Where To Put The Microwave In The Kitchen: Placement Options In A Small And Large Space, Photo

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Microwave in the kitchen: where and how to place it correctly

A microwave oven can be seen in almost every home, few people deny themselves the pleasure of quickly reheating food or defrosting meat products. In order to use this household appliance as convenient and comfortable as possible, it is necessary to choose a place for it correctly.

Content

• 1 Basic guidelines for microwave placement

• 2 Options for placing the microwave oven in the kitchen

  • 2.1 On the kitchen countertop
  • 2.2 On the windowsill

  • 2.3 On the refrigerator

    2.3.1 Video: is it possible to put the microwave on the refrigerator

  • 2.4 On a special island for vehicles
  • 2.5 Above a hob or above a cooker hood

  • 2.6 On the wall shelf or brackets

    2.6.1 Video: microwave on a shelf or brackets

  • 2.7 On the bar counter or dining table
  • 2.8 In the locker
  • 2.9 Built-in above the oven
  • 2.10 Built in lockers

• 3 How to hang a microwave oven on the wall: step by step instructions

  3.1 Video: Installing Microwave Oven Holders

Basic guidelines for microwave placement

The requirements for placing the device are described in each manual and it is recommended to strictly follow them:

• the microwave oven must not be placed in the immediate vicinity of operating heating devices and other heating kitchen equipment (heating radiators, oven, stove, etc.). In extreme cases, you should equip high-quality thermal insulation;

• in order to ensure the normal operation of the microwave, do not cover the ventilation openings located on the top of the device. It is not allowed to put various interior items or kitchen utensils on top (bread bins, vases, teapots, towels, flowers in pots, etc.);

  

  It is not recommended to hang microwave oven covers and fold towels on them.

• it is not allowed to install the microwave oven close to furniture, other large kitchen appliances or walls, as this is fraught with ignition of dust accumulated in narrow cracks;
• it is not recommended to place the appliance next to the kitchen sink;

• the door of the microwave oven should open freely, without encountering obstacles in its path. Remember that most appliances of this type are opened with the left hand;

  

  Microwaves can be opened with the left hand, but sometimes the door can be moved

• the microwave device should be located at a height of 0.6–1.5 m from floor level. With a lower placement, you will have to bend over or squat down strongly, with a higher one - stretch or substitute a stool. In both cases, there is a great risk of overturning dishes with hot food and getting burned;
• The appliance should be installed so that there is a flat surface nearby (kitchen countertop, dining table, etc.) on which reheated food can be placed. The distance should not exceed 0.3–0.4 m (you can reach it with your hand).

When placing the microwave, it is necessary to leave gaps for ventilation

Options for placing the microwave oven in the kitchen

There are a lot of places where you can put a microwave in the kitchen. It is necessary to consider them in more detail, to understand all the pros and cons in order to choose the best option.

There are many options for placing the microwave in the kitchen

On the kitchen countertop

It is easier and more logical to put the microwave directly on the countertop, at this height it is most convenient to use it. The equipment is always nearby, the delivered dishes can be placed directly on the work surface. It is only necessary to retreat at least half a meter from the sink and the electric stove.

The easiest way is to put the microwave on the countertop

However, this option is not for everyone. In a small kitchen, you can't turn around anyway, the microwave oven on the countertop will take up the entire working space (at least 0.6–0.8 m) and there will be nowhere to cook. Only the owners of large and spacious kitchens can afford such luxury and not save every centimeter.

In a small kitchen, the microwave can take up the entire work area.

On the windowsill

If the window sill is wide enough, then you can place a microwave oven on it. The window is usually located next to the headset, a maximum of a couple of steps, and the height is suitable, so it will be convenient to use. But there is a possibility that the window glass will crack from a sharp temperature drop, especially in winter.

It is not recommended to keep the microwave on the windowsill too close to the glass, as it can crack from temperature changes

In summer, under hot sunlight, the device will overheat. For safety reasons, leave at least 0.2 m from the back of the device to the glass. The microwave oven can be safely placed on the windowsill if the window opens onto an insulated and glazed balcony or loggia.

If the balcony is insulated and glazed, then the temperature difference will not be so great, and the microwave oven can be safely placed on the windowsill

It is believed that the cactus absorbs harmful radiation, so it can be kept near the microwave

On the fridge

Sometimes in very small kitchens there is no place at all, so you have to put the microwave on the refrigerator. If it is not very high, then this option is quite acceptable.

Small kitchens often have no other place for a microwave than on the refrigerator.

With a refrigerator height of 1.8–2 m, the stove is too high and an adult of average height can hardly reach it, not to mention a child or teenager. To use it, you have to stand on a chair or stepladder, which is fraught with falls and injuries. In addition, hot dishes can be knocked over and burned.

If the refrigerator is high, then the microwave is extremely inconvenient to use.

Video: is it possible to put the microwave on the refrigerator

On a special island for technology

In large headsets with an island layout, there are no problems with the placement of equipment. Usually, everything is laid down at the design stage, when a special niche is provided for the microwave. At the same time, the working area remains free and the appearance of the entire interior does not suffer. However, if you need to use the stove often, this option is not very convenient, since you have to bend over. And the island itself is seemingly close, but you need to take a few steps to it.

Microwave can be placed on a dedicated island

We don't have a very large kitchen, but a huge microwave with a bunch of all sorts of additional functions. It was extremely difficult to attach it correctly, because it is 600 mm wide and almost 550 mm deep. Literally everywhere this microwave oven looked bulky and awkward. I had to make a special swing cabinet a little more than a meter high on the opposite side of the kitchen, put a kitchen countertop on it and put a microwave on top. At this height, it is very convenient to use the stove, and there is still enough space on the countertop to put hot dishes. In addition, in the closet itself, you can place a lot of all kinds of kitchen utensils and small household appliances.

Above the stove or above the hood

In kitchens with a very small area, it is often necessary to place the microwave above the stove, this can seriously save space. Sometimes it is even possible to maintain functionality and not sacrifice hoods, which are flat (10-15 cm in height) and may well fit under a microwave oven.

Sometimes the microwave is placed over the stove

On the one hand, the main items for cooking are in one place and you don't have to move anywhere. But on the other hand, it is very inconvenient to use, since the location of the stove is too high, especially for people with small stature.

You can place a flat hood under the microwave

On a wall shelf or brackets

The microwave oven can be hung at the desired height without being tied to work planes or other objects. A wall shelf or special brackets can be placed anywhere on the wall, which must be strong enough to support the weight of the equipment.

Microwave can be placed on a shelf

Most often, there is empty space between the table top and the upper wall cabinets, while the table top remains free. A good option, suitable not only for kitchens with a lack of working space, but also for large rooms, since the height of the placement is optimal for comfortable operation of the appliance.

The microwave shelf can be made from various materials

The microwave on the shelf above the table does not look very aesthetically pleasing.

Video: microwave on a shelf or brackets

On a bar or dining table

Placing a microwave on the dining table should be considered only as a temporary option, since it will not only interfere with normal food intake there, but also spoil the entire interior of the kitchen. On a bar counter, in rare cases, the device stands up quite harmoniously and comfortably, but the dimensions of the counter should freely allow this.

On a wide and large bar counter, the microwave will stand up well

In the locker

Sometimes it is possible to hide the microwave oven inside the cabinet and close it with a furniture facade. You can place the device in a lower cabinet, pencil case or cupboard, but when using the device, you have to keep the door open, which is not very convenient.

The microwave can be hidden behind the kitchen front

The stove is rarely placed in the upper cabinets; only the smallest appliances are suitable for this. Larger devices are placed in open niches, which are designed specifically for this.

Only very small microwave ovens fit in the top cabinets

Microwaves of any size fit very well in the lower cabinets under the countertop. You can place the appliance instead of the built-in oven under the hob. Not a good option for frequent use, as you have to bend over.

Very often the microwave is placed under the countertop.

Built over the oven

Built-in microwave ovens in kitchen units look more harmonious. There is no need to leave any ventilation gaps, as the design of the device provides for a special thermal insulation system and ventilation along the back wall. For this reason, the cost of such equipment is significantly higher.

The built-in microwave above the oven looks more aesthetically pleasing, because it is covered with a decorative frame

The most convenient is the location of the microwave in the middle line of the headset. A pencil case or a semi-tall cabinet is perfect for this, when an oven is also built into it. The microwave is placed on top, so it is most convenient to use it.

The microwave can be placed in a semi-cabinet above the oven

A non-recessed microwave can simply be placed on the shelf above the oven

Almost all manufacturers produce lines of household appliances with the same design. You can choose models with similar bezels that look good together and complement each other.

It is best to select the oven and microwave from the same manufacturer.

An ordinary microwave is placed in a pencil case niche, leaving gaps on the sides and back.

Built in lockers

There are built-in microwave ovens designed for installation in overhead wall cabinets. They do not need to be covered with furniture fronts, since a special decorative panel is usually provided by the manufacturer. But the internal volume of such devices is small, and they will still be located too high. Building into the kitchen cupboard at the right height would be a viable option, though.

The built-in microwave can be built into the top cabinet

The location of built-in microwave ovens is also allowed under the countertop, but for their correct placement it is necessary to choose the technique at the stage of designing the kitchen set. The disadvantage of this arrangement is still the same - the need to bend over often.

Sometimes the microwave is built into the lower cabinet under the countertop.

How to hang a microwave oven on the wall: step by step instructions

To mount the microwave on the wall, you can use various shelves, hanging racks or stands. But the easiest way is to use special brackets, which are sturdy metal corners with perforation for fasteners and runners (often adjustable in length) for placing the device. They may vary in design, size and color. When selecting it, it is important to take into account the weight of the stove so that the design of the suspension system provides for this load capacity.

The microwave can be hung on the wall using special brackets

Usually the brackets can be adjusted in length to suit any microwave

Despite slight visual differences, the mounting method of all holders does not differ significantly. The suspension bracket installation technology consists of the following steps:

1. Choosing a place for the microwave. The distance from the sink, stove and other household appliances must be sufficient for the safe operation of the equipment. It is possible to fasten the retaining elements only on even and solid bases (brick, concrete).

2. We carefully carry out the markings for fasteners.

   

   Some craftsmen first install one bracket, and then align the second along it

3. Using a perforator or drill, we drill holes of the required diameter.

   

   Drill or perforator drill holes for dowels

4. We drive dowels into the holes made.

   

   We drive dowels into the holes

5. We attach the brackets, aligning the dowels with the mounting holes, then fix the holders with self-tapping screws or screws.

   

   We fix the corners in the wall with self-tapping screws or screws

6. We check the parallelism and horizontalness of the supports, as well as the strength of the entire structure. Holders should not stagger.

   

   Using the level, we check the horizontal

7. If everything is in order, then we place the household appliance and plug it into an outlet.

It is better if the brackets have stops or indentations for the legs

Video: mounting holders for a microwave oven

There are a huge number of options for placing a microwave oven in the kitchen. When choosing a place for it, it is necessary to take into account not only the characteristics of the existing room and personal preferences, but also general recommendations for the placement of household appliances. Only in this case will the microwave oven serve reliably for many years.