New design materials in the kitchen: cork

1 October, 2019
Inspiration

There are many sustainable materials to use at home and cork has come back to find its place in the kitchen. We search for the benefits and uses that point to cork as the new trendy material, both for buildings and interior designs.

Cork as the new sustainable material

Environment awareness teaches us why we need to work with sustainable supply to build our homes, from outside to our rooms. Cork is used as a building material in the current architectonic trends, looking for more eco-friendly structures. And cork has its space inside every house as well, particularly in one of our favorite rooms: the kitchen.

Many materials will help you to create a personal and unique atmosphere in your kitchen. And now there is no need to use plywood or marble, as usual. Stone, wood, and cork are high-quality materials and resistant to be part of the kitchen.

Cork properties

materials kitchen cork

Cork has many advantages for a place like a kitchen. It is made of the cork oak, a tree common in all the Mediterranean coast mainly. Cork comes straight from the bark so not only trees are not killed when removing it: we can also harvest it repeatedly from the same tree. Cork is very cheap and can be used for different types of facilities without a big budget.

It is an eco-friendly and sustainable material not only for how is harvested, but also cause it is recyclable, or comes from renewable sources, and is biodegradable. You can use every piece of cork several times and this 100% natural element is great for insulating and last for years.

Cork is soft, warm and cozy for home, easy to combine with other materials like wood or stone. Don’t forget the organic touch a piece of cork will give to any style of kitchen.

The high content of suberin and wax make cork a very good material to avoid mold or leaks. That is the reason why cork is used for wine bottles and bathrooms.

Low-cost choice

Cork has a lot of properties for your home. However, the most relevant is probably price. Many homes choose cork as an alternative to ceramic or stone, more traditional options but more expensive too.

Where to use cork?

When we think about cork in your kitchen you may not find the right place to use it. But there are so many ways to include cork in your home for flooring, acoustic wall covering, or countertops and decoration, that we are sure you will fall in love with this innovative material as much as we do.

Furniture

materials kitchen cork

Designers use cork for stools, benches and even chairs. Resistance and adhesion properties make this material perfect for these basic elements. It is also respectful with wood flooring.

Renew the look

If you are thinking about renewing your kitchen, but you are not sure about the improvement job, cork is a good choice once again to make the room look different. There are cork layers and tiles ready to use on the floor to optimize costs and time. Cork is available in many forms and in many more colors than we think.

Cork is useful for decoration too with the smallest deco details. You can find it in kitchen tools, jars, trivets, and many pieces resistant to heat.

Walls and floors

Did you ever think about using cork for flooring? Insulation makes cork a good choice thanks to acoustic absorption and anti-slip properties. Cork is impermeable and resists fire well, so it is perfect to use in the kitchen and is non-toxic (naturally anti-microbial). The look will be very close to the wood and, of course, you can use layers on the walls as well.

materials kitchen cork

Cleaning and maintenance

Most of the cork sold has been treated to make it easier to clean. Use non-abrasive products to keep all its properties and color. Soap, vinegar, and water are the best way to clean and maintain it in perfect conditions.

For practical and aesthetic reasons, cork has become an innovative and trendy material at home. Not only in the kitchen but also in the bathroom, where cork can find its way replacing more traditional materials. And all this being sustainable, eco-friendly and for low budgets.