The kitchen has long been considered the heart of the home, but in recent years, its role has been evolving more than ever. Far from only being a space for cooking, it’s now a central hub for gathering, entertaining and expressing personal style. Homeowners this year are embracing eclectic materials, retro elements and personalized kitchen spaces. It’s easier than ever to lean into the trends to create a culinary space that’s truly yours.
Cashmere Kitchens
The cashmere kitchen trend uses cozy neutral colors such as sand or taupe to exude warmth and a sense of luxury. Brass or gold-tone hardware adds to the soft feel, and layered textures like natural wood or fabric light pendants add interest and sophistication. The cashmere kitchen is attractive in its own right, but it can also serve as a neutral backdrop for statement pieces of furniture or culinary art.
Blending Past and Present
From retro-style appliances to cabinet veneers, kitchen design from the 1950s to 1970s is returning. Consider upgrading to a vintage oven or a retro fridge, or choose tiles for your countertops. Wallpaper also gives a kitchen a nostalgic feel and can blend in – or stand out from – the rest of your design aesthetic.
Colorful Kitchens
Clinical white or steel is out. Color – especially sage green, forest green and navy – is in. Nature-inspired palettes are on trend, but rich reds and yellows are popular, too. If you like the vintage style, consider avocado, pink or pale blue.
You might even try deep night sky blue or black, which can feel surprisingly nurturing in a kitchen. There are many ways to bring color into the room, such as through cabinetry, painted walls, surfaces, backsplashes or flooring.
English Kitchens
Timeless, functional and cozy, the traditional English kitchen is making waves this year, perhaps as a pushback against showroom-ready, sleek rooms that appear to lack soul. Searches for the term “English country kitchen” increased by 144% in a year, reflecting how many people are seeking nostalgia.
Colors in this kind of kitchen are muted, and materials are largely natural. A key design element is freestanding storage, such as dressers or chests of drawers.
Conversation Islands
This year, kitchens are becoming increasingly social spaces where family and guests can keep the cook company. Kitchen islands are designed for just that purpose, incorporating extra seating and plenty of space to chat and relax. Open layouts facilitate conversation but can also include appliances and storage.
Statement Lighting
Bold and eye-catching kitchen lighting is very on trend, with light fittings often becoming a focal point of the overall design. Statement pendant lights remain popular, but layering is also gaining popularity – think illuminated countertop work areas, recessed downlights, ambient lighting, lamps on the island and accent spotlights to highlight a key feature. Natural finishes such as rattan and linen add softness and sustainability. Vintage lighting is also popular.
Timeless Floors With Added Drama
Kitchen flooring has to be practical, but it can also be stylish. Trends this year include classic hardwood or reclaimed flooring for sustainable charm. Consider geometric tiles with 3D elements or retro-inspired patterns if you want more impact.
If your cabinets and walls are relatively neutral, consider a richly colored floor to liven things up. Similarly, consider a bold modern floor for contrast if your overall theme is vintage.
Mixed Metal and Oversized Hardware
Swapping out the hardware in your kitchen is an easy way to refresh the look. This year, mixed metals are in vogue, and so are black stainless finishes. Handles and pulls are becoming more of a statement, with architectural, geometric and oversized styles that run the full length of a cabinet door. Overall, hardware trends are about making a statement rather than blending in.
Tech-Forward Kitchens
Like elsewhere in the home, smart kitchen appliances continue to gain traction and popularity. Smart refrigerators and ovens are constantly evolving, offering features such as recipe suggestions based on held ingredients, automatic temperature adjustments and predictive maintenance alerts.
AI-based integrations are also impacting aesthetics, with smart lighting adding ambience. Touch-sensitive surfaces and hands-free faucets add to aesthetics as well as being practical.
Mix and Match
Kitchen design aesthetics are becoming more eclectic and personalized. It’s very on trend to mix and match furniture, surfaces, colors, textures, and styles according to what you simply love and like to see or use. Whether or not experts think something “works” or is in fashion, a key element of interior design is personalizing your kitchen and creating your own style.
Unlocking Your Dream Kitchen
Every kitchen must be functional and practical, but as this range of current trends shows, you can personalize yours to align with your preferences. From cashmere to color and from nostalgic or retro chic to bold, statement drama, there’s something in current kitchen design trends for everyone. What will your dream cooking space look like?
