Can you have wallpaper in the kitchen?
Yes, wallpaper works in the kitchen when it is placed on walls that are not exposed to direct water, grease or intense heat. Around the dining area and on free walls the conditions are often good. Always check the wallpaper's care instructions and give more exposed surfaces near the sink and hob a material that is easier to wipe down.
How close to the hob can wallpaper sit?
Wallpaper should not sit unprotected where it receives direct heat, steam or grease splashes from the hob. The exact distance depends on the kitchen's layout, the type of hob and the splashback used. So plan the most hard-wearing surface closest to the working zone and let the wallpaper begin where the strain eases, for example at the dining area or an adjoining wall. Also keep a distance from materials that can discolour with repeated heat.
What lighting is needed above a kitchen island?
Above a kitchen island you need light that falls evenly on the worktop without dazzling anyone standing or sitting at the island. One or more pendants can work, but supplement them with other task lighting if the island is used for cooking. Position the fittings so they do not obstruct sightlines or cupboard doors. Test the light both standing at the worktop and sitting at the island.
Which fabric works for kitchen curtains?
A fabric for kitchen curtains should be chosen according to how close it sits to the cooking and how much sun the window gets. A dense weave gives more privacy and weight, while a lighter quality lets in more daylight. Check the care instructions and avoid unnecessarily delicate materials where the curtain is often handled by hands busy with kitchen work. A fabric sample at the window also shows how the colour is affected by the sun.
How do you clean wallpaper in the kitchen?
Clean kitchen wallpaper according to the manufacturer's care instructions and always test gently on a discreet area first. Some wallpapers cope with wiping better than others, while more delicate surfaces should be kept outside the splash zones. Preventive placement matters more than hard cleaning: choose a more durable material near the worktop, sink and hob. Use a gentle method and avoid rubbing a printed surface unnecessarily.
Kitchen wallpaper works when the placement is well considered
Wallpaper in the kitchen is less about whether it is allowed or not and more about where it sits. On free walls and around the dining area, wallpaper can give the room colour and texture, while the area closest to the sink and hob needs more durable surfaces. A botanical look can be combined with Morris & Co Tyg Fruit in an adjoining seating area or curtain, but textiles should also be kept outside the most exposed zones.
The kitchen should not copy the logic of the dining room. Here cleaning, workflow and directed light matter more than the exact seating around the table. If the dining area is in the kitchen, you can use dining chairs that withstand frequent use, such as Madison matstol, Stone Ridge upholstered carver chair — Jonathan Charles or Cheltenham karmstol.
Task lighting and ambient lighting have different jobs
A kitchen usually needs more than one kind of light. Above a kitchen island, Agnes Medium Takpendel, Andros Takpendel Medium or Precision Takpendel Smal can give a clear downward light. If ceiling height or the swing of the cupboard doors calls for a more compact solution, Cristol Large Triple Plafond, Jacqueline Plafond or Marisol Plafond may be easier to position.
Under ceiling lights you will find more fittings for working and dining zones. Bear in mind that a decorative light above the island does not replace good task lighting on worktops and cupboards. When several light points can be switched on separately, the kitchen becomes easier to use from morning to evening.
Curtains and fabric need to withstand the closeness of everyday life
Kitchen curtains often need to be easier to handle than curtains in the bedroom. Ilkerton Tyg, Paillon Tyg, Celadon Vase Tyg and Wells Batik Tyg offer different levels of pattern and texture. Compare them on the fabric page and always read the care instructions before choosing a quality close to the cooking.
If you want more pattern but wish to keep the curtain light, let the textile pick up a colour from the wall or cupboard doors rather than matching exactly. That way the curtain can be changed later without the whole kitchen's colour scheme having to be redone.
The materials need to work with the fixed surfaces
Kitchens contain many permanent materials: timber, stone, metal, tiles and painted doors. Wallpaper and textiles should therefore be tested directly against the surfaces already in place. A warm neutral can look cool next to a particular stone, and a green pattern changes noticeably with the daylight. From the product page you can visualise wallpaper and fabric when logged in before you decide.
If you need to weigh up the kitchen island, seating and lighting together, you can book a free consultation or visit the showroom at Sturegatan 20 in Stockholm. For adjoining rooms, you can move on to the hallway, living room or conservatory, where materials and light make different demands.
The working zones should get the easiest-care materials
It is wise to divide the kitchen into zones before choosing decorative materials. The area closest to the hob, sink and active food preparation needs to be the easiest to clean. Wallpaper, curtains and upholstered chairs can instead be placed where the strain is lower, for example at the breakfast spot or on a free wall. That way you get pattern and texture without asking a more delicate material to behave like a splashback.
The lighting should follow the zones too. A pendant above the island can mark the spot, but the worktop still needs even light from the right direction. Robinson Takpendel Small and Perry Plafond show two different ways of working with hanging and more ceiling-hugging light respectively. Avoid positioning a decorative fitting so that it shadows the worktop exactly where you chop, read recipes or lay the table.
Do not forget the light during the darker hours. Once daylight fades, the worktop, kitchen island and dining area still need different light levels. Separate switching makes it possible to work with focus and then lower the light once the cooking is done. That gives a kitchen that works practically without every fitting having to be bright at the same time.
