How to choose kitchen doors: between style and functionality

The kitchen is one of the rooms where we spend the most time, from waking up until dinner. This central space in our home life deserves to be designed with care, and the choice of door plays an important role in this process. Choosing the right door means balancing aesthetics and functionality: doors help define the style of the room, but they must also meet specific practical needs. We have already talked together about the choice for interior doors in the home, but in this article we will focus on the kitchen environment. Let us discover together the solutions available to separate the kitchen from other spaces and how to choose the most suitable materials and designs to enhance and optimise this environment.

One of the main reasons why it is important to consider installing one or more doors in the kitchen is the need to control the spread of smells and noise to other rooms. In particular, open layouts are increasingly common in modern homes, but without proper separation, the risk is that intense smells and appliance noise will disturb the peace of other rooms.

The kitchen door can act as a means of visual separation and at the same time connect different spaces. A sliding door made of opaque glass or a hinged door made of wood, for example, can provide a physical separation while maintaining a certain visual continuity, preventing the space from seeming closed or reduced. At the same time, on days when cooking is intense or a more intimate environment is desired, the door can be closed, creating a discreet but functional division.

Access to the kitchen is an important focal point for the entire house, and the door can help to enhance it. Choosing a modern and refined door, such as a flush door or a pivoting door, can add character and style to the entire room, becoming a design element that defines and enriches the space.

Depending on the available space and specific requirements, there are several door options that can satisfy both functional and aesthetic needs as we have seen:

 

 

Sliding doors are a popular choice for modern kitchens. These doors can slide within a counterframe, disappearing completely from view when open, or move along the wall as a visible element, freeing passage and offering flexibility in the use of space. Available in materials such as glass, aluminium and wood, sliding doors for kitchens are ideal for those who desire an elegant design and want to maximise their walkable space.

Flush doors are an elegant choice for those who prefer a clean, linear aesthetic. These doors are designed to integrate perfectly with the wall, with no visible jambs or frames, and can be painted the same colour as the wall for a total continuity effect. A door flush with the wall for the kitchen keeps the room harmonious and discreet, perfect for those who appreciate a minimalist style.

 

 

Folding doors are ideal for small spaces that still require separation between the kitchen and other rooms. Thanks to their folding opening, these doors take up little space when open and integrate well into tight spaces. They are a modern solution to the classic hinged door, without compromising aesthetics.

Pivoting doors offer great visual impact and are perfect for large or open-plan rooms. This type of door pivots on pivot pivots fixed to the ceiling and floor, creating a light and sophisticated opening feel. Pivoting doors can be made of materials such as frosted glass or wood and are often used as design elements to add character to a room.

 

In the following paragraphs we will take a closer look at two of the most popular and sought-after types of doors as interior doors for the kitchen.

 

Flush hinged doors are a classic and popular solution for kitchens, thanks to their simplicity and versatility. They consist of a single panel that opens inwards or outwards, mounted on side hinges. This configuration offers both advantages and disadvantages, which it is useful to evaluate carefully in order to choose the most suitable type of door for your environment.

 

Advantages: Hinged doors are easy to install and are often an economical choice, with a wide availability of models in different styles, materials and finishes, easily adapting to any décor. This variety makes them ideal for those seeking a solution that is both customisable and classic at the same time.

 

In addition, hinged doors offer a solid and effective closing, which can help isolate kitchen noise and smells, while keeping the rest of the house more protected from nuisance. Thanks to their robustness, they can also stand up well to frequent use, making them a durable choice.

 

Disadvantages: Despite their many advantages, hinged doors require space to open, which can be problematic in small kitchens or in rooms where every square inch is precious. In tight spaces, the bulk of the opening can be an obstacle to movement or the arrangement of furniture.

 

In addition, a hinged door may make mobility between the kitchen and surrounding areas less fluid, especially in the case of narrow spaces or frequent passages. The direction of the opening, inwards or outwards, must also be carefully considered depending on the layout of the kitchen to avoid possible collisions with other furniture or appliances.

 

One option to overcome this inconvenience is Ermetika's Absolute Swing flush door: perfectly flush with the wall and with concealed hinges. It is an ideal solution for customisation, as it can be painted, lacquered or covered with wallpaper to blend harmoniously into the environment without being cumbersome.

 

Flush sliding doors are a modern and functional solution for those who wish to optimise space in the kitchen. Thanks to their sliding opening system, they are particularly suitable in rooms where the bulkiness of a hinged door could be inconvenient or restrict freedom of movement. Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of sliding doors in the kitchen.

 

Advantages: sliding doors allow the kitchen to be separated or joined to other rooms without requiring additional space to open, making them ideal for small or open-plan kitchens. This feature maintains a visual and functional flow between the kitchen and adjacent areas, adapting to both modern and traditional décor styles.

 

Sliding doors are extremely versatile: they can be chosen in materials such as glass, wood or laminate, offering options for all aesthetic and functional needs. In open-plan environments, a sliding door can easily transform the kitchen from a closed to an open area, promoting visual continuity and creating a more airy and convivial atmosphere. Some models also allow locks or locks to be installed, increasing security or privacy when needed.

 

Ermetika's Absolute Evo sliding flush door reflects these characteristics. In fact, in addition to disappearing completely inside the wall, it is flush with the masonry, and therefore without showcases and cover strips that could optically reduce the space.

 

Disadvantages: however, sliding doors also have some disadvantages. Installation can be more complex and expensive than with hinged doors, particularly if you opt for a recessed system in the wall, which requires masonry work to create the sliding space. Furthermore, sliding doors often do not provide an airtight seal, which can allow smells and noise to escape from the kitchen to other rooms in the house.

 

This can be problematic for those who wish to maintain sound insulation or limit the spread of smells during cooking. In some cases, external runners may require regular cleaning and maintenance, especially in the kitchen where dust and debris can easily accumulate.

 

When choosing materials, it is important to consider both aesthetics and practicality. The kitchen is an environment that is subject to humidity and temperature variations, so doors must be made of durable materials that are easy to clean.

 

Glass: glass is ideal for those who wish to maintain a visual connection to the kitchen. It offers brightness and a modern touch, but is more delicate and requires regular cleaning.

 

Wood: classic and versatile, wood is a warm and welcoming material, perfect for rustic or contemporary style kitchens. However, it must be treated to resist moisture and may require more maintenance.

 

Metal: metal is robust and perfectly suited to an industrial style. It is particularly resistant, but can be cold, which is why it is often used in combination with other materials such as glass and wood.

 

Laminate: Laminate is a practical and convenient material, valued for its resistance to scratches and stains. It is easy to clean and available in a wide range of colours and finishes, making it an ideal choice for those who want a modern and functional kitchen without sacrificing quality. In this case, Ermetika proposes its line of Echo Doors: in wood-effect laminate available in different finishes such as white, walnut, ash, mountain elm, grey elm and dove grey.

 

The choice of door for the kitchen should be a balance between style and functionality. Whether you opt for a traditional hinged door or a space-saving sliding solution, the material and design of the door will impact both the aesthetics of the room and its practicality. Thinking carefully about the needs of your kitchen and the overall layout of your home will help you find the perfect solution to create a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

 

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