A modular kitchen is a flexible and cost effective way to design your next kitchen, enabling you to select a range of different cabinets for various purposes that come in modular modules. The modular modules are often available in a variety of sizes that will suit different functions depending upon which room of the kitchen you plan to use the modular module in. Modular kitchens are especially popular in small and compact areas as they are capable of fitting into a small space whilst still providing all the essential features and functions needed by the kitchen user. This is not the case with standard built in kitchens, as these are designed to fit into a specific space, often a relatively small one, whilst a modular kitchen can be moved around should space or a change in need occur.
There are a number of different types of modular kitchen designs and layouts that can be used depending on the size and style of modular kitchen that you require and the final decision will depend upon the overall style and layout you are looking to achieve. The two most common types of layouts are the U-shaped and L-shaped layouts. The U-shape layout is also known as the triangular layout and uses upper cabinets at the front to be the main display shelf, lower cabinets on either side to be used as lower shelves and then further lower cabinets on the back of this to be used as storage space. The L-shape layout is known as the semi-circle or half circle layout and uses upper cabinets at the front again to be the main display shelf, lower cabinets on either side to be used as lower shelves and then further lower cabinets back down into the U shape once again for additional storage.
There are two main advantages to opting for a term modular kitchen. The first is that because the cabinets are all fitted together the overall height of the appliance will be reduced by around 30cm making the new kitchen much easier to manage. This is especially useful if you have a smaller kitchen space which can make it difficult to get into your new kitchen and open up your cabinets. The other main advantage of the term modular kitchen is that you are able to replace individual parts such as doors, shelves and lighting in order to personalize your new kitchen as you please. You can create a theme or simply install accessories that add extra functionality to the room.
Modular kitchens generally use granite for their cabinets as this is a very strong and durable material that will stand the test of time. Granite is also very stylish and therefore very easy to maintain. One of the main disadvantages of using granite kitchen cabinetry is that due to the high strength of granite it is a very expensive type of material. If you opt for a modular kitchen with a lot of glass then you must ensure that you have plenty of budget in order to replace your cabinets if they become damaged. For a more budget-friendly solution you could simply install hooks and drawer slides instead of the usual cabinets.
The other major disadvantage of modular kitchens is that you will need to ensure that you have the correct equipment in order to fit your new kitchen. If you are unable to do this on your own you will need to hire a professional builder to do this for you. This can be very costly and is often times the reason why people choose to install their own kitchens instead. Another disadvantage is that if you use different shapes of cabinetry in your modular kitchens it may not look quite right and so you may need to invest in new furniture in order to fix this issue. These days there are a number of companies out there who offer a wide range of different shapes and styles of cabinetry.
One of the most important aspects of modular kitchens is the layout. There are two different types of layouts that you can use for your new kitchen. The first type of layout is the full layout, which basically gives you all the required space and storage space that you require. The other is the half-space layout, which basically gives you half of what you need. The half-space layout is certainly more flexible than the full layout but it can be harder to build depending on your own DIY skills.