels made in the form of battens, sheets, tiles. The most commonly used materials for making the base are plastic, wood boards made of shavings or fibers, glass and drywall.

We will analyze each of the species in more detail: how these options differ, what features and advantages they have.

A fairly popular type of kitchen finish for an apron. For a long time, PVC panels were used only in non-residential premises. Today they are quite applicable for the kitchen. You can find options for tiles - virtually indistinguishable from ceramic, or with a more complex design.

The obvious advantage of plastic is its affordability. Painted and varnished panels are inexpensive, are not afraid of contact with water, are practical and have a long service life. They do not change their properties under the influence of moisture and steam, are resistant to the formation of mold and fungus. On sale you can find a wide selection of panels designed specifically for fastening in the area of ​​the kitchen apron - narrow panels of considerable length are suitable here. The most stylish options are made by photo printing or by applying images using thermal film, lamination.

Plastic apron panels are not suitable for installation in the area where the hobs, open flame sources are located - they are deformed by heat. Upon contact with sharp objects, the surface is easy to scratch, damage. Pure white plastic under the tile turns yellow over time.

Laminated, painted, veneered MDF panels for an apron in the kitchen are available with a standard thickness of 3-10 mm, which allows to achieve strength, to give the structure additional soundproofing properties. Narrow and long panels are not inferior to plastic in decorativeness, but much stronger than it, they are not afraid of heat and moisture, with proper installation they are suitable for wall cladding near a stove, sink.

MDF - boards made of medium-sized wood chips by passing through a hot press and gluing particles using a harmless lignin substance. The material is suitable for work and dining areas, safe for health. Modern printing technology allows you to transfer 2D and 3D images on the surface of the apron.

Laminated chipboard panels, although not as environmentally friendly as their MDF counterparts, are highly durable.To fix them on the wall is taking into account the massiveness of the material on a special crate. An apron from chipboard with lamination can be made integral with the countertop - in this case it is ordered with a headset, visually expanding the area of ​​the working area.

The coating options for chipboard are much smaller than for MDF. Usually these are plain solutions or imitation of natural wood, stone. Panels on the apron are not suitable for direct contact with moisture - all edges must be protected with special overlays.

Wood-fiber boards most often have a simple finish - for tiles, wood, stone. They are inferior in thickness and strength to MDF and particleboard. Such an interior panel for an apron is quite practical - you can choose the option for painting with embossed ornaments, ready-made decor. Plates are easy to cut, fasten, relatively light.

Panels for apron made of glass - skinned - innovative solution for the design of the kitchen space. Whole tempered or ordinary glass sheets are covered with vivid images, attached to the surface of particleboard, MDF. Hardened modules are suitable for installation next to the stove. Skinali do not fade, serve as long as possible, look unusual and attractive.

Under the outer glass coating in such panels there is decor, which can be represented by a mirror surface with an original ornament, matting base, applied with a colorful layer or photo printing.

A stylish kitchen apron created with the help of panels always becomes a source of increased attention. With its help, the kitchen room can be visually pulled out or added to it, to separate the elements of the headset, to emphasize the horizontal zoning of the area. At a panel width of 50-60 cm, panels with a length of 2-3 m can be placed.

Modules with photo printing or 3D images always look bright and catchy, realistically convey all the nuances of color and details of the picture.

When choosing an apron design, interior panels should be selected so that they do not lose their attractiveness over time. In bright, merciless lighting on a glossy finish all fingerprints and a drop of fat will be visible. It is better to use panels with a matte texture or complex heterogeneous textures.

Well meets this requirement decorative print with imitation of the surface of natural stone, wood, concrete, brick. This design is suitable for the kitchen in the Scandinavian or ethnic style.

Looks interesting and print in the style of patchwork. The imitation of tiles, assembled like a patchwork quilt, looks cozy and homely. Many manufacturers of PVC panels already use this decor in their collections. But you can order a similar ornament on MDF with a lamination or skin.

Geometric patterns are a true classic in the design of kitchen aprons. The most diverse solutions are offered by manufacturers of PVC-based panels. Here you can find an imitation of large and small tiles, pick up solutions with a combination of circles, triangles and other shapes. Stylishly, such an apron looks in the modern style kitchen, and in a minimalist interior.

Live nature looks especially impressive on aprons in the interior of the kitchen-dining room. Here you can place bright decor options made using the technique of photo printing or 3D.Butterflies fluttering in the meadow, blooming tulips, sea landscapes with frolicking dolphins look picturesque. Not less popular plots with juicy fruits, berries, blooming cherries.

City landscapes - Another popular option that can harmoniously fit into a bright modern cuisine, Japanese minimalism or designer high-tech. But do not forget that the spectacular panoramas of New York, Paris, London or a view of the Egyptian pyramids require appropriate framing in the interior. In combination with a budget headset, such a decor will look strange. The most spectacular options are performed on the skin.

Consider the criteria that you should pay attention to when choosing high-quality panels for an apron.

1. Mechanical strength. An apron is often subjected to shock loads, friction. The more reliable the material, the longer it will last.
2. Workmanship. Panels for an apron should not have extraneous odors, pronounced defects. It is better to choose products that have been certified by a well-known brand.
3. Aesthetics. When choosing wall decoration in the kitchen, it is necessary to take into account the harmonious combination of decor with the design of the headset and interior design.
4. Resistant to moisture. If you have to use an apron next to a sink or stove, this factor is of great importance. Otherwise, even a good hood will not save the material from deformation.
5. Convenience of configuration. A large, one-piece panel is easier to fix than a few smaller ones. But in a complex L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen, short stacked modules or square tiles will be more convenient.
6. Easy to care. The best option should have a washable surface that can be cleaned of contaminants with minimal effort.
7. Status status of the interior. In the business class kitchen, it is better to put panels made of natural stone, precious wood. In the economic variant, more affordable materials will harmoniously look.
8. Permissible load on the walls. If there are restrictions, it is better to use the most lightweight panels for the apron, which do not create additional stress on the structure.

Here are some interesting ideas for inspiration.

• Apron with photo printing in the form of a black and white panorama of the city, it effectively complements the red facades of the kitchen set, chrome details and the white edging of the glazed modules. It is possible to bring such a solution to life both with the use of a skin, and with ordinary PVC panels having glossy coatings.

• Panels for apron from fiberboard or MDF, PVC panel Great for creating colorful geometric aprons for your kitchen. The turquoise background color and white veins make this solution a good addition to the kitchen in a classic or Mediterranean style.

• Patchwork apron - The perfect solution for a bright cozy kitchen of a country house. In order not to waste time laying tiles, you can simply select the panel on the skin with the desired ornament and get the desired effect in the interior.

See how the wall panel is mounted on the kitchen apron in the next video.