Are you looking for a perfect solution for a clutter-free space in the kitchen? Are you about to begin a kitchen makeover for your home or design one from scratch? Worry not, because Gharpedia brings you an exclusive guide on features for an organised modular kitchen.
Before we proceed to the pointers for the same, let us first understand what a modular kitchen is.
What is a Modular Kitchen?
Modular kitchens let you have a hassle-free cooking experience in an organised way. Modern kitchen designs are dynamic and customisable to suit the needs and cooking styles of different people. The modular kitchen systems have cabinets, drawers, cupboards, and shelves that work together to produce an integrated solution in the space. These systems are popular today for both their utility and aesthetic appeal.
However, we must meticulously select the materials and accessories while designing a kitchen. These enhance storage capacity, are exceedingly robust, and rust-resistant, and are often made of stainless steel. In this article, we will go over some of the most essential elements of a modular kitchen design.
Material Palette of a Modular Kitchen
Modular kitchens are long-lasting and easy to maintain due to the material and techniques used in making them. Let us look into some key materials used in modular kitchens:
MDF
MDF is a common variety of engineered wood that has a smooth texture and provides a superior finish when matched with the right laminate.
Plywood
Plywood is one of the most common materials used to construct kitchen cabinets. Plywood production involves gluing and pressing together numerous layers of veneered wood. It is sturdy, long-lasting, and can handle heavy loads.
Laminates
Laminates are a popular choice for most modular kitchens. Paperboard layers are joined with an imprinted layer of patterns or designs, which is then bundled with layers of plastic resin and finally coated in a durable plastic film.
PVC
This water-resistant material is ideal for building kitchen cabinets. PVC sheets are composite plastic sheets available in multiple colours. PVC sheets do not need a base and are easy to repair and maintain. These sheets come in two varieties, hollow boards, and foam boards.
Metal
Steel and aluminium are rapidly replacing wood and its substitutes in modern kitchens to give them a more solid appearance. These materials can be purchased only once, and they need less upkeep, making them an excellent choice for modern kitchens.
Fully vs. Semi Modular Kitchen design
The main difference between a semi-modular kitchen and a fully modular kitchen lies in its customisation and standardisation. Talking about a semi-modular kitchen, it is a blend of modular cabinetry by interior designers with civil work construction involved.
In a fully modular kitchen, interior designers install factory-made modules on-site in an empty kitchen. There is no civil work involved. Every module is pre-fabricated.
Modular Kitchen Essentials
Let us proceed to the modular kitchen essentials:
1. Tall Unit with Built-in Gadget Storage
Modern kitchens demand a lot of storage space. Cabinets and shelves meet our storage space requirements, specifically to store items that we use daily. Tall cabinets, on the other hand, provide effective storage for ingredients that we use occasionally. These units are an effective way of using the vertical space of your kitchen and are useful if your kitchen is small. The unit should preferably include a pull-out drawer mechanism to make it simple to grab bottles and other items in the back. The system should include customisable gadget installation options.
2. Pull-Out Drawers
Whenever you picture a typical modular kitchen in your mind, you probably can’t miss these pull-out drawers. Modular kitchen designs are all about space optimisation and clever concealments. They slide out effortlessly and allow easier access to items stored in the back of a cabinet. Depending on the demand, it is possible to provide built-in open basket drawers for vegetables and fruits or slide-out modular kitchen drawers with steel racks for storing utensils and crockery.
3. Customized Cutlery Organizers
Previously, most people stored their cutlery in a drawer or cabinet at a whim, which resulted in a lot of chaotic mess. It is virtually impossible to keep a drawer organised without sections. As a result, a cutlery organiser is an essential modular kitchen accessory in any kitchen design. It will simplify life, whether it is storing the utensils after cleaning or looking for a certain piece when needed. You should ideally position the unit near the cooking stove so that the kitchen equipment is easily accessible.
4. Under-Sink Accessories
The space beneath the sink is typically underutilized. An under-sink system often incorporates storage for cleaning supplies such as dish detergent, sponges, and any other sink equipment. It will help you get easy access during your morning cleaning sessions. You may also put a trash holder on the under-sink unit’s shutter.
5. Lift-Up Cabinet Door
Modern solutions are looking toward solving the problem of space optimisation by introducing sleek lift-up doors. Lift-up cabinet doors that swivel or fold up instead of opening out are among the essentials of modular kitchen features that make the workspace safer. They make moving around the kitchen while working considerably simpler and less dangerous.
6. Bottle Storage and Pull-Outs
Bottle pull-outs are a clever modular kitchen accent as they optimize compact kitchen spaces. The bottle pull racks have specifically designed grills and divisions for holding bottles containing cooking ingredients such as cooking oils, sauces, vinegar, and so on. These pull-outs are small in width to save room in the kitchen. You should consider putting these immediately next to the stove to provide better cooking assistance. However, because these bottle racks are not chilling chambers, you cannot store bottles that require cold temperatures here.
7. Corner Units
Corners don’t necessarily have to be dead spaces. There are various modular kitchen corner trays that can be tailored to address the needs of homeowners. You can opt for swing-out systems that move towards the door when the cabinet opens, or swivel-type systems that allow easy access to items within the cupboard.
To know more in depth about modular kitchen accessories, here is an interesting blog on the same:
Modular Kitchen Accessories for Easy Kitchen Life
Final thoughts
Unlike other spaces in the house, kitchen design is not just about picking colour and themes. The crux of kitchen design is functionality. The above list of essential modular kitchen accessories will assist you in creating aesthetic yet practical spaces.
FAQS
1. What are the most essential accessories in a modular kitchen?
The typical modular layout consists of many cabinet pieces. Wall units, floor units, tall-storage cabinets, gadget-storage areas, and so on are examples.
2. What are factors to consider while designing a modular kitchen?
When it comes to kitchen design, you want it to be both aesthetically impressive and very utilitarian. As a result, consider the following criteria while designing a modular kitchen: layout, storage, lighting, flooring, and ventilation.
3. What are the main advantages of a modular kitchen?
Modular kitchens are not the same as those built on-site by carpenters. These fabrications are mass-produced and are hence cost-effective. In less than a week, you can get the whole kitchen system installed. Furthermore, because the cabinets are foldable, installation is simple.
Before you take a leave, here are 10 interesting modular kitchen appliances that will make your life way easier :
Modular Kitchen Appliances: That’ll Make your Life *way* Easier
Image Courtesy : Image 9, Image 13, Image 14, Image 15
Author Bio
Srishti Dasgupta : Srishti Dasgupta is an architect and writer. Her passion for art initiated her interest in Architecture. The creative field also inspired her to explore various aspects of art and culture. She intends to keep capturing the rationalities of everyday world, integrated with the creative world through different mediums.