Finishing the working wall in the kitchen (80 photos)
Finishing the wall above the work surface requires a special approach, because it is most susceptible to dirt, the negative effects of high temperature and humidity. In addition, this area is constantly in sight, often acts as an accent element, so the decorative qualities must correspond to the overall interior design. In our article, we will consider which materials are better to give preference for wall decoration in the cooking area and what should be considered before buying..
Key Features
When choosing one or another type of facing material for an apron, first of all, you need to familiarize yourself with its quality characteristics, because the repair is done for more than one year and the coating should be resistant to moisture, warm vapors and high temperatures. It is also important to take into account the material’s tolerance for constant cleaning, including the use of cleaning chemicals..
The working wall or, as it is popularly called – the apron, is a plane located above the lower tiers of the headset, where the sink, countertop, hob are located, so it is important to accurately determine its dimensions. If there is an upper tier, then the acceptable height of the apron will fluctuate within half a meter. The width depends on the personal wishes of the owners: you can cover the wall with finishing material along the entire length of the furniture or only some, the most “dangerous” areas, for example, above the sink or hob. If there are no upper cabinets, it is advisable to arrange the apron up to the ceiling surface.
When choosing, you should take into account the color of the coating, the presence of patterns or photo printing. The apron can be decorated in the color of a monochromatic headset or dramatically differ, becoming an accent element. The ideal option is a white work wall finish that matches any color scheme. However, it has a significant drawback – soiled. The slightest contamination will be clearly visible on white tiles and PVC panels, therefore they often prefer beige, gray, creamy tones..
The style script chosen for the kitchen is also of great importance. For example, for a high-tech room, a mirror or metal apron is suitable, in an eco-kitchen, skins with photographs of nature will look great, and for a classic interior, you can choose the option of decorating a working wall with a decorative stone.
Another important point is the cost of the finishing material, as well as the cost of its installation. During the design of the repair, you should immediately decide how much you are willing to spend on the design of the apron and whether it is possible to carry out the finishing work yourself. There are materials, the installation of which does not require special skills, and the work can be carried out independently, while significantly saving.
Tiles and mosaics in the design of the apron
Ceramic tiles or mosaics can be an excellent option for decorating a working wall in the kitchen. Often these materials are combined, emphasizing individual areas. In addition to high aesthetic qualities, both coatings have a long service life (more than 15 years), but this advantage also has a downside – if you want to change the design, it will not be easy to dismantle the finish..
Ceramic tile
Someone will consider ceramic tiles a “relic” of the past. Indeed, this type of finish has a long history, but still does not lose its relevance due to its excellent qualities. Wall tiles are quite durable, they are not afraid of the negative effects of a humid microclimate, high temperatures, they are perfectly cleaned. In addition, today there is an “impressive” number of interpretations of its design, allowing you to use the coating for any style.
Tiles can imitate natural materials, be monochromatic, patterned, smooth, embossed, etc. Many collections contain tiled panels with various drawings – still lifes, flowers, which are successfully used in Provence, retro, country styles.
Quite relevant is the metro tile, laid out in a snow-white canvas with light or black seams. Lined with a diagonal pattern, it will create dynamics and visually expand the working plane.
Particularly popular is the brick-like tile, popularly referred to as “boar”. Each element has a rectangular shape with beveled edges, resembling natural bricks in different colors and sizes. This finish is perfect for both classic and modern interiors..
An interesting solution can be an apron lined with patchwork tiles, which will bring notes of warmth and comfort, will be an excellent decoration for any interior.
Mosaic
The mosaic is a miniature copy of ceramic tiles. It has all the same advantages as the tile, but it has a higher cost. With its help, you can revet complex architectural forms, corners, bulges, bends, frame the perimeter of the apron or its individual elements. For small kitchens, this is the most suitable option, since the mosaic canvas looks quite elegant, visually expanding the space.
The mosaic can be laid out one by one, creating various patterns or using matrixes – panels, measuring 30×30 cm, which greatly simplifies the work and allows you to lay it yourself. Chips (individual mosaic elements) are made of various materials: the basis can be ceramics, glass, artificial stone, mirrors, metal.
The color palette is also multifaceted – the apron can be monochromatic or have a variegated color, the gradient design looks beautiful when one main color dissolves in different shades. For classic, retro and rustic styles, matte ceramic or stone mosaics are preferred. In more modern interiors (loft, hi-tech, modern) you can find glass, mirror and metal canvases.
Glass apron
A rather interesting modern design option for the work area is an apron made of tempered glass, called skinali. The surface fully meets all the necessary requirements for strength and durability and has a wide variety of design solutions.
The simplest option is frosted glass, which can be smooth or textured, and also have sandblasted patterns. This design is perfect for minimalist interiors, where catchy patterns are not welcome. A good option for a calm interior is plain skins. The glass sheet is painted with a special composition (the color can be any) and undergoes heat treatment, as a result, the paints retain their saturation for a long time.
If you want the work area to turn into a luxurious kitchen decoration, you can give preference to photo printing on glass. Today’s technologies allow you to apply any images at the request of the customer, which makes it possible to create a unique design in the kitchen. Skinals with 3D images look especially impressive.
Finishing the working wall with PVC panels
The plastic coating can be safely called the most affordable. Firstly, its cost is much lower than other finishing materials, and secondly, you can install the panels yourself, without the involvement of paid specialists..
Panels come in different types, differing in size and color. There are narrow long sheets, lining panels, the width of which does not exceed 14 cm, as well as massive platforms, the maximum width and length of which is 2 and 4 meters, respectively..
The main advantage of PVC panels is the variety of decorative design: the material can have a monochromatic color, various patterns, drawings, photo images, as well as plausibly imitate a woody, stone texture, which is often used in classic, provincial directions, as well as modern loft, eco.
Another advantage of the panels is that they can be installed on unprepared walls, which greatly simplifies the process. You can decorate a plastic apron yourself, for example, paste over with self-adhesive film, paint with paints (acrylic or oil), and also use vinyl stickers as decoration.
Decorative stone in the decoration of the apron
Artificial stone is a presentable and high-quality material that can easily endure all the hardships of kitchen processes and serves as a worthy decoration not only for the working area, but for the kitchen as a whole. It is able to imitate the texture and color of any natural stone, be it marble, granite or other quartz, volcanic rocks.
Decorating an apron in the kitchen with decorative stone is highly durable, but even if any element is damaged, it can be easily restored without losing its overall attractiveness..
Recently, a material that imitates brickwork has been in great demand. With its help, they decorate the working areas of kitchens in the style of minimalism, loft, high-tech, Provence.
In order to create a rich atmosphere of the Alpine cuisine “chalet” it is worth taking as a basis a stone imitating rough blocks. But it is worth considering that large fragments are good for spacious rooms, so this design can be an acceptable option for a kitchen-living room of a private house.
Metal finishing of the working wall
Steel sheets in the design of the kitchen backsplash give the decor a certain austerity and elegance. The material is made of stainless steel or copper, therefore it has a rather long operating period.
Stainless steel will be the perfect option for an urban interior or an ultra-modern high-tech kitchen. Copper (brass) can often be found in retro, Provence or country interiors. The steel apron can have a glossy or matte surface, their combinations on the same wall look original.
To some, metal may seem like a rather “cold” material – in this case, you can pick up good “neighbors” for it, who will mitigate this drawback. A small steel section of the wall above the hob will look great surrounded by bricks, ceramic tiles or wood panels.
Mirror apron
Another interesting option for finishing the working wall in the kitchen is a mirror surface. It can be represented by a solid canvas, tiles or mosaics. Mirrors have unique properties to visually expand the space and create beautiful lighting effects with high-quality lighting, so an apron decorated in this way will become a real “highlight” of the interior.
One of the negative characteristics of a mirror surface is called its fragility, but it is worth noting that today’s material has increased resistance to mechanical stress, and the placement of mirrors on a distant wall does not pose a particular threat.
Decorating a working wall in the kitchen – photos and ideas
The choice of modern materials for finishing the working wall in the kitchen is quite large and allows you to create the most unique interiors. You can see this again and get some interesting ideas in our photo gallery, where the best examples are presented. Happy viewing!
