8 Kitchen Trends to Watch for this Year

Kitchens are always changing and evolving, so if you are looking to redo yours or just like being informed about the latest trends, here’s what to watch out for this year:

1. Soft, muted color palettes. Kitchen colors are changing according to interior designer Jane Lockhart. Though white motifs will still dominate, everything from cabinets to backsplashes will be done in less saturated tones. “Charcoal, grays and even neutral pastels like pale blue, pale green gray and tinted whites are the new alternative to the standard white,” she says. She also foresees kitchens sporting lighter wood tones, including walnuts, whitewashed woods and white oak in rift grain. Bold primary colors, on the other hand, will be placed on the back burner.
2. Smart spaces. Like most other things in the world, kitchens are getting a technology makeover. More kitchens are going to have designed spots for smart devices and their charging consoles. The 2016 kitchen is going to focus on convenience for families on the go via accessible smart appliances.
3. An ‘80s reboot. Mirrored backsplashes, brass accessories and high-gloss surfaces aren’t dead by a long shot, but they’re more elegant and refined this time. More natural materials will be incorporated to remove the ‘plastic’ look of the ‘80s appliances.
4. Metal Range Hoods. One of last year’s biggest trends was metallic finishes, like copper, brass or bronze. However, homeowners went with small helpings of metal, primarily using faucets, pendant lights and cabinet pulls to incorporate this raw texture. Metals will assume a more dominant role in the kitchen and begin to trump wood as the range hood of choice.
5. Integrated kitchen-living spaces. This is going to become a huge thing for this year, creating a more interactive kitchen space with the other rooms in the home. Whether it is a dining room or living room, the kitchen is going to become less disconnected from the rest of your home. Designers will merge kitchens and living rooms by including more hidden and integrated appliances.
6. A New Kind of Tradition. Present day kitchens are embracing simple design. Since kitchens are focused on cleanliness, traditional kitchens may experience a slightly cleaner feel with bold lines and less fussy details. Traditional designs will always remain popular, but there will be more emphasis on key elements like hoods, islands and cabinet crowns.
7. Texture-on-texture contrast. Designers are going to be using textures in a new way. It will not be about mixing and matching textures, instead designers are going to reposition the same texture in different patterns throughout the kitchen. The difference will be subtle but at the same time it will make a statement.
8. Well-lit Cabinetry. Homeowners won’t settle for just ceiling lights and table lamps to illuminate their kitchens. With new designs brings new technology, so extensive cabinet lighting is the trend to watch. This will create overall lighting in the kitchen and improve create better mood-setting capabilities.