Small kitchen with bar counter. Bar counter for a small kitchen: stylish space saving Kitchens with a mini bar counter

The bar counter appeared in American saloons - it was a high table separating the bartender from the clients. Behind him they sat on stools of increased height, drank and ate. These days they call it that various options countertops, they can be of different heights and located in different places kitchens.

Functionality of the interior of a small kitchen with a bar counter

As a rule, in small kitchens it is quite difficult to allocate a special place for lunch group, and the need to quickly have breakfast or lunch in a hurry exists. This is where a bar counter comes in handy. It doesn't take up much space and it's comfortable to sit at. In addition, it is also an additional surface for cooking.

The standard stand is a tabletop on a support. If space allows, a wide tabletop can be placed on a cabinet so that the knees of people sitting next to it fit under it. The photo shows a bar counter with a work surface and a sink built into it. This allows you to use the entire width of the counter when working, and organize a mini-dining area for two or three people.

In the interior of a small kitchen with a bar counter, the latter often serves as a space divider, which is important for studio apartments, when the kitchen and living room are located in the same room.

Design of a small kitchen with a bar counter: placement options

The location for installing the rack is determined based on the size and shape of the room allocated for the kitchen.

• Perpendicular. The bar table is attached to the main work area perpendicularly, forming an L- or U-shaped kitchen set in plan. In small corner kitchens, a bar counter sometimes becomes the only option for conveniently combining work and dining table. It can have a round or rectangular shape and separate the cooking area from the rest of the space.

• Parallel. In this version, the bar island is located parallel to the kitchen unit.

• Windowsill. If the kitchen window opens beautiful view, it makes sense to arrange a mini-dining area near the windowsill. It practically does not take up any separate space and is multifunctional. Depending on the shape of the room and the location of the window in a small kitchen, the bar counter is located either perpendicular to the window opening or along it, while usually the tabletop and window sill form a single whole.

• Along the wall. This option is used when they want to extend the working surface and at the same time have a place where they can drink coffee and, if necessary, have lunch, but there is no room for a perpendicular arrangement.

• Island. IN in this case The bar counter is located separately in the center of the room. The island can have any shape and separate the cooking area from the rest of the space, if the kitchen and living room are combined.

Interior of a small kitchen with a bar counter: examples

• Working surface. If you don't have enough space for cooking, the most logical option is to use the counter as an additional work area. You can install it at an angle to the main one, parallel to the work area, or, if the room is elongated, make it a continuation.

• Plus a table. The bar counter can be combined with regular table

• , if there is room for such a design. The countertops in this case are at different heights. Plus a storage system. The bar counter is combined with a cabinet, which increases storage options. limited area

. The cabinet can consist of open niches, closed drawers or drawers. Equipped with wheels, it can move freely around the kitchen.

Tip: A small kitchen with a bar counter, located in the same room as the living room or recreation area, will look isolated, remaining in the overall volume and not visually reducing the space.

Design of a small kitchen with a bar counter: placing accents In a small room, it is inappropriate to use elaborate, complex shapes, so to prevent the kitchen from looking too simple, you should use decorative elements

, emphasizing the functional purpose. For example, even in the smallest kitchen with a bar counter you can place additional shelves

or racks for glasses, beautiful tea utensils - they will serve as a kind of decoration.

The interior of a small kitchen with a bar counter looks expensive and elegant if its base is made of natural materials, for example, lay out a supporting stand made of brick, or make it out of wood, decorating it with carvings - it all depends on the chosen style of kitchen design.

Since the bar counter itself is not so often found in kitchens, especially small ones, it is already its decoration. Additionally, you can enhance the effect by using contrasting tones in its decoration.

Small kitchen with a bar counter: structural elements

In some cases, placing a stationary counter is difficult; this usually happens if the kitchen area has an awkward shape or is too small. But this is not a reason to abandon it completely. For such cases, special designs are provided that will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of this piece of furniture without taking up much space.

• Foldable.

• Even a small free space near the wall can be used to place a bar counter there. In this case, it is attached directly to the wall on hinges, and the base is made foldable. This design is easy to assemble and just as easy to disassemble when not needed. It can also be attached to a windowsill. Retractable. This option will do for lovers of multifunctional furniture. It is more expensive, but also more effective. This photo of a small kitchen with a bar counter shows one of the options

retractable design

. The base is equipped with a wheel, and when the tabletop is pulled out, it moves out of the provided niche, taking its place.

Materials for making a bar counter As a rule, standard materials are used for finishing. Sometimes they may differ in color from the main furniture, if this is provided for by the design. To make countertops, they use stone, both natural and artificial, coated chipboard, wood, or lay out the surface with tiles. Most popular in Lately became a composite material, similar in appearance to marble, but characterized by greater density and strength, as well as a lower price. Corian –

plastic material , it is easy to obtain a product of almost any shape from it. This is especially convenient if you need to equip a small corner kitchen with a stylish and modern bar counter., also saturated with furniture and appliances, protruding corners can cause bruises. The use of durable glass as a material for the tabletop can make the design visually lighter. The material for the base is selected based on the style of kitchen design and the selected type of counter.

Tip: Above the bar counter you can place shelves for tea, coffee utensils and glasses, decorative items– small vases, beautifully shaped bottles, candles. This will become an additional decorative accent to your interior.

The bar counter is increasingly found in the design of small kitchens and an increasing number of people choose it as dining area For small kitchen. Previously, there was an opinion that the bar counter was an attribute of large, spacious kitchens. But this is a misconception. The correctly selected size, configuration and location of the bar counter in a small kitchen will help create not only a beautiful, but also functional interior, which is especially important for small rooms.

Bar counter in a small kitchen good decision, If the kitchen is combined with the living room . In this case, it performs two at once useful functions: serves as a dining area and conditionally separates the kitchen area from the recreation area.

But even in a separate kitchen, a bar counter can be a completely justified solution. Thanks to its small width, it can replace a dining table, which is often difficult to place in a small kitchen.

READ ALSO: How to choose a table for a small kitchen

What is a bar counter?

The bar counter is a high horizontal surface that can be used as a work or dining table. The average height of the bar counter is 110-115 cm. The minimum permissible width of the bar counter is 30 cm, but a width of 60-80 cm is considered comfortable.

According to the type of construction, bar counters are:

• open type
• closed type

An open bar counter is a tabletop on a chrome leg or other similar support. The main advantage of this type of bar counter is that you can easily put your feet under it, as well as sit on both sides of the counter. And when the bar counter is not in use, you can slide bar stools in there, which is very important for a small kitchen.

A closed bar counter on one side is decorated with some material. It can be decorative rock or brick, plastic, wood or other material.

In general, a bar counter for a small kitchen should not be bulky or too pretentious. Preference should be given to laconic, elegant designs on one leg.

Design of a small kitchen with a bar counter

When considering the future design of a small kitchen with a bar counter, you should decide on its location. If the kitchen is combined with a living room, place the bar counter on the border of two zones - the kitchen and the living room.

If the area allows, the bar counter can be combined with work area and make a kitchen island.

In an isolated kitchen, the bar counter can be placed in different ways. How exactly to place a bar counter in a small kitchen depends on the layout of the kitchen and its size. Here are some options.

Along the windowsill

This arrangement is suitable for small kitchens with large window. If, in addition to everything else, the window also high window sill, then placing a bar counter along the window will not be difficult. The standard window sill is being replaced wide window sill(table top) under which you can put your feet. Sitting at such a bar counter is a pleasure, because you can admire the view from the window while drinking tea or enjoying a cup of coffee. However, if the view from your window leaves much to be desired, you should consider placing the bar counter in a different location.

Along a free wall

For square and rectangular kitchens, placing a bar counter along a free wall, opposite kitchen set. The advantage of this placement is that the bar counter can be made quite long (depending on the length of the wall), but the disadvantage is that when sitting at such a bar counter you will be forced to look at the wall. If you decide to place the bar counter this way, you should think about decorative design adjacent wall. Tiles or wallpaper with interesting patterns or patterns will help offset this drawback.

As an extension of the work surface

More rare, but still possible method placing a bar counter in a small kitchen. Suitable for square kitchens and kitchens of complex shape. While cooking, such a bar counter can be used as a work surface, which is a big plus.

As a separate element

In a small kitchen, placing a bar counter as a separate element is quite problematic. This can be done if the stand is not large.

Since the height of the bar counter is higher than standard kitchen table, you need to buy special high bar stools for it. These chairs are equipped with a footrest, which makes sitting at the bar comfortable. In addition, bar stools often serve as decoration not only for the bar counter, but also for the interior of the kitchen as a whole.

Recently, such a kitchen element as a bar counter has become increasingly popular. It can simply act as an element of the kitchen interior, it can replace a table, or it can fulfill its direct purpose - to be a bar counter where you can sit, chat and have a drink. One way or another, the interior of a kitchen with a bar counter looks especially elegant and stylish.

Types of bar counters

First of all, you should decide on the type of bar counter that you will have in your kitchen. There are several basic bar counters for the kitchen:

• Rack-partition- serves to zone space and separates, for example, the kitchen from the living room;
• Classical– is a continuation of the kitchen unit and most often serves as a work surface;
• Two-level– most closely resembles a bar counter, where the upper level serves to place glasses and plates, and the lower level serves as a work surface;
• Ostrovnaya– such a bar counter is placed in the center of the kitchen and is in no way connected with the kitchen set;
• Combined– Serves as a dining table and work area.

With the right approach, any of the racks can fit into the interior of even the smallest kitchen. Since we are considering design corner kitchen with a bar counter, then one way or another any type of counter can fit here. It all depends on the size of the kitchen, because the main thing here is not to overdo it with the size of the bar counter. It would be better if it were small and compact and would take up less space, than you will make a bulky bar counter.

Advice! If you have a kitchen small sizes, then here it is better to arrange a two-level bar counter, thus, in one area, you will get a separate work surface and the bar counter itself.

How to place a rack in style

In addition to choosing a bar counter, its placement is also important. A properly installed bar counter, in addition to performing its immediate functions, will also become a striking element of decor. Typically, the bar counter is placed on one chrome console leg, which is attached either to the floor or to the ceiling. All this is complemented by high bar stools and the fashionable look of your kitchen is ready! And if you hang a small bar with various drinks nearby, the kitchen will turn into a stylish bar.

Let's consider design options modern kitchen, if 2 conditions are set: the kitchen itself is small, but it must have a bar counter.

Design of a small kitchen with a bar counter

It is necessary to design the kitchen space in such a way that it is comfortable, technologically advanced and beautiful, that is, it is decorated with taste, in any of the interior styles.

If you approach the problem constructively, even a small kitchen can successfully fit a compact bar counter. Moreover, a well-thought-out option with a stand can be just a godsend when space is at a premium.

2. The stand can be adjacent to the wall and located under hanging cabinets. This will make good use of the space. Under the cabinet, above the counter, you can place glass holders or narrow shelves. True, you will have to sit at such a counter facing the wall - but what to do? Sometimes it just doesn't work out any other way.

3. A very common option is to combine the bar counter with some surface. This is either a windowsill or a work surface on which the housewife cooks.

The option with a window sill can be an excellent substitute for a dining table, especially since in front of your eyes there will now be not a blank wall, but a lively view from the window.

Advice! It is useful to install local lighting above the bar counter, even with changing colors. This will enrich the interior and create more interesting atmosphere in the evening kitchen.

Will a bar counter replace a dining table in a small kitchen, and which is better?

What is better is something everyone will decide for themselves. Let's discuss both possibilities.

1. Option one: There is a kitchen in the kitchen, but there is no bar counter. This is a common situation, the only difference is in the shape and size of the table, and even in its location.

The dining table is used for meals and as an auxiliary work surface, when the hostess gets down to her daily chores.

2. Option two: There is no dining table in the kitchen, but there is a bar counter. The family eats and drinks behind her, and she also performs auxiliary functions.

As you can see, the purpose of the dining table and bar counter in a small kitchen is exactly the same. The question is which option is more convenient.

Effective here additional factors. If a bachelor or a family of two adults lives in the apartment, then the second option is more preferable, since the counter takes up less space than the dining table. She is a desirable attribute, and the owners are happy to sit behind her.

It’s another matter when there are children or older people in the family. Children, of course, will happily climb onto high bar stools, but they will also willingly fall off them.

People of the older generation, as a rule, do not welcome such innovations, especially since they don’t even want to try to climb onto high stools.

Here it would be convenient to make a two-level counter: on one side there would be a bar counter in pure form, tall, as it should be, and on the other, a dining table of normal height, perhaps a little narrower than we are used to.

This option would be ideal if it could be implemented. But this is very difficult to do in a small kitchen.

Is it possible to combine a bar counter with a dining table in the kitchen?

A bar counter located along a wall or window sill can be successfully interpreted as a dining table. This is an excellent option for a small kitchen, and in the case of a window sill, the surface becomes large, almost the same as a regular table. Access to it is one-way, but you quickly get used to this inconvenience.

If we are talking about combination, then most often the working surface smoothly transitions into the rack. At the same time, since it takes up space from wall to wall, you have to attach the rack in the form of the letters “G” or “P” in the same plane.

What size should the bar counter be?

A standard bar counter must be 100-130 cm high, 110 is considered optimal. Bar stools or also high ones are made under it, usually equipped with a height adjuster so that you can adjust the chair for yourself.

If the stand is two-level, then the second level, which serves as a dining table, is made 90 cm. The stand, which is a continuation of the working surface, has the same height. In this case, it comes with bar stools up to 60 cm.

The width of the table top at the counter should not be less than 30 cm, 50-60 cm is considered optimal. The length is calculated according to the standard: 60 cm is allotted per person.

A bar counter for a small kitchen can be more than just stylish element decor, but also do a good job by saving valuable square meters and significantly increasing the functionality of the room. It will be appropriate both in an isolated kitchen and in a studio apartment, where it will help to effectively zone the space while maintaining the visual unity of the living room and dining room.

This elegant bar counter fits well not only into the interior of the kitchen, but also into the interior of the living room

The interior with a bar counter organically fits into the dynamic rhythm of our lives, when everything is done quickly and swiftly, on the fly, on the go, on the run. An excellent option for young people with an intense work schedule and active social life who have no time to sit over long meals. Of course, there is clearly something fast food in this, but the bar counters that came to us from the West were originally borrowed from bars, cafes and restaurants. It is not surprising that they bring into the house an atmosphere of relaxedness, ease, solemnity and fun.

Will the bar counter become a burden for a small kitchen?

The classic bar counter is a high tabletop (110-115 cm), mounted on bar consoles and complemented by colorful high chairs or stools with a crossbar-footrest, and sometimes armrests. “Domesticated” bar classics are often mercilessly shortened for greater ease of use, but at the same time, of course, they lose a certain amount of their authentic uniqueness. Considering the more than modest spatial capabilities of a small-sized kitchen, the counter can be a logical continuation of the worktop. In this case, its height will be about 90 cm, which does not exceed the height of the working surface of the table. An excellent addition to such a stand would be chairs or stools of medium height (63-65 cm).

A two-level bar counter can serve as a work surface if necessary.

When used skillfully, a bar counter can perform the following functions:

• zone/unite space;
• carefully store the dimensional kitchen utensils, dishes and other household supplies;
• make the process of preparing and eating food comfortable and enjoyable.

Example of space zoning

An original designer bar counter can perform an aesthetic function, being the main element of the kitchen decor, its highlight. However, when bringing your daring creative ideas to life, you should not forget about practical side question.

The location of the bar counter should be carefully thought out. Before ordering it or making it yourself, you need to measure the space more than once with a tape measure, allowing for a free approach from different sides and enough space for family gatherings.

What to consider when developing a design project

When planning a bar counter in a small kitchen, consider:

• size and configuration of the room;
• general concept of the kitchen;
• dimensions (height, width);
• fastening method;
• filling;
• Availability additional functions(levels, backlight);
• color;
• material.

Deciding to get a bar counter for modern design small kitchen, be prepared to run around salons and stores looking for suitable table top, functional racks, shelves, plinths, legs, lighting, metal fittings and other accessories. When developing the concept of a future counter, you should take into account the general style of the kitchen interior, the prevailing materials and colors in the decor.

Perhaps a bar counter with a glossy tabletop made of impact-resistant glass for a small kitchen will be the most advantageous option in terms of visually lightening the space. However, any other material that matches the furniture in texture and color will look good - wood, plastic, natural or fake diamond, metal, chipboard, glass, tile or combinations thereof. Today, the most popular cladding material for countertops is Corian, a composite resembling marble, but differing from the latter in significantly greater strength.

Thanks to the high plasticity of the material, a Corian tabletop can be given absolutely any shape - rectangular, round, curved, multifaceted. The appropriate shape will be determined by the room itself and the layout of the kitchen. There is no point in complicating the bar counter for a small kitchen with an excessive number of details and bends. The main thing is not to disrupt the ergonomics of the kitchen.

Traditional accommodation options

Classic options two:

• Perpendicular to the furniture set or window sill.
• Parallel to the main line of kitchen furniture or window sill.

In addition to these two main standard placement methods, when the rack is initially planned together with kitchen furniture, there are many different variations that directly depend on the purpose and method of use of the bar counter.

If a bar counter is needed as an additional work surface for preparing food, it is built in parallel or perpendicular to the tabletop, as if continuing it. It has also become common to place a bar counter parallel or perpendicular to the window sill. The additional area created by combining two surfaces is rarely empty for zealous housewives.

Bar counter design for a small kitchen

Purchasing a full-fledged bar counter for a small kitchen is a thankless task. A solid, massive structure with numerous cabinets, accessories and all sorts of professional bells and whistles will “eat up” too much space, and will also visually make the space heavier. It is more rational, from an ergonomic point of view, to install a lightweight version in the form of an elegant mini-bar counter or, as it is sometimes called, a cocktail stand. With its modest dimensions and simple and laconic design, it is quite capable of replacing a traditional dining table, as well as becoming a cozy and desirable place for relaxation and spiritual communication in a pleasant company over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. When there is very little space in the kitchen, a compact mini-rack can be placed along the wall.

The usual look of a bar counter sometimes gives way to bold and unusual design solutions

Design and placement options for mini-racks:

Combination with the dining table

There’s no place for a child to sit on a high bar stool, so if the family has small children or elderly people, but your soul still craves bar flair, it’s better to opt for combined version“2 in 1”, which harmoniously combines a bar counter with a small kitchen table for a small kitchen in one design. Usually, this design assumes two height levels - the lower level serves as a dining table, and the upper one, accordingly, serves as a bar counter.

In the interior of this small kitchen, the space under the bar counter is effectively used to place kitchen cabinets

In the interior of a studio apartment, a combined composition will help separate the kitchen from the living room. In this case, it is more logical to place the dining table in the kitchen area, and the bar counter on the side of the living room. This option for zoning a room can be very convenient and practical, but it is also important that it fits organically into the interior of the apartment, without compromising aesthetics.

Mistakes in designing a bar counter in a small kitchen

Practical idea use the bar counter as a dining table - ideal for a small family

A bar counter is not a piece of furniture at all, as many people mistakenly believe, but an independent structure that is designed and manufactured to order. Having decided to get a bar counter for the modern design of a small kitchen, be prepared to run around showrooms and stores in search of a suitable countertop, functional counters, shelves, plinths, legs, lighting, metal fittings and other accessories. When developing the concept of a future counter, you should take into account the general style of the kitchen interior, the prevailing materials and colors in the decor.

Perhaps a bar counter with a glossy tabletop made of impact-resistant glass for a small kitchen will be the most advantageous option in terms of visually lightening the space. However, any other material that matches the furniture in texture and color will look good - wood, plastic, natural or artificial stone, metal, chipboard, glass, tile or combinations thereof. Today, the most popular cladding material for countertops is Corian, a composite resembling marble, but differing from the latter in significantly greater strength. Thanks to the high plasticity of the material, a Corian tabletop can be given absolutely any shape - rectangular, round, curved, multifaceted. The appropriate shape will be determined by the room itself and the layout of the kitchen. There is no point in complicating the bar counter for a small kitchen with an excessive number of details and bends. The main thing is not to disrupt the ergonomics of the kitchen.

Particular attention should be paid to the vertical space above the bar counter, which can be supplemented with light shelves, original lighting, and accessories. A very picturesque addition to the interior of any kitchen will be added to the counter. function tree, on which glasses, wine glasses, straws, and fruits are conveniently placed, but in a small room it should not be too branchy.

In this spacious high-tech kitchen, the bar counter seamlessly connects with the work table

Increasingly, two-level bar counters are found in kitchens, performing several functions simultaneously.

Decorating the bar counter in the style of the entire kitchen helps create a single harmonious composition

• Ill-thought-out sizes - a bar counter that is too small will not be able to perform the tasks assigned to it, one that is too large will clutter up the kitchen, and disproportionately selected bar stools will create discomfort during daily use. A massive freestanding bar counter will not make the kitchen space more functional. Therefore, an island model with large drawers for utensils is not the best option for small rooms. Eating up valuable square meters, it will be extremely impractical and inconvenient to use and, instead of pleasing the housewife and easing her household chores, it will be inconvenient for use as an additional work surface or dining table. It is more rational to combine the bar counter with a window sill, countertop or build it into furniture set or a wall.

• Irregular shape: lovers of clear lines may quickly get bored with a rounded counter, and those who are accustomed to smooth lines in the interior will not be suitable for a model with a strict and laconic shape.
• Materials that are contrasting in color and texture can look pretentious, out of context.
• Too dark a color scheme will visually reduce the space small room.
• Inconsistency with the interior style. For example, glass table top and chrome leg will fit perfectly into a high-tech interior, but will be absolutely out of place in kitchens in country, retro or loft style, and noble wooden models white or blue color – The best decision for kitchens in Provence style.

Too many details is not always good:

A large number of“hung” dishes are not only beautiful, but also tiring. To keep the interior neat, you will have to wash it not only after festive events.

To fit everything you need for a good time in small kitchen, create comfortable conditions For cooking and family dinners, you need real design talent, out-of-the-box thinking, practical experience, time and desire to experiment. Much easier to use ready-made solutions, with the help of which it is easy to arrange even a non-standard space.