A compact sofa is a great idea to organize not only a cozy, but also a functional seating area in a small kitchen. After all, modern small sofas can become an additional sleeping place, a niche for storing items, and a place to sit at the table. But here it must be said that we are talking about kitchens with at least an area of 9 square meters. m. If the size of the room is even smaller, even a small sofa cannot be folded out.
Small sleeping sofas in the kitchen: style, comfort, functionality
Sometimes, you simply cannot do without a small folding sofa in the kitchen if there are absolutely not enough places to sleep and relax for all the residents in other rooms. The second functional role of a small sofa is to delimit two zones when the kitchen is combined, for example, with the living room.
Of course, buying a sofa for the kitchen is not as simple as choosing chairs, because you need to take into account a number of factors: functionality, proportionality of the assembled structure and the area of the room, ease of transformation, dimensions of the sofa when disassembled, practicality of the upholstery, strength and reliability of the structure.
Ways to upholster sofas
The peculiarity of upholstery for kitchen sofas is that they should be fairly easy to clean. A kitchen with a sofa and a TV involves, first of all, cooking, which means that cleaning here is also carried out much more often than in any other rooms. The quality of the upholstery here is of utmost importance, since it must withstand treatment with special cleaning agents.
Options for compact upholstered furniture in kitchen interiors
Small corner sofa for the kitchen
Often, owners of small kitchens prefer corner upholstered furniture. Such sofas can accommodate many more people than classic straight ones. In addition, most of these designs are equipped with a spacious niche for storing necessary things. They can be turned into a full-fledged bed, which when assembled will not take up much space.
In very small kitchens, it is better to install a sofa without a transformation mechanism, but with a large storage box and comfortable, spacious side shelves on which you can put, for example, a watch, a small receiver or a bowl of fruit.
There are semicircular models. The studio apartments have semicircular folding sofas, which can be transformed into a large bed if necessary.
Comfort and functionality will be provided by modular sofa options that change their configuration. Modern manufacturers often supplement them with a minibar, a shelf for magazines, and storage drawers under the seat. But in such structures it is fundamentally important to pay special attention to the quality of the frame so that the transformation mechanism serves for a long time.
Folding couch with sleeper
There are single and double rooms. For a small kitchen, the first ones will be the best option. Such models are available with or without backrests, and have two transformation mechanisms – folding and roll-out. Some models are equipped with hidden drawers for storing various small items.
Sofa bench
This model is a kind of “closet with a seat”, designed for storing things that are rarely used. It is distinguished by its simplicity, comfort, lightness and reasonable price. In terms of style, the sofa bench is neutral, so it will fit perfectly into any interior. Some corner models are sold complete with a table, which can turn into an additional seat.
Folding furniture
In fairly large kitchens, folding systems are suitable. For example, a sofa standing against a wall can be lowered with its back up, and the back will serve as a dining table. Using the same principle, a narrow full-sized bed can be folded out of a wall panel.
Engineers have already come up with many similar folding systems for bedrooms and living rooms, so why not integrate them into the kitchen space?
Small sofa for the kitchen: varieties based on the folding principle
Today there are more than ten types of folding mechanisms. Let's take a closer look at the most popular ones.
“Kangaroo” or “dolphin” are perhaps the best option for any kitchen, even a very small one. Most often, this type of transformation is installed in kitchen corners. The sofa easily turns into a bed, which serves as an additional place to sleep.
The French folding bed looks very attractive. During transformation, her graceful backs are not used. This sofa takes up minimal space. This is the best option for a small room.
Sedaflex is a relative of the previous one, but costs an order of magnitude more. It can be used as a permanent place to sleep, while for the former, frequent use is undesirable.
A straight roll-out sofa is least suitable for a small kitchen. And there are reasons for this: it is difficult to unfold; it does not provide storage space; the mechanism of such a model is quite capricious; When unfolded, it takes up a lot of space.
A good option is an accordion sofa. It is easy to unfold, reliable, but requires quite a lot of space, so it is better suited for studio apartments.
The book sofa has several subtypes:
- click-clack;
- Eurobook;
- tick tock;
- relax.
These models have storage compartments, and they are very easy to transform. The classic book is not intended to be folded out frequently, so it makes sense to buy it if you plan to use it as a sleeping place on rare occasions.
Sofa design
In order for the sofa to be used for at least its entire warranty period, its frame, as the basis of everything, must be as strong as possible. It is made of wood, which must be solid. The mechanism must be made in such a way that the parts are resistant to moisture and rust. Only synthetic fiber should be used as a filler material, as it is less susceptible to odors and household pollution.
The ideal upholstery would be leather, but you can also opt for various substitutes that will last a little less, but also will not absorb odors. Polyester, which can also be cleaned with special means, is also allowed for the kitchen.
Which upholstery should I choose?
The most practical upholstery for kitchen furniture is leather, as well as vinyl artificial leather (a leather substitute). Such materials are durable, resistant to fading, and easy to maintain. However, this is not the only practical option. Modern manufacturers offer durable, high-quality materials that do not absorb odors and are not afraid of stains.
Sofas with anti-claw coating
Technologies do not stop, and manufacturers are making a lot of efforts to make sofa upholstery more resistant to various stains. Anti-claw coating is one of such inventions. It repels fat, does not interact with moisture, and is also quite easy to clean. Such sofas are simply a godsend for small areas where cooking is expected.
Where to place a sofa in the kitchen?
The most common and comfortable places to place a small sofa in the kitchen are as follows:
- under the window - such a layout accepts angular and straight classic designs;
- opposite the work area - with a standard layout, the sofa is placed opposite the cabinets and stove, in parallel;
- in the center - this option is appropriate for studio apartments or large kitchens;
- in the corner of the kitchen - here the optimal solution would be a corner sofa or kitchen corner complete with a table. This layout will free up enough space to accommodate a refrigerator and other items.
Zoning principles
If you are arranging a kitchen not in a “Khrushchev” and its area is at least a little larger, you can apply the principles of zoning and dividing space in the kitchen. For those rooms in which a folding chair, sofa or couch is separate from the dining table, you can visually separate these two parts of the room using color schemes and different materials in the design.
For example, you can place a folded bed separately near the window, hang elegant curtains on the window, and put several bright pillows on the chair. Cozy decor and the presence of daylight from the window will make such a place suitable for reading.
If the sofa is located against a free wall, you can highlight it with color, place a soft rug on the floor near it, and a minimalist floor lamp or sconce will help complement the composition. Add a small table there and this place will attract those who like to sip coffee after the main meal at the table.
If it is expected that one of the family members will constantly rest on the sleeping place in the kitchen, it would not be unreasonable to decide to screw special curtain rails to the ceiling. At night it will be possible to close the sleeping area from household members who come to the kitchen to drink water.
Upholstery and colors for kitchen upholstered furniture
Much attention should be paid to the upholstery of the sofa. Furniture showrooms have a large number of different materials. Their quality is the key to long service life. They can be made of genuine leather, leatherette or fabric. In the kitchen, you can easily spill some liquid on the upholstery. In this case, the appearance of the sofa will be hopelessly ruined. Therefore, it is necessary to choose upholstery of such high quality that it can withstand the tests that befall it .
The most practical is genuine leather or high-quality leatherette. It is enough to wipe this material with a damp cloth, and if it is heavily soiled, clean it with special detergents. It is imperative to check the quality of the seams; the service life also depends on this. If you buy a sofa with fabric upholstery, it is better to have a removable cover.
When buying a sofa, the color of the upholstery also plays an important role. Today there is a wide variety of colors that can suit any kitchen interior . If it is made in light colors, then contrasting colors will fit perfectly here, which will become almost the main accent in the kitchen.
Price
The modern market of furniture manufacturers offers many models of corner sofas for the kitchen in a variety of price categories. The cost depends on the materials used for manufacturing and the size of the soft corner.
The cheapest and most compact option without a table included can be purchased for 5000-6000 rubles. The base is plastic or chipboard, the internal filling is made of foam rubber, and the upholstery is made of fabric. This sofa will last no more than five years.
For a high-quality wooden frame with durable filling and leather trim, you will have to pay 16 thousand rubles or more. In addition, a table and several stools are offered in the corner.
The mechanism that allows the sofa to transform into a sleeping place will cost no less than 20 thousand rubles. Premium soft corners will cost from 45 thousand and above.
Popular manufacturers include Premium, Uyut, MFA. Good options can be found at furniture exhibitions.
What should you know about the filler?
Much in kitchen sofas depends on the filling. If it is of high quality, then your furniture will be comfortable and quite durable. An ideal spring block would be one that has a fairly smooth surface, does not retain moisture, has good wear resistance, and can also withstand heavy loads.
You can also choose polyurethane foam as a filler, which adapts well to the body. It is comfortable, lightweight and durable, so it can withstand any load.
Foam rubber has similar characteristics. It is much cheaper, but here you can fall for low-quality material, which will quickly render your furniture unusable.
The choice of a kitchen sofa should always be approached carefully and carefully, because the durability of your furniture will depend on the quality of the frame, filling and upholstery.
