How to visually expand the space in a small kitchen with wallpaper
If you choose wallpaper for a small kitchen wisely, you can create not just a beautiful design, but also visually increase the space. This can be achieved in the following ways:
- Finish in light colors. Dark colors on wallpaper are only allowed as patterns on a light background. However, you shouldn’t opt for white either, because it’s not only uncomfortable, but also impractical.
- Choose wallpaper in pastel colors with small, possibly geometric patterns. Large vertical stripes can somewhat expand the space of other rooms in the apartment, but in a small area they, like large drawings, will look bulky.
- Use canvases with small horizontal or vertical stripes to visually increase the space in width or length, respectively. This approach can be used if the kitchen looks disproportionate. A good option is to cover the upper part of the wall with such wallpaper, paint or plaster the lower part to match.
- Play on contrasts. To do this, a pair of long walls are covered with wallpaper in a dark color scheme, and a pair of end walls are covered in a light color scheme. This is a relatively new design idea, but it is starting to gain popularity.
- Use glossy or mirror wallpaper. They noticeably expand the space due to their reflective abilities.
- Cover one wall with photo wallpaper with deep drawings or landscapes. However, it is important that they are of good quality, otherwise the effect will be blurred.
- Choose soft patterns. This will make the space airier and, therefore, larger.
- Order wallpaper with a kitchen print. The drawing will visually continue the room, which, if done well, looks very good. However, it must exactly match the actual kitchen environment, and therefore the production of such canvases will be very expensive.
Note! When choosing, you should take into account how often and severely the coatings will become dirty, and choose them in accordance with your wishes.
What type of wallpaper is suitable for a small kitchen
Wallpaper for a small kitchen is most often selected depending on personal preferences. Various types can be used, but it must be taken into account that the kitchen is a room in which food is regularly prepared. Therefore, it is important to make the right choice so that the wall covering lasts a long time and is easy to clean from plaque and dirt.
Budget paper
This type of wallpaper is the cheapest. The advantage of the material is that, if desired, you can choose any shade and pattern in accordance with the overall interior of the room. Also, the paper base is safe for human health, which is very important for the kitchen. However, it is necessary to highlight some disadvantages:
- Wallpaper is not suitable for washing. Contact with water often leads to stains and erasing of the design. The paper base absorbs unpleasant odors;
- this type of coating will not last long;
- Often, in the absence of a high-quality hood, paper wallpaper comes off the walls and requires regular gluing.
If you need to hang wallpaper for a short period, paper wallpaper will be the ideal solution.
Paper type of wallpaper for the kitchen
Non-woven
Unlike paper ones, they are suitable for frequent washing. They repel water well and do not require frequent replacement. You can care for the coating using detergents. Another advantage is that when installing them, the wall is covered with glue, not the material. Many consider the texture of the coating to be a disadvantage: mechanical stress leaves scratches on the wallpaper.
Non-woven wallpaper
Washable vinyl
This type is the most popular for the kitchen. Wallpaper has a large number of advantages, which include:
- dense texture;
- water-repellent coating;
- rich colors;
- long period of operation.
The disadvantages include the high cost of the material.
Washable wallpaper
Zoning the kitchen using ornaments
A rather interesting way to visually change a room is to separate zones using a pattern on the wallpaper. The simplest option is to combine a striped pattern, when one part of the kitchen increases in height and the other in width.
An important rule: the fewer shades involved in the design of a small kitchen, the more harmonious its interior.
You can separate zones for work and rest using:
- coverings with bright large prints;
- using several solid colors;
- a combination of a dark work area (which increases its practicality) and a light recreation area.
In a kitchen of normal size (minimum 8 square meters or more), you can still afford bold experiments with color contrasts.
Note! Lively and spectacular wallpaper with catchy designs should be used only to create an accent, but not as the main one.
Types of wallpaper for the kitchen
The service life of fiberglass wallpaper is approximately 30 years.
Main varieties:
- Paper wallpaper for the kitchen.
Paper wallpaper is one of the simplest and most popular options. They come in two types:
- single-layer;
- two-layer.
The second type is duplex. The wallpaper itself is coated for added protection. They are somewhat stronger than thin single-layer paper wallpapers. In this regard, the demand for them has recently become literally several times higher. If previously this type had an exclusively smooth surface, now it is possible to look at embossed paper wallpaper.
The advantages of paper wallpaper include its environmental friendliness, which is determined by the natural origin of the material, as well as breathability, which completely eliminates the formation of fungus. However, wallpaper for gluing the kitchen, in order to avoid moisture penetration, necessarily requires additional processing.
- Vinyl wallpapers.
They are made on the basis of paper or non-woven fabric. They have relief and evenly distributed patterns. There are currently four types of vinyl wallpaper:
- solid;
- smooth;
- foamed;
- silkscreen printing.
Calculation of the amount of wallpaper.
All four types are based on a two-layer coating. The first layer serves as protection against moisture, fading due to exposure to sunlight and mechanical damage.
The production of such wallpaper involves impregnation with special compounds to prevent mold and fungal plaque. Vinyl wallpapers are in high demand on the market. Among other things, they have a long service life, good water resistance, and do not lose their appearance after washing. For the kitchen and bathroom, this choice will be one of the best options.
- Fiberglass wallpaper.
This is one of the innovative and relatively new design developments.
By its texture, the wallpaper itself is already an element of kitchen decor.
They are made from natural glass threads that differ in diameter.
Products are woven from them according to the principle of reproducing fabric, which is impregnated with starch solutions. Moreover, the result depends on the quality of the impregnation composition.
Fiberglass wallpaper can have various forms of weaving, and many of them are intended for painting. The products have a dense surface and are manufactured taking into account the inadmissibility of cracks, mechanical damage and deformation. This type of wallpaper is the most durable that currently exists, and its service life is approximately 30 years.
Moreover, this type of product is environmentally friendly, and its only disadvantage is its high cost. If you hang fiberglass wallpaper in the kitchen, the room will take on an unusual, refined look. In addition, simplicity and ease of use will not disappoint any housewife.
Scheme for applying liquid wallpaper.
- Non-woven wallpaper.
They are made from factory-made cellulose fibers and secured with a polymer composition. Non-woven fabric is similar in composition to paper, but the material is somewhat strengthened, more durable and fire-resistant. This type of wallpaper is quite often used in the kitchen for painting; it has a fairly aesthetic appearance, reminiscent of textured plaster or a distinctive ornament. Moreover, you can update the colors as much as you like, but it is recommended to use water-dispersion or acrylic paint so that the walls can breathe.
Before gluing, you should take into account that this type of wallpaper requires work to be carried out on a uniform and perfectly plastered surface, otherwise gaps may appear on the wall.
There is also a specially developed glue for non-woven wallpaper, which has a thick consistency and, after drying, does not allow yellowness to appear.
How to choose wallpaper for a small kitchen: designer tips
When choosing, you should rely on the following points:
- style decision;
- the degree of illumination of the room, mostly natural; if the windows face the south, then a cold and restrained palette is better suited, and if the windows face the north, a warm and cozy one;
- a harmonious combination of design, that is, the selection of wallpaper based on the style and brightness of other elements: the facade of the kitchen unit, apron, furniture, curtains;
- In the case of white interior design, the color and pattern of the coating can be almost arbitrary.
In a small room it is more profitable to rely on light shades
Choosing a color and pattern - expanding the space
For small kitchens, it does not make sense to use dark-colored wallpaper with a matte texture, as it visually reduces the space. The right choice would be light, pastel colors or bright, but neatly balanced colors.
If you want a predictable result, choose wallpaper in light colors with a soft pearlescent sheen.
However, decorating the kitchen exclusively in white is also not worth it, since this, in addition to creating an uncomfortable atmosphere, contributes to the visual reduction of the room. It is better to dilute white elements with bright accents, which will provide the impression of light and space.
Thanks to the light gloss, the surface of the wallpaper reflects maximum light, so it will visually enhance even a cramped, poorly lit kitchen.
Note! If you want to decorate the interior in one color, you should choose more saturated tones like ivory, light beige or baked milk.
The use of dark shades is permissible only in secondary roles: as a subtle and unobtrusive pattern on tiles or wallpaper. They are able to emphasize the depth of pastel shades, making the room more elegant.
Dark matte wallpaper reduces space. But sometimes they give it depth.
In small rooms you should not combine more than two or three shades, as this will create the impression of excessive variegation and clumsiness. Combinations of several self-sufficient shades look good only in large rooms. The best option for limited space is monochrome design.
Take a closer look at pastel colors with cool undertones: cream, beige, light gray, cappuccino, ivory.
However, simple plain surfaces are not to everyone's liking. In this case, careful and thoughtful use of drawings and prints is allowed.
The pattern on the wallpaper must be proportionate to the proportions of your small kitchen.
When it comes to patterns, you should adhere to a minimalist approach, giving preference not to large-scale and bright paintings, but to thin, elegant lines and small patterns. In general, the size of the drawings should be proportional to the scale of the room. Also, patterns should not be used to decorate the entire kitchen. It is better to use them to create an accent, for example, above the dining table or on an apron.
Give preference to wallpaper with a dim, small pattern: flowers, checkered patterns, narrow stripes, geometric patterns, including glossy ones on a matte background.
It is not necessary to use abstract images. Floral, fruit, coffee and other food-related motifs are completely acceptable. Of course, they must be of high quality and clear. However, the main thing is to know the limits in such decoration and not to fill the entire space with it, otherwise it will create a feeling of overload.
For eye-catching wallpaper with an active pattern, choose the color of the facades as neutral as possible (white, beige, gray are ideal).
Striped or checkered wallpaper will look appropriate in almost any interior. They should have a suitable, not very bright and contrasting color, as well as miniature elements. They should also be used sparingly, without covering all the walls with them.
Any vertically elongated ornament (it is not necessary to glue strips) can visually “raise” the ceiling a little.
A rather unusual option is wallpaper with imitation brickwork. They look good when properly sized and in combination with white walls. To better imagine the appearance of such wallpaper for the kitchen, you should look at the photo.
To avoid unpleasant surprises in the future when purchasing, carefully study the symbols on the roll label.
Key points in choosing materials
Good wallpaper for the kitchen should have the following characteristics:
- water resistance;
- dirt-repellent surface;
- dense structure, resistant to ultraviolet radiation and abrasion;
- fire-resistant properties for areas located near the stove.
For a kitchen of any size, choose only thick, washable wallpaper (vinyl, non-woven, fiberglass).
At the same time, the choice of paper sheets is extremely impractical, especially for a small room. It is better to use non-woven, vinyl wallpaper or fiberglass coating, which is environmentally friendly.
Vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven basis is the most practical to use, wear-resistant and easy to hang.
What color wallpaper to choose for a small kitchen
The color of wallpaper for a small kitchen is chosen taking into account the features of its layout. Standard rooms can be visually expanded by gluing wallpaper in light or pastel colors.
Traditional shades used in the design of such interiors are white, yellow, beige, pink, light brown. You can visually increase the space with the help of some cool colors: blue, lavender, mint. If your kitchen has a narrow shape, combining light and dark wallpaper colors will help correct the proportions. Wallpaper in dark blue, purple, green or black shades is glued to wide walls: this way the two opposite walls will move away from each other.
Another approach to correcting the interior of a cramped kitchen is to choose wallpaper with patterns that stretch the space due to a certain direction. The most common example of this effect is striped wallpaper: horizontal lines on the walls make them wider, and vertical lines make them taller, so with the right choice of subjects you can transform the parameters of the entire room or some areas.
Do not forget that even in a small kitchen there is a need to divide the space. You can highlight the dining area by pasting wallpaper with a large pattern or a thematic design in this part of the room. You can also use plain wallpaper of a bright color, but take into account its harmony: often contrasting shades spoil the appearance of the room because they do not combine with other colors present in the design.
The kitchen work area can also be decorated in a dark color: this option is successful due to its practicality, and even among the gloomy wallpaper for the walls you can find stylish ideas. In the interior of a small kitchen, the predominance of wallpaper with large patterns in bright colors is not allowed. Use them as small inserts: this way you can emphasize the dynamism of the design, but the interior style will not be perceived as oppressive and chaotic.
Combination of wallpaper with furniture in a small kitchen
Wallpaper, which is the background for furniture, should form a single composition with it. So, if the furniture is unusual, bright in color and intricate in shape, then the wallpaper should be neutral and almost invisible. If the furniture has simple shapes and is made in neutral colors, then the wallpaper may well become a bright accent.
If you are not a designer, it is easier to use ready-made companion pairs that complement each other perfectly.
Note! The covering and furniture of the same color, but with different textures, go well together.
Kitchen wallpaper rash
Rasch wallpaper is a German wallpaper with a long brand history and an excellent reputation. One has only to look through the new Rush catalog and the idea to re-paint the kitchen will appear by itself.
Rasch wallpaper is German quality wallpaper
What is attractive about ras c h :
- They are not paper (the Rasch company is gradually reducing the production of such), but non-woven, vinyl, viscose, cotton, etc.;
- Wallpaper rush has increased strength;
- This is washable wallpaper that can be easily cleaned from various contaminants;
- Rasch wallpapers offer an enviable variety of colors.
Related article: How to make a coffee table from birch logs with your own hands: master class with instructions and photos
Every year, the new rasch wallpaper catalog is updated with about fifty new types. This German wallpaper needs to be glued using a special technique. For example, if the walls are relatively porous and absorb moisture, then the surface must first be treated before gluing rasch wallpaper. Glue is applied only to the walls, and there is no need to apply glue to the rasch wallpaper itself.
Another good thing about these products is that rasch can be perfectly combined with stone, wood and bamboo. And if you decide to glue companion wallpaper, then you need to take both types of wallpaper from rasch.
Wallpaper catalog Rasch: Gentle elegance (video)
What kind of photo wallpaper for a small kitchen is in fashion now?
According to the latest trends, the following are in fashion now:
- decoration in a light palette following the Scandinavian style and minimalism;
- wallpaper with patterns and bright colors;
- coverings with themed prints on a kitchen theme, especially with images of coffee beans;
- vintage style;
- imitation coatings, that is, designed in the form of brickwork or stone;
- Photo wallpaper with city images, landscapes and animals.
Properly selected wallpaper can not only visually expand, but also make a small kitchen cozy. The main thing is to create an interior that evokes calm and warm feelings.
Small floral pattern
Floral ornaments and fantasy patterns are a steady trend in recent years in fashion in general and in kitchen design in particular. A small floral pattern in pastel colors is something that will fit perfectly into the decor of a small kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building. The drawing should be small and fractional.
Small kitchen decorated with wallpaper in a warm sand tone
Tip: When evaluating wallpaper, expand it a few meters. A wide picture from a distance may look very different than from an arm's length away.
Floral ornaments and fantasy patterns are a steady trend in recent years in fashion in general and in kitchen design in particular.
See alsoDark wallpaper in the interior: recommendations, photos
