Kitchen Cabinet, the Furniture for Kitchen Room

Kitchen cabinet is important stuff in modern kitchen. Kitchen cabinet is not just to fill up the kitchen to support the cooking activities but also expected to decorate the room to make it be nice and comfortable. Kitchen cabinet is a big business, the kitchen cabinet industry has providing cabinets with  many models and styles in inevitable amount to fulfill the demand of this product.

The function of kitchen cabinet

Kitchen cabinet are basically has 2 main functions: utility and aesthetic. The utility function means that the kitchen cabinet must be able to storage and keep the kitchen equipment such as: pans, plates, bowls, spice containers and other cooking utensils safely and neatly. The kitchen cabinet is also a place to store dry food, spices, sauces, and other ingredients as the main support for cooking activities. 

The aesthetic function means that the kitchen cabinet is also expected to create a nice looked and comfortable atmosphere in the kitchen room. As room furnishing, kitchen cabinet is also function as decorative element to enhance the aesthetics of the kitchen. To fulfill this function, the kitchen cabinet industry has provide many models and design that can be chosen according to the room decoration, such as: modern, minimalist, classic, or rustic, etc.

Kitchen cabinets are generally built from panels as: shelves, walls and doors. Some models use glass to allow people to see the contents of the cabinets. The models and shapes of kitchen cabinets are actually relatively limited. It is made from panel boards arranged to fill the kitchen space. Usually kitchen cabinets are installed at the wall to fill the empty space in the kitchen. Modern kitchen cabinets are also equipped with the accessories needed to maximize their function, such as: hardware and electrical equipment which allows this furniture to support the needs of a modern kitchen. Because of its relatively limited shape, the variety and model and appearance of kitchen cabinet is made by maximizing the variety of material of the material, finishing and the accessories used.

Base to the location and model there are some types of kitchen cabinet

• Base cabinet

This cabinet is located under the countertop. Usually it is used to store big equipment such as pots, pans, blenders, or small ovens. Lower cabinets are also often equipped with drawers to store small items.

• Wall cabinet

This wall-mounted cabinet is usually used to store lighter foodstuffs or cutlery. Its higher location makes it ideal for items that are not used frequently. Wall cabinets are cabinets installed on the upper walls. This cabinet is usually used to store lighter foodstuffs or cutlery. Its higher location makes it ideal for items that are not used frequently.

• Tall cabinet

This cabinet is designed with a high shape that can reach the kitchen ceiling, with the aim of providing more vertical storage space. Tall cabinets or pantries are usually designed to store of food supplies or kitchen utensils that are rarely used

• Corner cabinet

This cabinet is designed to utilize the unused corner space. With special designs such as rotating shelves or pull-out drawers, corner cabinets can provide efficient storage.

Finishing for kitchen cabinet

The proper finishing is very important for the kitchen cabinet. The finishing layer for kitchen cabinets must provide enough protection for the furniture so it can fulfill his utility function. The finishing layer must be durable and resistant to the heat, chemical and safe for the food ingredients placed in it. The finishing coating commonly used are: UV coating, AC or PU which are thermosetting and resistant to heat, liquid and food chemical such as: alcohol, vinegar, acid, etc. A strong finishing layer is needed not only to make the furniture durable but also to ensure that there is no finishing layer attached to the food which makes the food dirty or unhealthy.

Instead of finished by paint and coating, the kitchen cabinets also can be layered with HPL, vinyl or decorative paper. The shape of a panel board allows the uses of layers on the surface to be done easily. The developed lamination technology and the availability of synthetic sheet has allows the panel manufacturing process to be carried out easily and quickly with many color and looked.

Material for kitchen cabinet

The kitchen cabinet can be made from many materials, but the most used are wood and metal. 

• Solid wood

Solid wood material will give a classic and country impression with natural and elegant appearance. There are many types wood that can be used, such as: oak, pine, mahogany, or other wood. Premium woods such as: walnut, rosewood, ebony, etc. can also be chosen if you want a beautiful, luxurious and expensive appearance.  The wood must be good has good quality, means the wood is obtained aged enough tree and processed properly. To support the beauty of the wood, the appropriate finishing layer is needed which can give beautiful appearance of the wood and at the same time also provide protection.

• Engineered wood

Instead of solid wood, the kitchen cabinets can also be made from engineered wood such as: laminated boards, plywood, MDF or veneered panels. The engineered wood is much used since it can give the natural wood looked with better stability and lower price. Same as the solid wood, the engineered wood always require the proper finishing layer to be used as kitchen cabinets.

• Metal

The metal used for kitchen cabinets should be metal that is safe and does not rust for health and durability reasons. Iron should be avoided because of the high risk of rust in the kitchen which is a place for salt, vinegar and water. Aluminum or stainless steel is a good metal choice because it does not rust and is easy to be cleaned so it can make the kitchen room cleaner and tidier.

• Synthetic material

Synthetic material is good alternative to be used in the furniture industry including the kitchen furniture. They are often stronger, more durable, and easier to care with less expensive. But the synthetic material does not have the natural looked and sense as the wood and engineering wood product. .

Tips in choosing kitchen cabinet

Choosing kitchen cabinets is actually not that difficult to do. The kitchen cabinet industry provides kitchen cabinets product in many models and styles that can be chosen according to your needs and tastes. Here are several things to consider when choosing kitchen cabinets

• Consider the storage needs

Think about items that will be stored in the cabinet. Consider the largest and most numerous items, make sure your cabinet can accommodate the items you need. A cabinet with lots of shelves, drawers, or additional accessories such as organizers will make it easier for you to store various equipment

• Consider the material

Choose materials that are resistant to humidity and heat, two things that often create problem in the kitchen. Metal materials such as aluminum or stainless steel are excellent materials in terms of durability because they are fireproof, chemical and water resistant, but may not be quite attractive in terms of appearance and price. 

If the materials are made from wood and its derivative products, make sure the materials are of good quality, processed correctly and finished with sufficient protection. If synthetic material is chosen, make sure the material is strong and safe to fulfill its function.

• Consider to the room theme decoration

Make sure the cabinet  accord to the kitchen design theme. Determine the theme of the kitchen room and the entire building and then choose the model and design of the cabinet room according to the chosen theme.  Cabinet with a color and style that doesn't match with the overall design of the room can make the space feel out of harmony. The choice of color and finish and type of material are the tools that can be used to build the theme of the kitchen cabinet.

•  Consider the room space

Kitchen cabinets must be made and installed according to the space and conditions of the room. Make sure the cabinets can fill the room well. Avoid excessive installation so that it makes the room crowded and full. Make sure that there is enough room for you to carry out activities comfortably.

• Consider the safety

Kitchen cabinets are generally installed affixed to the wall, then make sure that the construction of the cabinet is strong and safe. Cabinet that are too high is at risk of falling and being damaged, so make sure the dimensions of the cabinet is balance to make sure it is safe and strong.  Cabinets installed at the top must be equipped proper hardware and accessories to make sure it is attached well to the wall

The maintenance of  the kitchen cabinet

To keep kitchen cabinets durable and looking good, the proper care is necessary. Here are some tips for caring for kitchen cabinets

•  Clean regularly

The kitchen is actually a place that identic with a lot of rubbish. Leftover food and drinks are ingredients that easy to make the kitchen dirty and damaged. Other ingredients such as leftover spices, oil, bread crumbs will attract fungi, bacteria or animals which will make the room unhealthy. Therefore, always clean the kitchen cabinets and kitchen space after use.

Also make sure the tools stored in the cabinet are clean and dry. Wash and dry kitchen utensils that are stored in the room to ensure that the cabinet is always clean and dry. 

• Repair immediately if there is damage

Clean the cabinet surface regularly while checking to prevent bigger problems. If anything is damaged, repair it immediately to avoid further damage.