When decorating a kitchen, the question often arises of how to add a twist to the decor. Wall murals are a great way to transform space. A correctly selected image can emphasize the stylization of the interior, create a special mood or even visually expand the room. We will talk about how to choose wall murals for the kitchen and harmoniously fit them into the interior in our article.
Pros and Cons of Using
The benefits of wall murals are obvious.
- Beauty. Even the most inexpressive kitchen can be transformed with a spectacular image. High computer resolution allows modern manufacturers to create flawlessly clear pictures in a wide variety of shades.
- Variety of options. Each customer can choose a wallpaper of the size, theme, color scale suitable for him. Some companies can even enlarge a photograph from a personal archive to the desired format.
This way you can revive your memories, for example, create in the kitchen the illusion of being in a place with which you have the warmest feelings.
- Creating an atmosphere. Realistic photos and atmospheric drawings can create a romantic mood, raise your appetite or cause a feeling of sea coolness. From the choice of the image depends on what emotions it will cause in those present in the room.
- Optical effect. Wallpaper with 3D effect can create a true three-dimensional reality. As a result, the wall is not just a picture, but an image that “comes to life”.
The choice of a panoramic option can even visually increase the volume of the room, which will be a real salvation for a small-sized kitchen.
- Variability of sizes. Today, the buyer can order photo wallpaper of any size. This allows you to implement various interesting projects.
- Reasonable prices. This decoration method is available to everyone because of the moderate cost.
- Exclusive result. With the advent of photo wallpaper, the room acquires a bright personality.
Only one drawback: if you choose the wrong theme and color scheme of the image, instead of beauty you will get a tasteless and ridiculous design. A bright and colorful pattern in a kitchen with colorful furniture can create a sense of chaos. Large flowers or fruits can make a small room visually even cramped. Black and white picture or photo in dark colors. with a lack of lighting it will seem gloomy.
In order not to make a mistake in the choice, it is important not only to pay attention to the picture you like in the catalog - you must evaluate how the image will look in your kitchen. Then the picture will harmoniously fit into the situation and will not seem like a colored inappropriate patch.
Materials of manufacture
Kitchen wallpapers should not only be beautiful and UV resistant - They have to possess high strength and moisture resistance, because the microclimate in this room is usually specific.
Depending on the basis (material) on which the drawing is applied, several varieties of photo wallpaper are distinguished.
- Paper. This is the cheapest category. The material is eco-friendly, easy to install, allows air to pass through. However, high humidity and temperature changes can quickly spoil the appearance of the product.
To make the image as pleasing to the eye as possible, it is worth choosing a moisture-resistant look. Such models have a protective varnish or latex coating that protects the paper from the negative effects of the environment.
- Vinyl. Products of this type are perfect for the kitchen. They are strong, durable, resistant to moisture. In case of accidental contamination, such material can be washed. They are glued easily, do not stretch, do not form bubbles.
Such wallpapers do not withstand only exposure to high temperatures. Therefore, it is better to stick them away from the stove.
- Non-woven. This is the most expensive material. However, it combines all the advantages of paper and vinyl options. The material is easily glued, allows wet cleaning and at the same time “breathes”.
Such photo wallpaper will last a long time. They are durable, do not absorb fat, do not lose their original appearance.
- Self adhesive. This variety does not require prior application of glue to the wall - it is already on the wallpaper itself. However, in order to gently stick such a product, you need to know the installation technology.
In addition, unlike dense vinyl and non-woven products, which can hide minor surface imperfections, self-adhesive models require perfect smoothness of the wall, lack of bumps and curvature.
Two types are distinguished by the type of surface.
- Smooth. Usually, enlarged photographs with a large number of tones and details have such a surface. This type of product requires absolute flawlessness of the wall. Otherwise, the picture may be distorted.
It is also worth considering that glossy printing may slightly glare in the rays of light. Smooth wallpapers can have any basis.
- Embossed. Such wallpapers have various textures that are pleasant to the touch. They practically do not form glare, due to the texture they reliably imitate fabric, plaster, a picture painted with paints on canvas, etc. Such effects are especially appreciated in classical interiors. This type is produced on non-woven and vinyl bases.
Web size
Product size, as a rule, is calculated individually for each client.The exceptions are some small standard options. Images are both horizontal and vertical.
Small canvases (up to 2 meters) can be whole. These are options suitable for small-sized kitchens, as well as images whose plot involves modest sizes (for example, imitating a window or an open door). Seamless pattern they do not require effort to neatly dock the canvases, however, installation often requires two people, since sticking a two-meter canvas alone is quite difficult.
If the composition is large, the canvas is made of several elements. Their number can vary from 2 to 20, depending on size. This makes it easy to stick the decor on the wall.
Colors and images
The design of modern photo wallpaper is diverse. Conventionally, you can divide the subject of images into several categories.
Nature
Pictures of nature pacify and relax. The selection of stories is huge. You can choose the image of majestic mountains against the blue sky or create a beach mood with the help of a photo of the sea, palm trees and white sand.
Lavender fields with mill silhouettes fit perfectly into the mood of Provence. Foggy forest - An unusual and stylish solution suitable for minimalism. In the country, the image will be appropriate green birch grove. If you do not adhere to any particular style, but simply design the room to your liking, you can choose anything you want: waterfall, golden autumn in the park, snowy landscape etc.
The main thing is to clearly imagine how the wallpaper will look on your wall and whether their color scheme will be combined with the decor.
Animal world
Separately, it is worth highlighting the murals depicting animals. For the kitchen, this choice is not typical, but if desired, this option can be harmoniously entered into the interior. In the spacious kitchen-dining room, graceful running horses or a peacefully resting tiger can look spectacular. Particularly impressive are 3D images in which the beast seems to be looking at those present from the canvas or wants to get out of there.
As for the small kitchens, calm photos with the effect of free space will look better here. For example, swans on a smooth surface or a small kitten playing on a sunlit field will fit in well.
When choosing a story about animals, it is especially important to think about how the furniture will stand. No object should block the beast or bird. Otherwise, it makes no sense to stick such a wallpaper.
Flowers
Photos of flowers create an atmosphere of tenderness. If the kitchen is spacious, you can decorate it with macro images of luxurious peonies or roses. Fill the room with summer heat daisies against a background of lush greenery. They look graceful and gentle tulips.
An unusual solution suitable for country style is a photo sunflowers. Lavender - one of the elements often used in romantic provence.
If the kitchen is small, macro images (especially bright colors) should not be chosen. In extreme cases, you can stay on the wallpaper, where on a light monophonic background depicts a sprig of orchid or magnolia of a gentle shade. In this case, the background should prevail. So you can avoid the effect of "pressure" of large objects in a cramped space, keep the feeling of lightness of the interior.
The best choice for a small room is a photo of a cozy Italian or French street, buried in the blossom of trees, or a path leading to a shady garden. Choose images with the presence effect that visually increase the space.
City motives
Views of the city may be different. These are panoramas of megalopolises, combined with modern interior styles, and the romantic beauty of Venice. Picturesque arches, cozy courtyards and street cafes, a view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and many other images allow you to dream about the places that the owners of the house want to visit or, conversely, remember about the pleasant moments spent in a distant country.
Many of these options not only allow you to admire the beauty, but also create the feeling that the kitchen smoothly flows into the place shown on the canvas.
Expanding space
Photowall-paper, allowing to correct the flaws in the layout of the room, is in many categories. Due to a properly constructed frame or graphic 3D illusion, they allow you to visually expand the room.
As already mentioned, these can be natural pictures, for example, a forest edge or a coast with endless sea. You can choose a realistic cityscape (road or wide staircase leading into the distance, a spacious area surrounded by pretty houses and flowering trees).
There are also other “wallpaper-tricks”. For example, an imitation of a window with a picturesque view opening from it looks interesting in the interior. Such an image will not take up much space, but the effect will be impressive.
You can visually “continue” the room with a glazed veranda or a wide balcony. Antique column terraces fit perfectly into classic interiors. Modern options can either simulate a view of a modern city, sea or mountains from the loggia, or create futuristic pictures of additional rooms and tunnels. Such a canvas will look especially impressive if the floor covering depicted on it matches the color of the real floor of your kitchen.
So you completely erase the boundaries and create a visual spatial portal in your imagination.
Products
Some believe that any image in the kitchen should increase appetite. In the case of a classic interior, it can be an exquisite still life. Modern design effectively complement juicy fruits in spray of water, mouth-watering berries in cream. Invigorating drink lovers can choose a wallpaper with a picture coffee beans.
When choosing, it is important to remember the size of the room, because macro photography is typical for this type of wallpaper. "Clutter up" a small kitchen with an abundance of huge berries or oranges is not worth it. It is better to choose the option where several objects seemed to freeze in the air.
Abstraction
Giant balls, bizarre figures, fantastic corridors and halls are created for minimalism and hi-tech. Such wallpapers go well with cool shades and laconic furniture.
Black and white
Black and white photos and graphic drawings are appropriate in any modern interior. The subject matter of the images is diverse. The choice in favor of such a restrained photo wallpaper design can be made if the kitchen has a lot of bright accents or you just prefer a strict design.
Painting
An interesting type of photo wallpaper - imitation of reproductions of paintings. You can decorate the kitchen with a picture of a famous artist, modern sketches or a drawing in Japanese style. Depending on the plot, the canvas may occupy the entire wall or only part of it. For greater reliability, you can issue a "reproduction" frame. In the same group can be attributed wallpaper in retro style, for example, with stamps.
Stereoscopic
This is a special kind of 3D wallpaper that does not create depth, but volume. This can be an imitation of a bas-relief or woodcarving, three-dimensional geometric shapes or three-dimensional fantasy scenes. Any option is amazing and opens up scope for imagination.
Textures and backgrounds
All of the above options require free space. If the picture is blocked by a refrigerator, cupboard, sofa or other massive furniture, the effect of the decor will be lost. However, this does not apply to wallpapers that mimic the textures of various materials. With their help, you can create the appearance of decoration with white or red brick, stone, wood, bamboo and even leather.
How to choose?
To understand what murals are suitable for your kitchen, you need to consider the style of the interior, the size of the room, the degree of illumination, the shade of the floor, the color of the kitchen set and other furniture.
As already mentioned, for small rooms, panoramic images in light colors are recommended, creating the effect of freshness, spaciousness. The choice of options for decorating large kitchens is much wider.
As for the size, if you have a free wall, which will have only a table with chairs, you can fully occupy it with a photo image. If the kitchen has a massive corner with a sofa, you can choose a long image of small height. It will take place above the kitchen corner.
Subjects are selected based on the style of the interior. Classics suggests antique motifs, imitation of paintings or old photos, colorful landscapes with medieval castles. Lavender fields fit well into the style of Provence, wallpaper-windows with sea views, landscapes of the ancient regions of Italy and France. Modern styles allow abstractions, trace elements (fruits, berries, flowers), types of cities, landscapes, black and white wallpapers.
Accommodation in a room
When choosing wallpaper, the location of their placement is of great importance. The size of the canvas and some other aspects depend on this.
The most common option is to decorate with a wallpaper a whole free wall. Usually the emphasis is on the wide side of the room. You can paste the murals in a niche, on the protruding part of the wall or partition (in the studio apartment).
With the right choice of image, this technique can turn the design flaws into a highlight of the interior.
You can take an image of a part of the wall (for example, place it in the center). In this case, it is important to choose a suitable shade of decoration so that it harmonizes with the picture on the canvas. False windows, imitations of open doors or paintings do not require a combination of shades. They perform the function of a panel, which can be in harmony with almost any plain decoration. Such paintings are placed in a place free from furniture.
Sometimes in large rooms the method of angular placement of wallpaper is used, that is, two combined walls are decorated at once. Usually, panoramic views are used for this. Due to this, the angle is smoothed out, and a person has a feeling that he is in the midst of dense greenery or on the seashore.
An unusual option is the modular placement of images. Such wallpapers consist of several small fragments of the same theme, which are not combined, but are located separately at a certain distance. More often, such compositions include three to four elements.
A great idea would be to organize a special photo wall lighting. So the picture will be even more expressive.
Good examples
Open balcony doors create the illusion of being in a picturesque resort.
Black and white image of a metropolis fits perfectly into the laconic Scandinavian style.
Filling a niche in a minimalistic kitchen with a photo of bright apples is a great idea. The faceless design immediately becomes interesting.
Combining a modern interior style with a love of nature is possible. The road that goes into the distance seems to invite you to make an interesting trip.
A photo of a birch grove is an ideal decoration for a country house. Such wallpapers will also fit into the country style.
You will learn even more interesting about photowall-paper from the following video.