How to choose an apron for the kitchen: practical advice, photo examples. An apron for the kitchen? Skinali, ceramic or glass tiles? Kitchen Aprons Ideas Videos

The decoration of the kitchen space has changed quite a lot over the past two decades. With the advent of new materials, new opportunities have appeared - to choose ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware, or maybe something else - a glass apron. It is difficult to judge which is better, because each owner of an apartment or house chooses the appropriate option in accordance with their ideas about beauty, practicality and the amount that will be spent.

Glass apron and its features

Glass is a material that entered the kitchen finishing segment not so long ago, but immediately gained popularity. In fact, the advantages of glass backsplash wall decoration in the kitchen work area are many:

Variety of storylines.
Manufacturing technologies that guarantee durability.
The ability to turn the kitchen into a space that the designer worked on, even if it was not there.
Excellent usability glass can be easily cleaned from any kind of contamination.
Coexistence with furniture of any style.

A glass apron, contrary to popular belief, can be not only fabulously expensive, but also quite budgetary. By installing it, you can visually expand the space by turning a small kitchenette in an urban high-rise building into a stylish room.

Among the disadvantages of glass in the kitchen, perhaps only one can be named: fingerprints will remain on the surface, if they are not removed in time, the picture may be unsightly. However, with a wide variety of care products available, this is not difficult to do.

The glass apron is chosen by those who are not afraid of experiments, who love bright images and are ready to sacrifice the generally accepted ideas about kitchen comfort.

Tile, tile and more tiles

Ceramic tiles are a traditional material that is used not only for the work area, but also for the floors, walls in the kitchen from floor level to the ceiling itself. Collections of the best factories in the world replace each other, offering stylistic and price variety. The quality of the tiles is such that the coating, with proper care, lasts from 10 to 20 years (and this figure can be exceeded).

Among the most obvious pluses of tiles are:

Different colors and textures.
A variety of decorative details.
Various sizes and shapes, allowing to beautifully beat any area.

Tiles require a professional approach not only in the selection, but also in the installation. For the correct choice of glue, you need to investigate the walls in advance, and in addition, you need to select other materials.

What's better?

In fact, both materials are ideal for the kitchen. Both tiles and glass can withstand temperature extremes, copes well with high humidity and at the same time are easily washed from any contamination. In addition, both options imply the ability to change furniture, while choosing a similar style, or completely change it, choosing only a general tone with the walls.

The tile has its own pattern, which evokes a sense of geometric order in the kitchen, but a glass apron can delight with bright colors or views of the city at night, or it can cause idyllic joy with its landscapes.

There you will find recommendations on which glass to choose, what glass aprons are, an overview of prices and much, much more. And in this post we will tell you what are the most common mistakes people make when they decide to order a glass apron. We hope this will help you save money and get the results you dream of.

Mistake 1. We ordered an apron before installing the kitchen

The glass apron has a very important advantage over - there is no "dirty" work during its installation. Therefore, it can and should be installed after the kitchen has been renovated and the set has been assembled. Experts are unanimous: do not order an apron in advance. When the upper and lower cabinets of the headset are already installed, the dimensions of the future apron can be calculated with millimeter accuracy, which means that it fits perfectly into the kitchen design.

In many kitchens, the apron in the area of the hood has a characteristic protrusion. To make the selected drawing look harmonious, when ordering an apron, the designer can "increase" the desired fragment of the image.

Mistake 2. Forgot about the necessary holes

After the tempered glass apron is made, it is impossible to cut additional holes in it, for example, for an additional socket. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider where the sockets, rails and fasteners will be located, how many there will be, it is necessary in advance - at the measurement stage.

Mistake 3. The design of the glass apron does not match the style of the kitchen unit

A glass apron looks best in a modern kitchen and high-tech kitchens. However, if you have a classic kitchen, but really like glass panels with photo printing, then manufacturers have many good options.

For a classic kitchen or country kitchen, glass with a frosted surface is recommended. The plot of the drawing is especially important. In the classic style, a glass apron with a panorama of the old city, gastronomic still life (coffee, wine, food, fruits) will be appropriate. A good option is a neutral apron with spectacular textures and textures applied using photo printing (brick, fabric, wood, stone). The drawing looks very interesting under natural marble, granite or slate.

A universal version of the apron is a glass panel with an intricate ornament, continuing the pattern on the curtains or wallpaper, or painted in a single color.

If you have a bright, modern kitchen with colored fronts, and you want to complement it with a glass apron, plain or patterned, it is very important to match exactly the right tone. For this, some manufacturers of glass aprons offer a service called color proofing. On a small piece of glass, the specialist prints a test fragment of your future apron in three versions - the main color, one shade darker and one shade lighter. This is to avoid mistakes in color nuances due to possible technical reasons. For example, due to different computer monitor settings.

A very useful option that many manufacturers offer for an additional fee is a virtual apron fitting. The specialist will make a photomontage, "trying on" 3 options for aprons with the selected pattern in the photo of your kitchen. This will help ensure that you have selected the correct image.

Mistake 4: Incorrect glass type

The most reliable, durable and safe apron is made from tempered glass. However, many, wanting to save money, decide on an apron made of ordinary glass (tempered glass costs an average of one and a half to two times more). However, the end result may not be what you expected. "Raw" glass is easier to scratch. Unlike tempered glass, it is easier to break if accidentally hit hard with a heavy object. It can also crack with strong heat if the stove is gas.

Mistake 5. Disproportionate size of the picture

It is very important that the pattern on the glass backsplash is proportional to the dimensions of your kitchen. Large items on the apron, for example, flowers or fruits, will visually make a small kitchen even smaller. If there are a lot of vertical details in the picture, the section of the wall between the cabinets will appear "elongated" upwards. Horizontal images visually expand the kitchen space.

An apron is the covering of a part of the wall between the upper and lower cabinets of the kitchen unit. Its task is to protect the wall from moisture, hot steam, grease, splashes and any dirt. To make your choice easier, we have compared the most practical and effective work area finishes according to five important criteria. Professional advice on what to make an apron for the kitchen, a comparison of the best materials and real photos of beautiful aprons - in this article.

Correct dimensions

Usually kitchen apron height ranges from 45 to 60 centimeters. How high it should be in your case depends on the height of the household, the type of stove and the type of headset. It is more convenient for a low hostess to hang the upper modules lower, leaving 40-55 cm between the tabletop and the lower edge of the cabinets. The edges of the finishing material should go a couple of centimeters under the lower / upper cabinets.

As for the width, most often the entire wall is covered with a decorative coating along the working tabletop - from edge to edge of kitchen furniture. If you wish, you can limit yourself to small protective inserts only in the area of the sink and hob.
In a kitchen with a gas stove, the distance between the hob and the hood should be at least 75-80 cm. Consider this protrusion in the kitchen design.
The apron of a kitchen set without upper cabinets should be brought to the very ceiling.

We select the color and design

Decide in advance which apron is better to choose for the kitchen - a bright accent or neutral, which will only become a background for a beautiful headset.
A white apron (plain or with mosaic inserts, bright tiles and ceramic decors) is easy to combine with any kitchen color. Other neutral tones are also popular: milky, creamy, beige, light gray, champagne and ivory.
A dark glossy finish is impractical; water droplets and splashes of grease will be particularly noticeable.

Photo of aprons in the kitchen: top 5 best materials

Ceramic tile

The best option in terms of price, quality, durability and convenience. In the decoration of the apron, glazed wall tiles are often used, less often thin and lightweight porcelain stoneware. The most popular formats are 10x10, 15x15, 20x30 and 20x40 cm, as well as a different-sized "hog".

In the photo: an example of a stylish apron made of 10x10 cm tiles with a patchwork pattern (Batik collection from Bayker)

The tiles have many decors for different tastes and every budget. The surface of ceramics can imitate the texture of stone, wood, metal, concrete.

When choosing a kitchen tile for an apron, take a closer look at its texture: rough and embossed is difficult to keep clean, so you should give preference to a glossy smooth one.

Price. Making a ceramic apron will cost more than plastic, but much cheaper than glass and acrylic stone. In addition to the cost of the material, do not forget to include in the calculation the costs of the leveling mixture, glue, grout for joints, sealant and the work of craftsmen.

Mounting . Laying should be entrusted to a professional. The work area in any size kitchen is always the center of attention, and tiling flawlessly without experience is not easy. An important point: ceramics is for a long time. If you don't like the design, it won't be easy to change it.

Durability. It will easily serve you for 15 years or more.

Moisture resistance. ★★★★★

Care . ★★★★★

We have collected modern design ideas and photos of aprons for the kitchen from tiles in real interiors in the selection below:

The original idea of an apron on the wall in the kitchen-living room with a modern interior

Traditional Provence style kitchen design

Options for a bright kitchen with a photo tile apron

SHOW MORE 30 PHOTOS CLOSE

Strained glass

When choosing a picture or a photo in the catalog for an apron for a kitchen made of glass, take into account the color of the facades

A beautiful and practical material that is not inferior to ceramics in many properties. A glass apron is easier to care for than people think, and heat and moisture do not spoil its appearance.

The kitchen uses durable tempered glass with a thickness of 6 and 8 mm with different designs: transparent, colored, tinted, frosted and decorated with photo printing.

Price. Such a finish can hardly be called a budget one: glass panels with photo printing (skinned) are much more expensive than tiles and mosaics, not to mention plastic. In addition to the cost of making the apron, glass and the necessary fasteners, you will have to pay extra for the design (the photo from the catalog will probably need to be finalized), color proofs, installation, cutting out holes for sockets and other services that are not obvious to an inexperienced buyer. The most inexpensive option is a transparent protective screen, the wall behind which can be painted with paint or pasted over with beautiful wallpaper.

Mounting . The main advantage of the glass apron is the speed of installation and the absence of "dirty" work - the whole process takes a couple of hours.

Durability. Contrary to the fears of many, such an apron can decorate your kitchen for a long time without losing its attractive appearance. Some companies provide a 5-year warranty. Of course, we are talking about a quality product with UV printing with good ink.

Moisture resistance. ★★★★★

Care . ★★★★

Fingerprints, water and grease marks are more noticeable on glass than on tiles. But a smooth panel without seams is much easier to clean than cleaning multiple seams. It is enough to regularly wipe it down with a damp sponge and soapy water and use a glass cleaner from time to time.

By choosing a light glass apron for a small kitchen (as in the photo), you will visually expand a small space

SHOW MORE 20 IDEAS CLOSE

Plastic

The best choice for economy class headsets and temporary repairs, especially if you are going to do it yourself.

There is a good assortment of inexpensive plastic kitchen aprons in Leroy Merlin, OBI and other construction hypermarkets.

There are two finishes:

Furniture board made of MDF, chipboard and fiberboard, faced with decorative HPL plastic - monochromatic or with wood, ceramics, stone, mosaic decor.
PVC wall panels. Flexible screens are attached to the wall using glue and aluminum profiles. In terms of practicality and durability, they are inferior to MDF and chipboard: they are thinner, lose color faster, they cannot be installed in kitchens with a gas hob - they are deformed.

Price. The most budgetary option in our selection. A three-meter plastic panel in the same Leroy Merlin can be purchased for an average of 1.5-2.5 thousand rubles.

Mounting. An important advantage of a plastic apron when renovating a kitchen is its easy installation, which even a beginner can handle. It is easy to make holes for sockets and rails in it right during the installation process.

Durability. Of all the materials in our review, this type of apron has the shortest lifespan. Compared to other options, he will lose his "face" the fastest and is unlikely to last more than 3-5 years. But it is easy and inexpensive to replace it.

Moisture resistance. ★ ★ ★

According to this indicator, it seriously loses to competing materials. But if you take a high-quality MDF apron and close the joints with the countertop with a plinth, you should not be afraid of problems.

Care . ★★★★

A plastic apron can be wiped with a damp microfiber cloth or soft sponge. Make sure that water does not flood the edges, otherwise the base of the board may warp and swell.

An apron for a kitchen made of MDF with a photo print is best complemented with neutral facades and a monochromatic finish

A wood-look laminate worktop and apron can be easily combined with a white kitchen

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Mosaic

The contrasting finish of the mosaic backsplash will make the kitchen design bright and modern: the chameleon material looks different depending on the lighting and perfectly brings the interior together.

Price. Compared to ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware, mosaic is a less profitable option for decorating an apron. The laying work and the necessary materials will also be more expensive: you will have to buy special glue and grout. If you want to save money, choose a mosaic tile. It is cheaper and makes installation much easier.

Mounting . Grouting numerous joints is a laborious process: it requires experience, time and great care.

Durability. Will serve without complaints for many years. The normal service life of a quality material is 20-25 years.

Moisture resistance. ★★★★★

Care . ★★★★

Examples of real kitchen aprons made of mosaics (glass, ceramic, stone, metal), see the photos below:

SHOW 10 OPTIONS CLOSE

Fake diamond

Most often, an apron made of artificial stone is combined with a countertop made of the same material.

Price. Perhaps the most expensive design option for a work area in our selection.

Mounting . Requires the work of experienced craftsmen, but there will be no dirt during installation.

Durability. With careful handling, acrylic stone will serve you for a very long time, but micro-scratches appear over time. To the credit of the material, it is easy to restore it: grind cracks and build up chips. After polishing it will be like new.

Moisture resistance. ★★★★★

Care . ★★★★★

You can learn more about this finishing material.

Corian Shaped Wall Panel

An apron made of stone is more often chosen for a classic kitchen MORE 7 PHOTOS CLOSE

Did you like the expensive finishing materials, and you are not planning to do new renovations soon? Do not deny yourself the pleasure - you will admire a beautiful apron every day! Count the different options. Moreover, quite a bit of finishing is needed for a typical kitchen.

A kitchen backsplash is a section of a wall that always gets in much more trouble: there is heat from the stove, and splashes of grease, and water ... There are several materials that can cope with these conditions, but among them there is no perfect one. In this article, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of coatings that can be used for a kitchen backsplash to make it easier for you to choose the best one for your kitchen. And if you are too lazy to understand the properties in detail, then read the output for each section and the rating of materials at the end of the article.

Types of kitchen aprons: materials

This part of the wall can be decorated with different materials, which we will now compare.

Ceramic tile

Pros:

durability;
ease of care - any dirt can be washed off;
resistance to high temperatures and moisture;
presentable appearance that does not deteriorate over time;
a large selection of shapes, colors, textures and patterns;
can be used behind the stove and behind the sink without additional protection;
a wide range of prices - from very affordable options to design solutions;
if damaged, a separate section can be replaced.

Minuses:

may crack or break off under mechanical stress;
not the easiest styling;
you must first prepare the wall;
it is important to know exactly the size of the headset and correctly calculate the borders of the apron;
it is impossible to obtain a seamless surface, which makes cleaning a little difficult.

Output: It is not for nothing that the tile is so popular - everything is fine in it, although you will have to tinker at the installation stage. As a precaution, choose the correct grout - moisture resistant and antibacterial.

Mosaic

Mosaic is the same ceramic tile, only in a very small format. There is also smalt mosaic made of opaque glass or just glass - the advantages and disadvantages will be similar to ceramic mosaics, and the properties of the material will be similar to those of the skin (more about them below).

The mosaic on the apron can be laid either in separate pieces to create a pattern, or in ready-made blocks for simplicity. The mosaic can be laid out and, which will significantly reduce the cost of repair.

Pros:

strength and durability;
interesting decorative effect;
the same resistance to unfavorable kitchen conditions as ceramic tiles;
if damaged, a very small segment will have to be replaced.

Minuses:

the price is slightly higher than that of a tile if bought in blocks, and much higher if in pieces;
the same difficulties with laying blocks as with tiles;
very long and painstaking installation, if a mosaic pattern is created;
it is a little more difficult to wash due to the large number of seams and grout.

Output: Very nice! But if you want easier maintenance and installation, and spend less money, stop at ordinary tiles.

Skinali

Tempered glass panels for kitchen aprons are called "skinny". They can be either matte or with a textured effect of drops, or completely transparent - then behind the glass you can place a film of any color, an interesting image, or leave a sensitive material (for example, beautiful textured wood or a brick wall) without worrying about the difficulties of operation.

Pros:

durable;
withstand light blows;
do not scratch;
resistant to high temperatures and fire resistant;
can be used behind stove and sink;
do not get wet and do not absorb fat;
they are easy to wash;
resistant to household chemicals;
hygienic;
look aesthetically pleasing;
open up opportunities for a large number of decorative solutions (any drawing or material for skins, 3D backlit effects, etc.);
easily mounted on the wall;
the wall does not require leveling or other special preparation.

Minuses:

fingerprints remain;
dirt is very visible, you need to wash it often and as thoroughly as windows, otherwise stains will remain;
with a strong impact, they can crack or break (into large, non-sharp fragments - for safety);
high price.

Output: Skinali have an almost unlimited number of designs. The performance is excellent too. Installation is simple. Why haven't they skipped it in every kitchen yet? This pleasure costs significantly more than other types of kitchen apron finishes. Well, constantly washing is a little annoying.

MDF panels

MDF panels are often purchased complete with kitchens, so the size and appearance are ideal for the chosen headset. The panels can be purchased separately and cover not only the apron area with them, but also the entire wall - such a solution will look interesting in a traditional style kitchen.

Pros:

ease of installation;
there is no need to prepare the wall surface;
a huge selection of colors and textures, including a good imitation of wood or photo printing;
behind such an apron, you can carry out communications or put noise or heat insulation;
low price;
endurance to mechanical damage;
endurance to household chemicals;
easy replacement when worn;
ease of care (except for cases with an unusual texture of the material).

Minuses:

wears out from exposure to temperature extremes, moisture (panels can swell, move away from the wall, crack);
fat eats into MDF and leaves traces;
cannot be placed near the slab without additional wall protection - this will accelerate wear;
fire hazardous and toxic when burning.

Output: MDF panels are suitable as a budget or temporary option. They will take root in the kitchen, where they rarely cook. An additional glass or stainless steel panel will have to be installed behind the stove.

Steel

Stainless steel sheets as a backsplash will be a highlight in an industrial or modern kitchen. It is easier to care for matte or worn steel; some people like this surface even more polished.

Pros:

mechanical strength and durability;
hygiene;
fat does not eat in and is easily washed off;
resistance to humidity and high temperatures - can be installed behind the stove;
simple installation without preliminary preparation of the walls;
if you wish, you can hide communications behind the sheets;
low price.

Minuses:

polished steel is easily scratched;
there are traces of hard water and finger stains;
fits a limited number of styles.

Output: If you have a loft, hi-tech or kitchen is not devoid of brutality for another reason, steel will be even better than tiles! If outwardly you do not like it or does not suit the style, then alas, this is not your option.

Best Kitchen Aprons: Quartblog Rating

We took into account all the pros and cons of materials, installation and maintenance, looked at the price / quality ratio of different materials for a kitchen apron. Our rating is as follows:

skinned,
ceramic tile,
stainless steel,
mosaic,
MDF panels.

Of course, no one cancels personal preferences and tastes - the choice is yours. If you really want something original in place of a kitchen apron, read our article "" and experiment!

Kitchen Aprons Ideas Videos

Quartblog digest

We examined which kitchen aprons for the kitchen were made by our heroes, and identified the most popular options.

What kind of kitchen backsplash can be made with children and how to protect the brick and woodwork above the sink? We asked the designer Evgeniya Topilskaya about the unusual decoration of the kitchen walls.

We have collected for you 15 examples in which an apron is the main decoration of the kitchen.

If the tile has a neutral color, complex textures and original layout methods come into play. This selection contains the most beautiful kitchen aprons that we have found on the Internet.

I want to admire the pattern of this tile endlessly! A kitchen apron is the best place to use it as an accent.

Photos: hgtv.com, housebeautiful.com, colgar.cochincet.com, decorationlife.net, decoroption.com, rumahtips.com, usbcalling.com

The current market of finishing materials opens up many possibilities for decorating the kitchen space. When choosing materials for decoration, home and apartment owners prefer the most convenient and durable materials with excellent aesthetic properties. Most often, they are faced with the following question: what is better to choose, or tiles, since it is these materials that remain in excellent condition for many years. Each of the finishes has its own advantages and disadvantages, which should be taken into account when making your choice.

Advantages and disadvantages of skinned

Glass kitchen aprons appeared not so long ago, but immediately became one of the most popular finishing materials. This is due to a number of their advantages:

skins can be made with various patterns, have many storylines, so they can be used in rooms whose interior is decorated in almost any style;
glass panels do not have jointing joints, which are susceptible to rapid contamination and become a hotbed of mold formation;
kitchen glass aprons are practical, since they are easy to clean from various contaminants with any specialized means, and at the same time do not lose their aesthetic properties;
skins are made of glass of the highest strength, due to which they are resistant to high temperatures and mechanical damage.
a well-chosen kitchen glass apron will be combined with any furniture, harmoniously complementing the decor.

Advantages and disadvantages of tiles

Ceramic tiles can be called the traditional material that used to be most often used in the design of kitchen spaces. It is used to decorate walls and floors in the kitchen. The material is offered in a wide variety, which allows you to choose the option most suitable for a particular interior. The tile has a number of other important advantages:

the richness of shades and textures of the tiles offered on the market allows you to choose the most suitable interior design in terms of style;
the tile is easy to clean from dirt;
the material is resistant to high temperatures and mechanical damage;
tiles can be of different sizes, which opens up great opportunities for creating an original finish of the kitchen space.

The main disadvantage of tiles is the difficulty in laying them. When purchasing material, the owner of the premises will have to spend time looking for craftsmen who will carry out the work with high quality. If you entrust the laying of the material to inexperienced people, this can cause the rapid destruction of the finish due to improperly selected glue or the formation of large joint seams, which will violate the aesthetics of the design. Also, the lack of a tile can be attributed to the exactingness of care.

What to choose for your kitchen

Every owner of a house or apartment wants to have a kitchen with an original impressive design. That is why many people decide to buy skinals to perform wall decoration above the kitchen work area. Glass panels with original colors or unique patterns will effectively complement the interior or even become its highlight. Having made a decision, you can be sure that the decoration of the room will have a wonderful look, similar to the development of an experienced designer, which will not be left without the attention of your guests.

Usually custom-made skins are installed by the company that created them. This approach is provided by our company Skinali-Fresh, creating and carrying out their installation. Installation of panels is carried out quickly, does not lead to severe pollution of the room, therefore it can be carried out even after the completion of the repair.

Order glass skins

For several years now, the company "SkinaliFresh" successfully engaged in the production of glass products to order.