For many homeowners, the kitchen is like Grand Central Station. It’s where the family gets together to rehash the day’s events over a meal, and where all the guests inevitably congregate when you throw a party.
Since it’s such an essential part of the home, you’re going to want to make sure it’s designed for efficiency and function, as well for style and, yes, for fun. Kitchen design is always changing, and we’ve selected ten of our favorite kitchen trends that we believe will stand the test of time.
Take a look at our list below. We looked for trends that are innovative, practical, and timeless in design.
Top 10 New Trends in Kitchen Design
Hardwood floors. Why not? There are plenty of reasons to choose hardwood for your kitchen’s flooring. For starters, hardwood is extremely durable, especially if you’re using maple or oak. It’s also a perfect way to create an even more open floor plan, especially if you already have hardwood floors in the adjacent main rooms like the dining and living rooms.
Hidden appliances – Concealed appliances can work well in every kitchen, and especially those with open floor plans. Consider microwave drawers and refrigerators designed like cabinets to create a seamless aesthetic. Butcher blocks can slide away to reveal a cooking range thanks to built-in appliances.
Bold accents – Don’t be afraid to add creative touches in the kitchen with bold lighting and accessories including knobs and handles. Choose brass, nickel, or go even bolder with black or chrome accessories designed to stand out. You can find unique kitchen cabinet knobs on Etsy.com, and at your favorite home décor store, like Restoration Hardware.
New technology – High tech has definitely reached the kitchen. From automatic faucets to managing your oven, coffeemaker and even your kitchen thermometer from your phone, new technology makes your kitchen incredibly efficient. We love the Samsung Smart Fridge that features a Wi-Fi-enabled LCD screen to pull up recipes or to make a call to order pizza. It also features drawers with adjustable temperatures.
More than one fridge – Speaking of refrigerators, how about having two? One for all of your everyday items, and another for something more specific like meats, beverages, or veggies? Second fridges in new custom homes are smaller – we’re way beyond the days of the freezer in the basement. And yes, you can hide them.
Gray and black accents – White, or more specifically, alabaster, is still one of the most popular colors to use in kitchens, but today we’re seeing many white or lighter colored kitchens accented with a very dark color palate. Consider gray or black cabinets, appliances, or painting an accent wall a dark color to give your kitchen a chic and current look.
Gorgeous backsplashe – The wall behind your sink is a fabulous place to get creative. Today’s backsplashes aren’t just functional, they’re also beautiful to look at and can add character to your kitchen. Luckily, we live in the city that Rookwood Pottery calls home. Peruse their catalogue or visit their stores in Over-the-Rhine and Kenwood to choose tile for your backsplash, or consider a different material like marble or brick.
Eco-friendly countertop – Composite countertops are food safe and emit zero radon gasses. They’re great for the planet, and for you, too. Take a look at composite countertops made of recycled materials or fly ash.
Sinks that are workstation – Your sink gets a lot of use every day, and works double time when you’re cooking for a large family or a party. If you love cooking and do it frequently, it’s as important to have the right sink as it is to have the right stove. The latest kitchen sinks are multi-functional, and have features like grooves to hold cutting boards, and two faucets.
Concrete in the kitchen – While concrete is more porous than tile and needs to be sealed, it’s incredibly durable and comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Polished concrete creates a great look in kitchens when used for countertops or on floors. They’re ideal for families with kids and pets, and are perfect in high traffic rooms.
Have we inspired you? Hint: Incorporating some of these design trends now means they’ll be ready in time for the busy holiday season.
