One has only to hear the phrase “I have a kitchen without a window”, most immediately have a bunch of thoughts about what kind of room it is: dark, stuffed with furniture, it’s impossible to turn around, walk through or sit down, and even more so you can’t eat normally in it. But it's not.
If you correctly and wisely approach the design of a small kitchen without a window, then it can safely give odds to any standard and spacious kitchen.
But before you start repairing and arranging the kitchen, you should draw up a detailed plan that takes into account the following rules:
- only a durable and moisture-resistant coating can be laid on the floor (so that the fall of any dishes does not damage the surface), such as tile, linoleum, and not parquet or carpet;
- you can’t install a refrigerator near the stove, because due to strong temperature changes it will begin to deform, as a result it may break, or condensation will appear on it;
- Place a place for drying and storing dishes near the sink;
- if possible, order built-in furniture, it folds easily and takes up little space;
- place cabinets and shelves as high as possible to the ceiling;
- A great way to save space is to connect the sink, worktop and stovetop with a countertop.
Lighting
Most of all, comfort and coziness in a kitchen without a window is affected by lighting. If the kitchen is small, then ceiling lighting will be enough in it. You can make a stretch ceiling with a lot of lamps, or you can install several pieces at an equal distance.
It looks interesting lighting in the form of a ceiling window. At correct installation one gets the impression that there is a real skylight.
If the kitchen is of a normal size, then additional lamps will be needed near different areas - above the work surface, above the stove, and so on.
Advice ! It is best if a switch with a dimmer is installed, then you can adjust the amount of light you need.
The main thing is that the light is evenly distributed throughout the room. If there are niches or other recesses, you can also put original lamps in them.
Purchase unusual appliances for kitchen design without a window, for example, lamps in the form of inverted cups and saucers or fruits. All this will positively affect the atmosphere in the room.
Wall and ceiling color
Attention ! In a kitchen without a window, it is not recommended to finish the walls and ceiling in dark shades, only in bright hues
Why? Dark colors make the kitchen more compact and will not be able to reflect light. And natural and light shades visually enlarge any room (beige, pale pink, creamy, and so on). Also, do not use wallpaper or other finishes with large patterns, as they visually reduce the space.
You can make one wall of a bright color (bright green, pink, lilac), then the kitchen will become more contrasting and unusual.
The ceiling is usually finished a little lighter than the walls. If you plan to make a stretch ceiling, then you can choose with a pattern of the sky, sun and clouds, or with flowers (for example, daisies). The kitchen will appear taller and more airy.
To make the kitchen without a window seem even more spacious and bright, you should use as many materials with a mirror surface as possible.
In the photo below you can see how beautiful and unusual the kitchen design looks without a window with stretch ceiling with flowers or sky.
Floor and doors
Just like the walls with the ceiling, the floor should be a light shade for a better reflective effect. Pastel, cream and white colors are perfect. If tiles are laid, then several colors can be combined, laying them in a checkerboard or other order.
For a small kitchen without windows, it is better to either not install a door at all, or install a sliding or accordion.
False and inner window
Since there is no window in the kitchen, you can imitate it. This method perfectly increases the space of the room and soothes.
You can buy photo wallpapers and 3D wallpapers in the form of a window with a landscape behind it or a city square. Or decorate with a picture on the entire wall.
If you want something difficult, then you can build a real window into the niche of the wall, and insert a picture behind the glass. Be sure to add lighting.
A real window will look especially original - with a curtain, curtains or blinds, shutters and a flower on the windowsill.
Instead of a picture in the window, you can insert mirrors, stained glass or other patterned glass.
There is another option - to order the services of a decorator and he will make a false window.
An interior window is also a great way to add comfort to a windowless kitchen. The window can be decorated with curtains, blinds or unusual lighting. Or just cover with frosted glass.
Appliances and furniture
Proper arrangement of furniture and appliances will save space, as well as use it without problems.
Before you begin to install, determine what equipment your family constantly uses. You should not install equipment that you will use a couple of times a year.
Advice ! In a small kitchen, it is better to install multifunctional furniture, especially sliding furniture (extensible table, reclining chairs).
Drawers of various shapes are welcome, even angular and vertical ones, like bottle holders, but only larger. Corner drawers hold a lot more items than ordinary ones.
It is better to make an oven, a microwave oven built into the wall (column). If the family consists of two or three people, then you do not need to buy a huge refrigerator, get something medium in size. It is also better to make it inline.
If the kitchen is small size, then the refrigerator can be placed in another room or corridor.
All equipment is installed either near one of the walls, or with the letter G. If one wall is occupied, then you can put it in a corner dining area(for example, a soft corner). In the case of installation with the letter G, a table (round or oval) and chairs are installed separately.
Furniture, like all decoration, should be light in color or even transparent.
Looks great technique with shiny elements, made under chrome, silver or brass.
The main thing is not to clutter up the kitchen with small things, as they visually reduce the space. It is better to put something medium in size and original, such as a built-in false fireplace or a flat aquarium. Hang pictures or photographs in a row and vertically, then the room will visually stretch.
Ventilation
Since the kitchen has no window, the inflow of fresh air and the removal of excess moisture are limited. All this together can cause the growth of mold and fungi.
Therefore, in such a kitchen there must be an extractor hood and, preferably, there are two of them.
For better ventilation, a fan is installed on the ceiling.
There are many ideas for designing a kitchen without a window, you just need to correctly calculate the arrangement and not clutter it up.
Leave only frequently used utensils, and put the rest away. Use railings and special devices for storing dishes, they not only look great, but also take up little space.
Buy dishes in sets and in the form of containers that can be folded into each other and take up little space in the refrigerator.
Even experienced designers admit that choosing curtains for a small kitchen that won't make it visually even smaller is not easy. Fortunately, recently many practical and functional varieties of curtains have appeared that “do not eat up” the space and allow you to use it to the maximum. In this article, we will cover all fashion trends And modern novelties 2017 in the design of curtains in a small kitchen, as well as a lot of illustrative photos with examples.
It is necessary to decorate any, no matter small or large, kitchen, taking into account the specific features of this very working and “family” room in the house. And this means that they should not interfere with cleaning, be easy to clean and create a comfortable atmosphere. If the kitchen is small, then the curtains for it should also not hide, but visually increase the space.
We can give you the following tips for choosing curtains for a small kitchen:
- 1 Since lighting is very important for the kitchen, the priority is short curtains to the window sill, which allow daylight to pass through well.
- 2 Floor-length curtains, dark colors and bright large patterns are undesirable.
- 3 Best suited for a small kitchen light curtains pastel shades.
- 4 Most suitable fabrics for kitchen curtains- silk, linen, chintz, polyester, tulle, jute. Ideally, they should be treated with a special impregnation to protect against dust and dirt.
- 5 If the curtains are next to the stove, which is not uncommon for small kitchens, it is better to give preference to natural fabrics that will not flare up when accidentally in contact with fire.
- 6 Visually raise the ceiling with curtains with a wide vertical stripe or print, and visually expand the wall with curtains with an emphasis on the horizontal.
- 7 Ceiling cornice visually add a few centimeters to the height of the ceiling.
- 8 In order to make the room seem wider on a narrow window, it is better to install a cornice, 1.5 times longer than the width of the window opening.
Traditional sliding curtains to the sides are very attractive, but for a small kitchen of 6 square meters. m is still more suitable for modern lifting curtains, which are characterized by a length up to or just below the windowsill. This season, designers offer us 4 types of such curtains: Roman, Austrian, roller and blinds. They have a number of common advantages that are relevant specifically for small spaces:
- they do not need a lot of space to install;
- they visually enlarge the space;
- leave open access to the window and window sill;
- allow you to comfortably adjust the degree of illumination;
- do not interfere with the natural ventilation of the room;
- equipped with a convenient control mechanism.
In addition, for kitchens you can always find a lifting model made of fireproof material with dirt-repellent impregnation, which is also very useful, especially when the working area: the cutting table and stove are located close to the window.
Despite the similar advantages and design, all these types of curtains look different and among them you can always find a model that fits into the interior style of a particular kitchen.
Tulle and short curtains
Classic curtains - thick floor-length curtains. When closed, they completely darken the room and do not allow the use of a window sill, which is undesirable for a kitchen, especially a small one. And in the case when the window is located directly above the working area, it is simply impossible to hang such a structure on it. Therefore, it is not recommended to decorate a small-sized kitchen with curtains and tulle in their classic version.
For lovers of the classics and traditional window design, experts offer to purchase a modern lightweight version of curtains for a small kitchen, sewn like curtains, which hang just below the window sill and are made of relatively light material.
In the photo, an example of how you can beautifully drape short curtains so that they do not interfere in a small kitchen.
It can be thick cotton, linen, silk, poplin or some mixed fabrics. best suited for the interior of a small kitchen.
They also choose a shortened one. Often it is cut with an arc, and it closes the middle part of the window by no more than 2/3. This form of curtains provides access to the window and window sill and allows you to freely open the window sashes.
The exception is a small kitchen combined with a balcony. In this case, it is quite acceptable to decorate the window and balcony opening with long curtains.
Kisei
Thread or muslin curtains are perhaps the most non-trivial option for window decor. They have been in fashion for several years and in the current 2017 also remain popular. Thanks to their airiness, they do not overload the interior of a small kitchen, make it very cozy and add a relaxed oriental sophistication to the atmosphere. In terms of decoration, kisei is considered one of the most grateful materials, since it is easily draped and combined with any curtain decorations.
The photo shows an example of how you can combine a muslin of two colors.
Despite the seeming ephemerality, thread curtains do an excellent job with the main function of window curtains - providing lighting that is comfortable for the eyes in the room. Do not be afraid of their impracticality. Compared to traditional curtains, kisei almost does not get dirty. Almost all of its varieties are treated with a dust-repellent coating. In addition, at right approach, washing it will not be difficult, and drying and ironing is not necessary at all.
For a small kitchen, filament curtains are also convenient because they do not interfere with the natural ventilation of the room. With drafts, kisei easily sets in motion, so it should not be hung on a window close to a gas or electric stove. But for the design of a window opening, combined with balcony door Kisei is ideal, because even when drawn up, it does not block the passage to the balcony and to the windowsill.
The kitchen most often does not need complete shading, and muslin is quite enough for it, but if desired, it can be combined with ordinary curtains. Today, layering is in fashion, designers suggest hanging 2-3 layers of multi-colored threads on the window at different levels. They can be of any texture, but for the kitchen it is better to choose a simple muslin, not decorated with beads or glass beads.
Dark colors in the interior for small and cramped rooms are not recommended. But the airy muslin, consisting of disparate threads, dark colors do not weigh down and you can choose any color for it. For a classic kitchen, you can choose curtains in rich colors, oriental - with golden splashes, metallized or black and white muslin is suitable for a high-tech interior.
Roman
With a small area - an excellent choice. They are flat sheets of fabric that rise and fall with the help of a control mechanism, respectively letting in light or shading the room. When lifting, the Roman blind forms rigid, even horizontal folds. For most models, as a rule, only the lower half of the curtain rises. But on sale you can also find fully opening Roman canvases, or sew them yourself.
The width of such curtains is chosen at your discretion: you can hang one wide canvas above the window or install narrower canvases directly on the sashes. The second option will allow you to use the windowsill, even if the curtains are down.
The type of fabric and a different number of Roman blinds make it possible not only to decorate a small space in an original way, but also to comfortably adjust its illumination. And the variety of materials offered for their tailoring (from the finest cotton to bamboo) and a wide selection of colors allow you to create a unique window opening design for each kitchen.
The photo shows a combination of modern Roman blinds and classic straight lines.
Despite the apparent simplicity and clear, even lines, Roman blinds cannot be called too strict and boring. They look very stylish, modern, suitable for any interior solutions and do not burden the atmosphere of a small kitchen, which is already oversaturated with details.
Austrian
Austrian curtains differ from Roman curtains in a softer design. When lifting, they gather not into hard even, but soft scalloped folds and resemble a lambrequin. The number of folds can be any. The smaller they are, the stricter and more concise the curtains look, and vice versa.
Design features do not allow the installation of "Austrian" on the window sashes. Most often they are fixed above the window or (much less often) in the window opening. The second method is less preferable, because it does not allow you to open windows wide open.
Smooth lines allow you to decorate such curtains with artificial flowers, bows, satin ribbons. For their tailoring, soft, well-draped natural fabrics are used, plain or with a floral print in delicate colors.
Austrian curtains made of transparent fabric are very popular today. In this case, they perform the function of tulle and can be used both independently and with other thicker curtains.
Since the “Austrian women” have a somewhat frivolous design, they are suitable for delicate, non-strict interiors: country, shebi-chic, rustic, Mediterranean, ethnic and the like.
Rolled
Roller blinds do not gather into folds when lifting, like the Austrian and Roman models, but are wound into a tight roll on the shaft. For cassette models, the shaft is hidden in a box and the curtain is not visible in the collapsed position. To achieve comfortable illumination, they can be opened partially, half or completely. Such curtains are attached to the window opening, to the window opening and to the sashes.
The last option for the kitchen is the most convenient, since it allows you to use all the elements of the window structure without restrictions and, if desired, cover with curtains not both shutters at once, but only one of them. In terms of space saving, roller blinds are the most practical of the lifting ones. When unfolded, they fit snugly against the window and do not take a single centimeter away from the usable area of the kitchen.
They are made from smooth, mostly synthetic, fabrics in rich colors. Recently, roller blinds with photo printing have become very fashionable. You can choose any drawing for them and not necessarily “kitchen”, so these curtains will suit any interior. In addition, they can be supplemented with other curtains. For example, to dilute their conciseness and make them fit the kitchen with a classic design, you can hang roller blinds with tulle or curtains on the window opening.
An interesting option for a small kitchen can serve. They are not only stylish and modern looking, but also very functional.
Blinds
Blinds are the most functional way to stylish and practical design of a small room. This type of window decor has several varieties, but in a small kitchen it is recommended to use horizontal models with plastic or aluminum slats that visually expand the window and are fixed directly on the sashes.
Horizontal blinds have one, characteristic only for this type of curtains, advantage. In order to adjust the degree of illumination in the room, they do not need to be raised. It is enough to turn the slats at the desired angle. Thanks to this, even when the slats are turned perpendicular to the window and the kitchen is filled with light, it is not visible from the street.
Many consider blinds suitable only for offices. But this opinion is wrong. Color solutions of horizontal blinds are not limited by anything. Both monophonic options and all kinds of color combinations are possible.
Like other curtains, they can be combined with other types of curtains, which makes it possible to take into account all the subtleties of the interior.
It's no secret that most interesting interior projects are designed for spacious rooms with high ceilings. But even when your kitchen cannot boast of large sizes, there is no need to despair. If you approach the interior design thoughtfully and with imagination, any room will look decent, and well-chosen curtains will decorate it and give you a good mood.
The kitchen is considered one of the most comfortable rooms in the house; it is designed not only for cooking, but also for joint gatherings with friends and relatives, as well as for privacy and relaxation. Good lighting in the kitchen creates a particularly comfortable atmosphere. However, if a small window is installed in it, then you will have to resort to to some design tricks, which will help make this room brighter, beautiful and functional.
natural lighting
In kitchens with small windows, you need to create good natural light, which will provide the hostess with comfort when doing household chores. A brighter room can be made with glossy materials of light and white color that can be used in wall and ceiling decoration; facade lacquer surfaces kitchen sets; abundance of mirrors, as well as working surfaces stainless steel, with reflective effect. An atmosphere of lightness and freedom will be created indoors light furniture and household appliances of similar shades. Such products look very stylish, modern and not bulky.
artificial lighting
Kitchen design with a small window includes well-designed artificial lighting. Here, both the minimum number of lamps and the abundance of lighting fixtures will look equally bad. ceiling lighting should be soft and as bright as possible, especially in the evening hours. For this purpose, you can use chandeliers or recessed lights. In addition to the main light sources in the room, you should use additional lighting. For this purpose, elegant illuminated mirrors, table lamps with beautiful lampshades, as well as lamps designed for working area. For good illumination of the place reserved for cooking, you can use directional lamps that need to be installed above each element of the work surface: sink, hob and countertop.
If dinner table or the bar counter is located near the wall, then it is recommended to use wall sconces on brackets and models of lamps, in which a soft stream of light will be directed downwards, so that they can fully illuminate the table, creating a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in this area.
Curtains for a small window
Designers offer several ways in which small windows can be given an attractive appearance and visually make them larger. The traditional way to design them is curtains.
For small windows it is recommended to use short curtains, which can have a variety of shapes, shades and textures. Visually enlarge a small window and create an atmosphere of spaciousness will allow curtains, the width of which will be greater than the window opening. It is appropriate in such a room to look curtains made of airy and light fabrics in light neutral tones. They will beautifully harmonize with the overall color of the room and visually make it more spacious. If desired, you can use cotton fabrics, in which there are combinations of bright colors. On small windows, both simple-shaped curtains and complex, unusual designs will look great.
You can create good natural lighting in the kitchen with the help of light tulle and veils placed along the entire height of the windows, as well as small curtains that will be at the bottom of the window. Surfaces near the window opening and the window sill are recommended to be painted with white paint., which will not absorb, but reflect daylight.
