Kitchen Trends – What's Hot in Kitchen Design

By Carrie Grosvenor

Remodeling your kitchen can be one of the most satisfying home improvement projects you can undertake. The heart of every home, the kitchen is where families gather to prepare and enjoy meals together. Whether you're planning a complete overhaul or just a few improvements, there are some exciting new trends on the market that feature convenience, style, and contemporary design.

Storage

One of the biggest and hottest trends in kitchens is increased and stylish storage. From oversized pot racks that hang from the ceiling to drawers built to stow away the microwave oven when not in use, storage plays a huge role in kitchen design. Frosted glass, veneer, and metal accents are all making a comeback, featured on shelf doors, drawers, and racks of all kinds. Drawer and cupboard inserts used to arrange everything from cookware to drinking glasses are also popular.

Appliances

Put a cook-top, refrigerator, or microwave oven in a kitchen island that can be moved around as needed, and you've got a veritable kitchen on wheels! These new roll-around appliances can be plugged in and used where needed, giving you complete freedom to have extra cooking surfaces right nearby. Move the unit into another room to keep dishes warm during a dinner party, or have a refrigerator handy.

The newest ovens and refrigerators on the market feature French-style doors, which take up less space when opened. They also give the kitchen a new and updated feel, as the doors add a decorative touch to your appliances. Oven hoods are also making a comeback, creating a focus on the oven as the central part of the kitchen.

Countertops

New materials are being used in countertops now, such as laminated plastic and even hardwood. Sealed hardwood adds warmth and sophistication and can draw together other elements of you kitchen like the cupboards or dining furniture. Layer colored or printed fabric, naturals like dried herbs or flowers, or other items between layers of laminated plastic for an eye-catching appearance on your countertops.

Colors

Long gone are the days when kitchens were done in dull, monochromatic hues. Splashes of color are not only trendy but very much in demand. Light blues, sharp oranges, and deep corals are especially popular.

Contrasting Colors and Shapes

There is a significant move away from symmetry and sameness in kitchens at the moment. Contrasting colors from both the cool and warm palettes used together are becoming fashionable, as well as opposing textures like smooth metal and uneven stone. Cabinets and cupboards are displayed in varying sizes, from tall, narrow standalone shelving units to long and wide cupboards.

Flooring

Wood floors add cozy warmth and a touch of country decorating to even the most contemporary kitchen design. New advancements in sealing treatments have resulted in natural or manufactured wood floors that can stand up to the heavy use of kitchen flooring. A less expensive alternative is laminate flooring that is designed to look like real wood, but can be easier to clean and maintain. Laminate flooring can also create the look of faux stone, granite, or marble.

Kitchen trends come and go, but today's trends focus not only on style and appearance, but also functionality and convenience. Fashion and function combine to create sleek and efficient kitchen spaces for your home.