An apron is an indispensable part of a kitchen interior. It protects walls from splashing water, steam, grease stains. Usually it is decorated with tiles, as this is the most practical and inexpensive material. But if you consider this option outdated, Novate.ru offers several interesting alternatives that will become a real decoration of the interior.
Option 1: Blackboard paint
If you are a creative person or just want a kitchen apron to serve more than just a protective function, look at slate paint. This material allows you to turn the kitchen into a real art space. On such an apron, you can write down recipes for your favorite dishes, leave messages to family members, draw - in general, do whatever your imagination dictates. Another indisputable advantage of slate paint is that it is very easy to clean: the material can be safely wiped off with a damp cloth and treated with detergents. In addition, this type of paint creates a very durable, hard coating that is resistant to wear, abrasion, and mechanical damage.
Option 2: Brick
In recent years, industrial and loft styles have become very popular styles in the interior. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that brick and its imitation is a fairly common finishing material. Such an apron is a bold and bright solution. Red solid brick with natural cracks and breaks looks especially stylish. But it should be borne in mind that this material is porous, so it should be protected from moisture and other negative external factors. This can be done using a special polymer varnish that seals the pores, or simply cover the brick with tempered glass in the area of the stove and sink, so that there are no problems with maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen.
Option 3: Wallpaper
Probably, wallpaper is the last material that would come to the head of the apartment owners in the context of finishing a kitchen apron. However, if you combine them with tempered glass, you get a very interesting and original composition that gives room for the designer's imagination. You can do without glass, but in this case, you should choose moisture-resistant wallpaper. Give preference to vinyl, non-woven, washable acrylic or glass wallpaper, as they will be the most practical and easy to clean.
Note: When choosing a finish, you should avoid options with a relief pattern that imitates stone, wood, ceramics, textiles. Despite the beautiful and original appearance, such wallpapers are difficult to wash due to the uneven texture.
Option 4: Mosaic
If you are not ready to stray far from ceramic tiles, but still want a change, take a look at mosaics. This is a less hackneyed finish for a kitchen backsplash, but just as practical. Yes, the price will be higher than that of classic tiles, but the result will also be more refined, sophisticated, luxurious. Another plus of the mosaic is that it is universal - suitable for all interior styles.
Option 5: Wood
If earlier wood was considered a rather capricious material, then modern achievements of the chemical and construction industries have made it possible to endow it with a wide variety of properties. The tree can be made moisture resistant, protected from insects, and even achieve some heat resistance. It is not surprising that now on the market you can find wooden bathtubs, sinks and, of course, kitchen aprons. And in order to be 100% sure of their strength, designers recommend using tempered glass.
To decorate the apron, you can use veneer, wooden lining, wall panels and even artificially aged wood or old barn boards if you want to add a vintage touch to the interior and create a certain mood.
Option 6: Concrete
The most economical, daring and brutal option for decorating a kitchen apron will be concrete. However, it should be borne in mind that before use, the material should be treated with a moisture-resistant primer so that it is not "dusty" and is not susceptible to water. If the natural color of concrete seems too cold and unattractive to you, you can play with texture and color. To do this, you need to add special dyes to the decorative concrete solution. Art painting on concrete looks very interesting and stylish. These can be patterns, graffiti, geometric prints.
Option 7: Stone
If we talk about the most practical version of a kitchen apron, then it will be a stone. It surpasses tiles in all properties, but differs in a higher price. Especially if you choose natural material, slab, stone veneer for decoration. If the owners of the apartment stop at this option, then in most cases they choose marble - a luxurious material with a pronounced recognizable texture. The second most popular is travertine. They fell in love with it for its numerous colors, stylish decorative texture, as well as practical properties: it is strong, durable, resistant to any influence, regardless of whether it is moisture or high temperatures. But you should be prepared for the fact that the price of travertine is quite impressive.
Do you love everything that is durable, expensive and status? How about a quartzite backsplash? It is a tough rock with outstanding decorative properties and incredible durability. If you are not ready for such waste, pay attention to artificial acrylic stone. Compared to natural material, it is more budgetary, but at the same time there is a huge variety of colors and patterns, so choosing the right option is not difficult. As for the properties, they are the same as those of natural stone: strength, durability, resistance to any impact and damage.
Option 8: Glass
Describing the previous options, we talked about the fact that they can be safely combined with tempered glass in order to increase their performance. But this material can be used not only in pairs, but also in solo mode. Tempered glass is a very versatile solution, as you can find glossy and matte pieces in various colors, with or without patterns.
Option 9: Paint
In addition to slate paint, you can take any moisture-resistant specimen on a latex basis, which forms a dense washable film. This option is probably the most versatile, because you can choose any shade for the apron. Even if your interior is decorated in the style of Swedish minimalism, which features smooth and solid furniture fronts, you can achieve the perfect color and texture of the wall.
Consider the fact that the better the paint is washed, the less chance it will be matte. Paired with such an apron, a glossy headset will look bad, as you get a shiny and shining interior. It is better to order a kitchen with matte facades or refuse washable paint in favor of a glass apron.
If the apron isn't the only thing you want to change, read on How to transform a kitchen beyond recognition in just 7 days