Introducing high-tech appliances into your kitchen shouldn’t mean dealing with unsightly plumbing. Exposed plumbing behind kitchen cabinets, such as a running water line or fridge water line, can ruin your kitchen’s ambiance. Fortunately, there are several ways you can go about turning a kitchen line eyesore into an attractive complement.
Hiding Ugly Water Lines
Whether you bought an older home recently or are looking to remodel your current one, hiding a traditional running water line can be challenging. Kitchen cabinets can be costly and buying new ones to hide a kitchen line isn’t always an ideal solution. Here are three alternatives to consider.
Paint Over The issue
One of the easiest and simplest ways to transform your pipe eyesore into a part of your kitchen decor is to use paint. If the plumbing behind kitchen cabinets is awkwardly sticking out due to an outdated design, painting them the same hue as the wall can offer an easy solution.
Alternatively, you can work with your color schemes to create a pleasing paint combination. For example, a pop of bright color on your plumbing can do wonders. If you’ve got a neutral shade like grey on most of your kitchen, painting exposed pipes a bold shade will look like an intended change. The color you choose should match or complement other details in your kitchen too.
After choosing your colors, scrub the pipes down to make sure they’re smooth and clean. Next, thoroughly dry the pipes and spread protective layers around your work area to prevent paint from staining anything. You’ll want to purchase a rust-resistant metal primer to apply to the pipes before you paint them.
While this solution may help your kitchen water line blend into the wall in a way that looks deliberate, the pipes will still be exposed.
Box Them Up
Building a box or shelf around the pipes you wish to hide is a more involved project than simply painting, but it’s not terribly complicated.
Consider where in your kitchen the water lines are you want to hide. If they’re on a single wall or in a corner, you’ll only have to work on one box or shelf. The things you’ll need are:
- A tape measure
- A carpenter pencil
- A combination square
- Plywood
- Screws
- A drill
- Spirit levels
Measure the area carefully to ensure you end up with the correct size. It’s crucial to use a combination square to ensure your measurements aren’t off. Using the square, measure from the opposite wall to the square or ruler at the widest point of your pipe.
When you know your measurements from floor to ceiling, cut out pieces of wood into battens. You’ll need about two inches in thickness. Drill holes and screw in the battens along each side of your pipe. Cut up wood to make the box sides. Make sure these measure the same as the length between the corner/ wall to the outer batten.
Connect the pieces of wood (or plywood) you’ve cut to the battens by either screwing or gluing them on and using a nail gun. While this is a relatively simple DIY project, it’s also easy to make mistakes when leveling and measuring. Plus, the situation may end up looking even more slap-dash than it did before. If you know your kitchen is already not level, it may be worth hiring professional help.
Cover Them With Wrap
There are several kinds of pipe covers on the market, including wooden types. You can find pipe coverings at your local hardware store. Decide whether you want plastic or wood material, and pick out something that matches your kitchen theme.
All you’ll need for this is:
- A knife
- Pipe cover material
- Adhesive Spray
After choosing the covering you like, place it around your kitchen pipes and carefully spray with adhesive to stick them on. Use the knife to cut off any excess at the end.
Takeaways
A kitchen can be a sanctuary for many and should be a place for your family to gather comfortably, but outdated water line pipes can become an unsightly distraction and make your kitchen look chaotic. If you are tired of looking at your water lines and want a solution that looks professional and is done with precision, contact our experts today.