A high-tech kitchen will always be stylish, comfortable, and practical. There are many modern approaches to interior design, which include high-tech style. The kitchen is the most suitable place in the apartment where you can embody the ideas that this style suggests. It is based on a combination of home appliances, minimalism, simple decor elements and sensible use of space.
What is hi-tech style — distinctive features
The literal translation of the name sounds like “high technology”. The main idea of the style is to artistically transform high technologies, to use the latest achievements of science and technology in the design.
Among other kitchen styles, high-tech is distinguished by the functional use of space, discreet design, minimal decor or its complete absence.
This style is ultra-modern and involves the use of metal and concrete structures that are found in industrial buildings. The space is designed with clear, simple lines.
The high-tech kitchen is modern and functional. It involves the presence of many glass and metal parts. In technological design, all space and its elements must be sustained.
To decorate the interior of the kitchen, you should adhere to some principles of high-tech style:
- observance of minimalism in everything;
- no unnecessary details, a minimum of decor;
- use of simple structures;
- conciseness of lines, graphics;
- use of simple geometric shapes;
- lack of wood products, patterns, complex finishes;
- the predominance of parts made of glass, plastic and metal.
Color and finishing materials
A high-tech kitchen project is characterized by simple materials and colors.
The basis of the interior in the kitchen are artificial materials. The most common of them are chrome, metal, plastic and glass. All surfaces must be polished and shiny. This cold shine compensates for the lack of decor. The light reflected in the metal surfaces transforms the space.
The color in the design of the room should be neutral, soft, restrained, clear, without halftones. It’s best to stick with four colors: white, black, metallic, and silver. As additional colors, it is better to choose red, blue, green, yellow.
Ceiling
A high-tech kitchen must fully comply with the necessary design principles. The ceiling should be designed in accordance with the concept of the entire room: maximum simplicity, geometric shapes, simple and clear lines, symmetry, a complete lack of textures and patterns.
Most often, the ceiling is made stretch. This option allows you to experiment with lighting and create suspended structures.
For example, a combination of a translucent base and many spotlights can be an excellent solution. The effect of weightlessness is created.
When choosing a material, it is better to give preference to glossy surfaces. For example, an unusual solution is a mirrored black ceiling. Metal lamps will help to complement and refresh the composition.
Walls
In order to withstand high-tech walls, it is enough to choose a plain design in light colors for them. Suitable white, beige, light gray.
As a coating, you can choose wallpaper or paint. The main thing is that the surface is smooth, even, without textures and patterns. It is preferable to leave the walls without drawings and patterns. However, if you want to add some decor, you can hang black and white photographs in metal frames or abstract paintings.
Floor
High-tech kitchen involves the use of artificial materials. Stone and parquet will be out of place, while tiles and linoleum will take their rightful place. Various floor coverings, such as carpets, will not work. In the kitchen, they are superfluous, accumulate dust, quickly become dirty. If the floor looks uncomfortable without coating, you can add small plain carpets.
Lighting
Properly selected lighting plays an important role in the design of high-tech kitchens. Classic chandeliers, crystal lamps and fancy-shaped sconces will not work here. The main rule is the same — simplicity and ease. The best option would be numerous spotlights dispersed around the entire perimeter of the kitchen. You can hang halogen lamps at different levels, creating an original composition.
An excellent solution is to use string lights and various tension systems. This approach allows you to visually divide the space into zones. This is especially true for studios.
As an alternative, you can choose spotlights. They are comfortable and practical. They can be hung over the dining table.
Textiles and curtains
The kitchen is a place that does not involve a lot of textiles. Here you can limit yourself to window decoration and a small rug in the dining table area.
As mentioned above, the carpet should not be colorful with patterns. A monophonic material is allowed that does not stand out from the general concept of the room.
In the design of windows, the best option is blinds. You can choose both vertical and horizontal models. If in this form the kitchen looks uncomfortable and resembles an office, you can add curtains. They should be uniform and dim. Tulle should not be used at all, because it is more suitable for a classic style, especially in combination with thick curtains.
It is better not to use a tablecloth for table decoration. Instead, it is better to decorate the surface with individual napkins made of bamboo, plastic, glass. If you still cannot do without a tablecloth, it should be plain, restrained in color, smooth in texture.
Accessories and decor elements
As mentioned above, a high-tech kitchen does not imply a special decor. Design features are metal surfaces, glass, giving space and lighting fixtures. However, for this style, you can choose the appropriate elements that make the kitchen more comfortable.
In the decor, you can use bright spots against the background of a plain, cold metal kitchen. The main thing is that there are few of them and they do not attract all the attention to themselves.
You can diversify the space with plain pots with plants, metal photo frames, bright, modern fruit vases.
Furniture and appliances for high-tech style
The kitchen is the best place in the apartment that can be decorated in high-tech style, because it involves modern, practical and easy-to-use furniture, as well as multifunctional appliances.
High-tech style refers to cutting-edge styles, so technology must also meet modern, fashionable, technological ideas about it. Touch panels, a stylish design, a modern faucet with a touch sensor and a water temperature indicator, as well as equipping lighting devices with voice control will be appropriate.
As far as furniture is concerned, it is best to make it to order so that it fits into the space, looks well thought out. The main rules are clear lines, absolute symmetry. A high-tech headset can be made in black and white, gray, red, green, blue colors. Facades are best decorated with metal frames or left without them at all.
You can order a corner kitchen, which is suitable for small spaces. If you install a wall panel to match the walls of the entire kitchen, the furniture will merge with the space, visually enlarging it. An integral part of the furniture are closers and lifts for facades, pull-out baskets, drawers, high-quality fittings, the use of various dividers.
The finishing touch can be the arrangement of a bar counter with a metal support and a chrome-plated system for storing glasses and fruits. And bar stools fit perfectly into the concept of the room. This is especially suitable for a studio, where in one room the kitchen area is combined with the living room. In this case, you can add another work area to the kitchen — the “island”.
The dining table can be chosen as light, with metal legs and a glass surface, as well as heavy, massive. You can decorate it with chairs that resemble office furniture. The preferred materials for them are metal and leather.
The main rule when designing a kitchen is to use a minimum of furniture without filling the entire space.
Combination with other styles
In order for the high-tech kitchen not to look uncomfortable, the interior can be decorated in several styles, combining them correctly.
The best combination is high-tech in conjunction with minimalism. It is believed that hi-tech is a mixture of minimalism and modernity, so these styles are similar and combining them is simple and logical.
For those who love bright colors and colorful design, you can use pop art or art deco elements in the decor.
A common combination is high-tech and Japanese style. It involves simple lines and inexpensive matte materials (plastic, glass and metal).
High-tech goes well with the loft style, because they are similar in principle. Although the loft suggests an industrial design of the room with pipes and beams, a brick wall will look great in this option. Warm colors can be added to the decor.