Kitchen Design Ideas 12 Square Meters

For most women, the kitchen room is not just a cooking space but a place where they feel like absolute mistresses. Therefore, when it comes to furnishing this part of the house, they want to make it more spacious. Of course, this statement does not apply to cottages, and luxury apartments, which are characterized by a large area and a well-thought-out layout, where the size of the kitchen is 12 sq. meters or more are considered the norm. But the owners of ordinary housing can enlarge the room by combining it with a balcony or living room.

Features of the Layout

Some experts argue that the main advantage of any kitchen is functionality and ergonomics, putting important aspects such as size and comfort in the background. Of course, in some ways, they are right. Still, many use the kitchen room for its intended purpose, and as a guest room, celebrations are arranged here, friends and acquaintances are invited here, and the whole family gathers. Hence, the area is of great importance.

The kitchen of 12 m2, although not spacious, is a fairly large room. It is often more difficult to properly manage the space in such a room than in a small one. Not turning this place into a breeding ground for unnecessary trash will require careful planning. When drawing up a plan, many parameters must be taken into account: shape (rectangle, square), location of windows and doors, utilities.

When creating a project, you should follow the basic rules of ergonomics and safety. To make the space comfortable and functional, it is necessary to adhere to the “working triangle.” The sink, stove, the refrigerator should be arranged in a triangular pattern, while its total area should not exceed 5-7 sq. m. The optimal distance between the tops of the far corners is no more than 3-4 meters.

First of all, a preliminary sketch should be drawn up, with the designation of window and door openings on it, the location of the water supply and sewerage system, ventilation, supply of gas pipes. After that, you will need to arrange the furniture set and household appliances correctly. Then, depending on the shape of the room, the method of placing the three main working areas, one of the following types of layout is chosen:

• corner
• linear
• parallel (in two lines)
• linear with an island
• L-shaped
• U-, U-shaped

Having decided on arranging objects, you can start choosing a style, choosing an appropriate color scheme. After that, following the chosen direction, building materials are selected for finishing the floor, walls, ceiling, and lighting system is thought out. Do not forget about space zoning. Delimiting a relatively large area into zones is indispensable.

Kitchen with Access to the Balcony

The size of the kitchen in most typical apartments or private houses does not exceed 8 m2, so if possible, it is a great idea to combine the room with a balcony or loggia. This method allows you to expand the kitchen area geographically, make it more comfortable. For example, a partition, which was previously a window sill, can be converted into a bar counter, or the balcony space can be used as a dining room.

Among the main advantages of such a merger, many important points can be highlighted:

• increase in kitchen space
• convenient zoning
• good natural light
• attractive appearance
• there is an opportunity for experiments

However, this connection is not without its drawbacks:

• the need for additional insulation, and in some cases also glazing;
• the redevelopment process takes a long time;
• registration of permits.

The process of merging two functionally different zones can be done in two ways: full join, partial. The first option is characterized by the destruction of the wall partition, as a result of which the two rooms turn into a single room. In this case, heating radiators are transferred to the balcony wall. Usually, they are located under the window. In the second case, only interior windows and doors are dismantled, the wall remains intact.

How to use the extra space is up to every owner. It all depends on its size, individual preferences. The most common, optimal option is to organize a dining area. In addition, here you can equip a place for rest, a bar, a pantry for storing various utensils, an office, a living room. If you wish, you can take out a workplace here, for example, install a sink, but this will require serious investments.

Kitchen-Living Room

Kitchen-living room of 12 sq. m. differs from a conventional kitchen room of the same area by adding additional functional areas, such as a dining and sofa group. The size of the room allows you to allocate space for eating and resting. The main thing is to prioritize correctly. For example, if the kitchen is mainly used for cooking food, more space is allocated to the working triangle.

If the emphasis is on a comfortable pastime, then the kitchen area is equipped to a minimum. Compact furniture, built-in household appliances are chosen, the working surface is reduced. At the same time, it is better to leave the space intact, refuse to use some zoning methods, for example, organizing a podium, installing partitions, a bar counter, etc.

Among the advantages of this layout are:

• multifunctionality
• there is an opportunity to get together with a large family
• you can supervise children without being distracted from the cooking process

There are also many disadvantages:

• additional costs for the purchase of silent equipment, a more powerful hood
• the presence of foreign odors
• the more difficult cleaning process, as more surfaces appear

The choice of furniture for the kitchen-living room depends not only on the shape of the room but also on the real priority of the functional area. In one case, the emphasis is on many household appliances. In the other – on a furniture set. For the arrangement of the living room, it is best to give preference to the sofa. This is the best option for a small room. If you plan to receive frequent guests, then you need to take a folding model in case they spend the night.

Materials and Methods of Finishing

Decorating the floor, walls, ceiling in the kitchen is a creative and time-consuming process. It should be remembered that the conditions in the kitchen are difficult. There is high humidity, and the temperature is constantly changing. As a result, a greasy deposit settles on the surface of finishing building materials, and odors are absorbed. Although it solves some of the listed troubles, installing a powerful hood does not eliminate the problem.

Considering all the negative aspects, the choice of materials must be approached deliberately. For example, the service life of the cladding depends on their quality, compliance with the existing conditions. Therefore, you should not save on kitchen repairs, and you should choose more expensive raw materials. In turn, the finishing building material, its color scheme affect the interior of the room as a whole, the style, and the design created.

Wall and Apron

Correctly finished surfaces should be easy to clean and not deteriorate under the influence of moisture. You can use ceramic tiles, mosaics, glass, natural and decorative stone, plastic and MDF panels, metal, paint, and other substances to finish the apron. The first two options are the most suitable for the kitchen. They are durable, strong, not afraid of moisture, high temperatures, easy to care for, and environmentally friendly.

Glass panels are also characterized by high performance and external characteristics but are less popular due to the installation’s high cost and complexity. Natural or artificial stone is heavy and expensive and requires special care. Although they are the most budgetary option, MDF, PVC panels, and films are temporary. However, they quickly lose quality and have poor fire resistance.

Many materials can be used for wall cladding. One of the most popular coatings is decorative plaster. It is inexpensive, but only a professional can handle the job. To create a loft style, you can not cover the surface at all. Instead, leave the brickwork open, having previously prepared it. This textured cladding is in perfect harmony with furniture and metal objects.

The easiest way to transform partitions is to paint them white or another color. It is better to give preference to acrylic paints. But classic paper wallpaper in this room should be abandoned; it is recommended to use vinyl, non-woven, liquid analogs. Also, the lining is not particularly suitable for these purposes. It is made of wood, MDF, plastic, has a significant drawback – it ignites quickly.

Ceiling

The ceiling must correspond to the kitchen conditions, be moisture resistant, withstand temperature extremes, and most importantly, have an attractive appearance. The cheapest finish is whitewashing. This coating can be safely called traditional. Absolutely everyone will cope with its application. However, the substance does not fully meet all the requirements.

Among the popular but impractical materials, one can distinguish wallpaper, polystyrene tiles, drywall. Although these types are used as cladding, they do not last long. Better finishes can be done with plaster. The plastered surface looks beautiful, but it gets dirty quickly and is difficult to clean. Tension structures are more practical, they are not afraid of moisture, but they deform under the influence of high temperatures.

One of the most inexpensive and high-quality coatings is paint. It is durable, washable, and does not eat up space. The only drawback is that a perfectly flat surface is required for application since this tool does not allow to hide irregularities. A more expensive cladding, devoid of most of the flaws, can be organized using rack structures. The aluminum profile is one of the most successful, suitable options.

Floor

Experts do not recommend using natural wood, cork, laminate, parquet as flooring. This is due to the poor moisture resistance of wooden materials. Of course, you can choose a special thermally modified wood (thermal tree), use protective agents and impregnations. Still, they only partially solve the problem common to all types, and the cost of finishing will increase significantly.

Linoleum can be an alternative to the previous options. It has a reasonable price, long service life, is not afraid of moisture, it is easy to clean it from any contamination. This is one of the best options for the kitchen. However, it is not without its drawbacks. Firstly, when heavy objects stand on the surface of the material for a long time, dents form in their place. Secondly, cheap species are far from environmentally friendly and can harm health.

The more expensive but high-quality building materials ideal for kitchen floors includes ceramic tiles, mosaics, porcelain stoneware, natural stone, concrete, self-leveling floor. These are very durable substances, but they all have one common drawback – a cold surface. This issue is solved by organizing a floor heating system, which significantly increases the cost of an already rather expensive coating.

Choosing a Kitchen Set

In the large kitchen, a room with  ​​12 sq. meters, it is easy to place almost any kitchen set. If desired, you can place an impressive refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine, gas or electric stove, other household appliances, and furniture here. The dining area can be combined with the living room, and it is convenient to position the TV, which is convenient to watch from any corner of the room.

As noted above, the kitchen layout can be done in several ways, arrange all the furniture in one row, in two lines, put it linearly, at an angle, U-shaped. The choice of a specific option depends on the shape of the premises, the number of family members living. If you turn to specialists, they will draw up a high-quality project for a fee. But if you understand the existing types, then the scheme can be done independently.

L-Shaped Installation

Corner or L-shaped furniture is a great option for square rooms. To locate the kitchen set, you can use the corner between two blank walls or capture a part of the partition with a window or doorway. At the same time, there is enough space in the room to install a dining table for several people. In addition, this is a good configuration for organizing a kitchen-living room.

There is another way of placing L-shaped furniture when one side of it adjoins the wall, and the other goes into the room, serves as a kind of divider for the common space. This arrangement is quite functional, and it allows you to zone the room to separate the kitchen area from the sofa group or the dining area. But, again, the role of the protruding element is played by a tabletop, which is also used as a table.

Straight, Along the Wall

Linear or straight layouts are suitable for both rectangular and square rooms. This way of arrangement allows you to save space, make the kitchen more compact and laconic. The main drawback is the incorrectly constructed “working triangle.” It is inconvenient to move between the refrigerator, sink, and stove because all the elements are placed in one row.

Kitchen sets and household appliances can be placed at a blank partition and a wall with a window opening. In the second case, safety precautions must be followed. The window must not be covered with curtains, which can blow into the fire with the wind and cause a fire. Instead, it is better to install a work surface and the opening and spread the sink and stove in different directions.

In One Row

A headset installed in one row has the same linear layout. Essentially, they are the same thing. This arrangement is optimal for rectangular elongated rooms. Along one blank wall, you will have to distribute the kitchen area and the dining area and allocate a place for organizing a recreation area so that there is space for free movement.

In this case, it is recommended to maximize the potential of the walls. Hang shelves on them, wall cabinets that reach the ceiling. To separate functional areas, a dining table is used, under which you can additionally organize a podium. Also, you can use lighting fixtures as zoning, choose finishing materials of different colors or compositions.

Two Lines

It is not always possible to completely place everything you need along one wall. In this case, the furniture can be installed in two lines. The arrangement of furniture modules in two rows is also called a parallel layout. It is inferior in popularity to the L- and U-shaped methods of organizing space, but the headset’s cost will be much cheaper due to the lack of end elements and corner cabinets.

Like the previous one, this design option is used mainly in narrow, elongated rooms, with a window on the smaller side. This design allows you to competently organize the “kitchen triangle,” rationally use the available space, create comfortable conditions for all family members. Another advantage of such a kitchen is that two people can be engaged in cooking simultaneously.

U-Shaped

The U-shaped layout is a comfortable, well-planned arrangement of the kitchen, where furniture sets, household appliances, storage systems must be placed along three adjacent walls, and in outline corresponds to the letter “P.” This is a good option for rooms: combined with a balcony, rectangular, square – if there is a need to separate the kitchen area.

The layout allows you to create comfortable conditions, properly organize the work area, and perform zoning of the space if there is a peninsula. However, the main disadvantage of this arrangement is its cumbersomeness, and the room visually becomes smaller. Also, the cost of U-shaped furniture is an order of magnitude higher than the rest, and often it must be made to order according to individual measurements.

Lighting and Illumination

Depending on the layout, the level of illumination of the room changes. The worst option in this regard is a rectangular kitchen, especially the area away from the window. For such rooms, in addition to the ceiling chandelier in the center of the ceiling, local illumination of the far corners is used. It can be all kinds of wall sconces, floor lamps, spotlights.

It is important to take care of high-quality lighting for each functional area. Cooking will be more convenient if the light above the work surface is brighter. The cool colors of the bulbs built into the apron or the lower part of the hanging cabinets will not tire the eyes and present modern household appliances in a more favorable light. To add coziness to the atmosphere, appliances with warm, subdued lighting are placed above the dining area.

Style Selection

There are many style solutions for a spacious kitchen of 12 square meters. The most popular are modern trends, for example, eco style, minimalism, hi-tech, Scandinavian. Thinking over the interior, it is necessary first of all to build on personal preferences. It is easy to fit furniture of any size and design into the spacious kitchen area. To make all interior items as functional as possible, the room is divided into zones. In this case, some factors must be considered, such as the number and age of residents.

Modern Style

There should be no unnecessary items in such a kitchen, and each element should have its own purpose. Modern style is characterized by pastel colors at the stop, closed shelves and headset cabinets, smooth surfaces. The amount of decor is kept to a minimum, as are the textile accessories.

A modern kitchen can have any layout. If the room has an exit to a closed loggia or balcony, you can equip a dining area there. The door is removed altogether, or the opening is covered with inconspicuous monophonic curtains, light tulle suitable for the interior.

Scandinavian Style

The design of the kitchen is characterized by coolness in shades. Furniture and finishes in beige, blue, and white are more often used. Textiles and furniture should be made only from natural materials. All items must be functional and ergonomic. Smooth surfaces are encouraged. In such a room, the atmosphere of comfort is always maintained, regardless of the season and weather.

If the project involves a tiny working area, the lack of space for cooking is made up of a bar counter. Furniture should be as simple as possible with clean straight lines. Laconic fittings are often neutral, but there are projects where it acts as a contrasting accent.

Classic Style

A well-established design, used for several centuries, to the liking of lovers of consistency and luxury. The finished look will look solid and elegant. The furnishings are often decorated with expensive lacquered furniture, sets with carved patterns, and golden fittings. Milky white, brown, sandy colors are often predominant in such a kitchen. Household appliances (refrigerator, microwave oven, oven, hob) are selected to match them. Countertops are made of natural stone.

In a classic kitchen, the walls and ceiling are perfectly flat. The presence of a small amount of stucco molding, a bay window is possible. You can achieve originality with a large picture or a collage in a massive frame. An unusual chandelier or floor lamp of an interesting design will also be a great decoration.

High Tech

The minimalist style is suitable for any kitchen size. There are strict forms and clear geometry. Only modern materials are used in the decoration, and their tone should be neutral using color contrasts. There is always a lot of glass, plastic, artificial stone, metal in a high-tech kitchen. Surfaces should be smooth, with a minimum of patterns and decor.

The interior of such a kitchen is made monochromatic. Bright colors act as accents and are very dosed. To diversify a boring design, a combination of textures is used. Glossy and matte surfaces, stone and wood, various panels with a 3D effect look good in one composition.

Loft Style

A spacious loft-style kitchen has become one of the favorite trends of designers. It harmoniously combines the necessary residential solutions and the fashionable ambiance of industrialism. When drawing up a project, any combinations are possible, using ideas from old and new projects.

Finishing materials should as much as possible preserve the nakedness of communications and other original structures. Thus, the walls are left concrete or tiled with bricks, the ceiling is whitewashed, and the floor is tiled. Typical shades for a loft are ash, terracotta. The kitchen is completely open, without partitions and other zoning options.

Provence style

Any rustic motives are appropriate in the interior of such a kitchen. Pastel colors will convey real charm and romanticism in the decoration, vintage furniture, enamel dishes on open shelves, and delicate curtains instead of doors in the headset.

A stylish accent in Provence will be an original hood disguised as a chimney outlet. Natural wood, clay, chalk, plaster are used for surface finishing. Tablecloths and wallpapers are plain or in a small floral pattern.

Arrangement of Furniture and Appliances

After the design has been determined and the finishing work has been carried out, you can select furniture and equipment. The rules of ergonomics must arrange all household items in the kitchen. The possibility of the most convenient and rational use of space will depend on this.

Choosing a Place for the Sofa and Dining Table

The recreation area and the dining group should be located next door. The upholstered sofa can be moved to a corner or placed against the wall opposite the kitchen unit. In this case, the place in the center will be occupied by a large table. If the kitchen has an exit to the balcony, the sofa is installed along one wall with the headset. One side of it will touch the wall with a window, the other side of the kitchen table.

Where to Install the Refrigerator

When choosing a place for large household appliances in the kitchen, it is important to consider the rules of the working triangle. The refrigerator should always be freely accessible from anywhere in the room. However, modern design styles involve built-in and most inconspicuous furniture and appliances. In this case, the refrigerator is placed in a special niche.

Choosing a Location for your TV

The modern, spacious kitchen is often used as a cooking place and as a recreation area. For greater comfort, such rooms are equipped with a TV as a sleeping project. It must be installed in a convenient place for all household members to enjoy watching their favorite programs. More often, the placement is carried out according to the following schemes:

• Opposite the dining area
• Above the refrigerator
• Above, opposite the exit

Kitchen Accessories and Decor

Noticeable decorations, small accents will give the kitchen a habitable, attractive look. The list of actions and suitable items is long enough. For these purposes, you can decorate furniture, make its facade unique by painting, decoupage, applying the film, etc. Correctly selected textiles, be it a tablecloth, chair covers, curtains, potholders, or aprons, will bring comfort to the room.

Painted plates, cups, and saucers, set in a conspicuous place, look great. Empty walls can be decorated with stickers, open shelves with beautiful vases, figurines, and original dishes can be hung on them. Also, the empty area of ​​the partitions can be filled with paintings, or you can create a panel from family photos. If you hang mirrors, they will visually increase the space.

Conclusion

Kitchen 12 sq. meters – a fairly large room. Here you can easily build in any equipment, arrange the kitchen area, and allocate a place for relaxation and a dining table. The main thing is to make the room comfortable and cozy. This can be done with the help of rational planning, which includes a preliminary sketch, selection and placement of furniture, definition of style, and color scheme.