Whenever we talk about kitchen designs, we get two different reactions; Excitement and awe over the new or reinvented features that will upgrade our kitchen’s look or anxiety over realizing that our kitchen is outdated and needs another renovation. What we want everyone to understand is that the ever-changing trends of kitchen interior designs are not mandatory. Nobody is required to update their kitchens and essentials as these are in no way intended to make anyone feel like their kitchen style is no longer suitable.
Trends change annually, and keeping up with them would be a costly ordeal, especially in your kitchen. If your kitchen does not need a make-over, if the functionality factor is top-notch, if the cabinets are in good condition, and, most importantly, if you like your kitchen, then you can take this article for its informational value alone.
However, if you’re browsing the web and interior design magazines for suggestions on renovating your kitchen, this article will let you know the current and upcoming trends for 2022. You can transform your kitchen to match your dream home with an interior designer. Still, we’ll cover the main design trends of 2021 and focus on how the two merge and move into each other.
Article Summary:
- The Trends that Took over 2021
- Kitchen Trends that will Last
- Kitchen Flooring Trends for a Sustainable Lifestyle
- Conclusion
The Trends that Took over 2021
When we look at what happened as we transitioned into 2021, mid-pandemic, we could already see the signs of what 2022 will bring. Colors have already started to change towards what will be prevalent in 2022 but let’s take a closer look at all these aspects that will become even more prominent in the following year.
Leaving All-White Behind in Kitchen Color Trends
Whether it came from the fact that we spent more and more time indoors and wanted a more enjoyable aspect from our homes or the fact that we had enough of the all-white sterile look that reminds us all of the hospital rooms, colors found their way back into our kitchens. Some chose to combine colors in two-toned kitchen designs, using contrasting colors, bold hues, and neutrals, or simply by adding a vibrant splash of color through some carefully selected items. Whichever it was, we started to see pops of color in our kitchens again.
While white won’t go completely out of the kitchen; kitchen color trends are becoming more colorful. People are using white in combination with other colors to improve the overall color pallet in our kitchens. Whether you have white walls, cabinetry, backsplash, appliances, or decor, don’t be afraid to add some nature-inspired tones. Natural colors have a comforting effect on our subconscious, and green, wood, purples, blues, oranges, yellows, pinks, and reds are all seeking their moment in the spotlight. Find the one that works best for your kitchen theme, and stop worrying about the ever-changing kitchen color trends.
Go with colors that make you feel good and think long-term. As an added benefit, by using vibrant colors only in decorations or consumable items and maintaining a neutral color scheme in the bigger elements in the room, it will be easiest to change things when you want to.
Dark Surfaces in Kitchen Color Trends
The elegance that comes from dark hues of grey or even black is unparalleled and will prevail with the coming of the new year. However, it started as an alternative to two-tone kitchens. Switching up the kitchen by installing dark worktops and countertops to contrast the light-colored kitchen cabinets became a great way to make the lighter colors pop and understand how to use natural light. At the same time, it maintains a luxurious and sophisticated look.
Looking at contrasting kitchen color trends, we can see darks combined with lights to balance a look. Kitchen cabinet trends tend towards lighter facades and darker countertops or vice-versa. Mahogany, black, dark greys, or other dark-colored fronts can be combined with white marble, oak, walnut, pinewood counters. The opposite works as well, and innovative treatments make them more durable. Dark surfaces are no longer as difficult to maintain and are less prone to wear and tear lately. Combine a black marble or mahogany stone countertop with the color of cappuccino, teal, or light grey, and the result is sure to delight your eyes.
Current kitchen cabinet trends work to provide contrast because contrast provides visual balance in a home. That is why when we look at kitchen color trends, we see dark and light hues trying to even the playing field. Monochrome or analogous kitchen’s color trends are dwindling in popularity while contrasting; complementary colors are setting kitchen trends that will last and stand the test of time.
Smart Storage in Kitchen Cabinet Trends
Coming from the minimalist kitchen trends that will last well into 2022 and onwards, kitchen cabinets trends will offer ultimate functionality through smart features. With less work required to use them and more tech embedded in them, kitchen cabinet trends are brought into the 21st century. Finally, some would say, and they would be right. Ever since the sliding pull-out drawers, we barely saw any innovation when it came to kitchen cabinet trends, but this year came with so many.
Marie Kondo is probably thrilled with this trend as it completely obliterates kitchen cabinet clutter. Gone are the days when you had to move 20 pots and pans out of the way so you could get that one pot. Now, all you have to do is open the cabinet door, pull out the pot’s shelf, and simply pick up the pot, or just open a drawer. Easy access is detrimental to today’s kitchen cabinet trends, and we can all celebrate the upcoming innovations from the high-tech kitchens of tomorrow. Along with this, we can include concealed appliances, and that trend will expand in 2022.
Bulkiness has long been forgotten in our home, and intricate decors belong to the kitchen trends to avoid in 2022. Kitchen cabinetry will be simplistic, minimal, and highly functional. The intense functionality might come from high-tech interactive backsplash or interactive kitchen islands, but they are welcomed either way. While kitchens that cook your dinner are yet to be available, we’re closing in on the days when your kitchen will teach you how to cook. Some smart refrigerators already do that, but more exciting things can be seen on the horizon.
Visible or Invisible Kitchen Cabinet Trends
When it comes to hinges, knobs, and handles, the year 2021 created a divide. It was either bold, brass, iron, gold, silver, or other metals or nothing. With the first, we could see the boldness that contrasted the simplicity of the space by adding that pop of shock and awe that any monochrome kitchen needs. The second, however, created the problem and, thankfully, the solution for … how do we open our cabinets. The push-to-open feature started to make its way into the ultimate smart kitchen designs, and we’ll see more of that in 2022. A possible reason for these two options might be that harsh metal is a natural element that makes us feel closer to nature, especially when combined with wood. As for the other … it’s easy … no knobs or handles mean no transmission of germs. We became more aware of the areas in our homes where bacteria and viruses may thrive, and eliminating them became a great idea.
Kitchen Trends that will Last
While covering what happened in 2021, we did mention a few things that will set up roots and thrive in 2022. These trends can be directly related to the amount of time we spend in our homes and the need for our homes to provide a more natural feel. Our homes already started to transition into personal oases, but with 2022, this will become even more widespread. The more time we spend indoors, the more we want to feel comfortable and close to nature. It’s expected that we feel the need to bring nature indoors, but at the same time, we aim for luxury. Again, more time indoors means that our homes need to be special for us; they need to make us feel fantastic and choosing elements that add a touch of elegance and splendor into our kitchen influenced the 2022 upcoming trends. The following are the ones that attract the most attention, but each of these is modern and simplistic with a touch of elegance and refinement.
Minimalist
We all know what minimalism comes from, and many of us might already be applying it throughout our homes. The simplicity that comes from Scandinavian interior designs thrives in the Minimalist trend. Here, functionality is the essence, and anything that doesn’t have a purpose or meaning does not have a place.
The minimalist trend is all about balance and symmetry. While that might seem like an oxymoron, think of it like this. If you have a black wall with black base kitchen cabinets and a white window on the right, you’ll achieve symmetry and balance by adding a white top cabinet on the left. Even if there is only one window, the top cabinet balances the color scheme. That’s what we can expect from the minimalist trend. However, the minimalist movement will stick to neutral base colors or go towards monochromatic color pallets for kitchen color trends. The one and most important rule for the minimalist trend is clutter-free space. Space savings necessities make small kitchen trends like this gain popularity. Concealed appliances will attain this, if not whole kitchens. Smart storage ideas that provide a space for every appliance, utensil, and glass, streamline kitchens with no knobs, handles, or hinges visible will continue into kitchen cabinet trends for 2022.
Biophilic
The Biophilic trend comes in with the splash of colors that we started to see in 2021, turning them into more natural shades. The bold pops of color don’t fit here, but darker greens, greys, and browns are accepted. This trend comes from humanity’s innate need to connect with nature and the natural world, especially given that we were limited to living indoors for an extended period of time. One of the basic principles of this design trend is the use of biomorphic shapes. These are shapes and patterns that can be found in the natural world but don’t think that the kitchen cabinets will have rounded edges. However, other elements in our kitchens will shy away from sharp angles and repeating geometric patterns. Whether it’s the bar stools, the dining table, the light fixtures, or other small tools we use around the kitchen, they will be softer and more comforting than what we were used to before.
At the same time, this trend brings nature inside the kitchen, quite literally as plants will have a central point. Whether it’s a pot of lavender, rosemary, basil, or a hanging plant that cascades by the window, it’s about embracing the natural elements that provide a healthier and greener environment. We can not bring plants into our kitchens if we don’t have natural light, so window treatments are taking a backseat through this trend as we want as much natural light as possible. Wooden elements are also a big part; whether in your floors, kitchen cabinets, countertop, or backsplash, wood is nature’s best work of art.
Japandi
This trend, at first glance, seems to combine the previous two ones but it’s quite different from both and stands on its own. It does, however, combine two styles that we’re all familiar with and love. Both are minimalist in manner, and they are predominantly known for being used in two different parts of the globe. We are talking about Scandinavian interior design that promotes simplicity and functionality and Japanese interior design. Also known as Scandonese, Japandi’s two main characteristics are Hygge, the Danish art of happiness, and Wabi Sabi, the combination of nature and beauty from the imperfection of daily life. An infusion of natural elements like wood or rattan is used to allow increased functionality through their aesthetic simplicity. The color pallet used in this interior design focuses on neutral shades and hues that create contrast with the natural elements we mentioned earlier. Edges are clean and clear, with no room left for clutter.
Kitchen Flooring Trends for a Sustainable Lifestyle
A kitchen renovation usually starts from the ground up, and that’s where kitchen interior designs also begin. But 2022 kitchen flooring trends don’t only matter because of their aesthetic properties but also their functionality. Kitchen flooring trends impact your kitchen’s overall appearance, and they need to work with the style choice you make.
As we already covered the kitchen trends that are implemented nowadays, we can see that most are kitchen trends that will last well after 2022. Kitchen flooring trends underline that as well by ensuring both simplicity and functionality. As 2022 kitchen interior designs are centered on minimalism, there won’t be an overabundance of details in decorations, but not even in patterns. The most important aspects to consider are naturalness and eco-friendliness, with reasonable amounts of minimalism and all-around practicality. Let’s see what that means when applied to the materials being used.
What is Eco Flooring?
The environmental awareness movement continues to influence interior design trends in 2022, which can be seen in kitchen flooring trends. We are moving further away from plastic and fossil fuels dependent materials for nature’s benefit and our own. The most natural materials will shine and be prioritized over high-carbon footprint alternatives.
The leading materials in 2022 are natural parquet, laminate, massive engineered boards, porcelain stoneware, and ceramic tiles. As comfort is something we all wish to have in our home’s interior designs, wood will be preferred to ceramic or stone as they are warmer to the touch, aside from their other advantages.
Bleached Wood
By using bleached wood, you can soften the kitchen color trends that sparked your interest. You can achieve the bleached effect through chemical treatment or simply go for lighter-toned woods. While kitchen cabinet trends can go dark, a softer toned flooring will create a contrasting effect in your kitchen. We can see a tendency towards lighter tones in flooring from small kitchen trends. It will give the impression of a larger space and attract more light to brighten your kitchen—no more dark corners and claustrophobia.
If you’re striving for sustainability in your home, recycled or eco-friendly materials stand at the core of 2022 kitchen trends. While hardwood isn’t waterproof, there are water-resistant finishes you can apply, also decreasing the material’s slipperiness. You can choose different patterns and colors, and updating it will be easier and does not require replacing the flooring.
Aged Timber
These sustainable trends make us think twice before replacing something in our homes. We no longer shy away from that old and aged look but embrace it. Something that is old proved its ability to stand the test of time. Whether it’s kitchen cabinets that you can refinish or old furniture that you can restore, if you have something that your grandmother used and it’s still structurally sound, use it. Vintage is in, and it’s easier to achieve than you might have thought.
Aged timber flooring is complementary to both modern and traditional kitchen trends but works best with neutral colors in kitchen cabinets or light natural colors (greys, browns, greens, blues, etc). It can add personality to a modern high-tech kitchen, provide a warm color to accentuate lighter elements in your kitchen, and is easy to maintain. Hardwood floors should not be taken out but polished, refinished, and you’re ready to go. Not to mention just how incredibly costly it is to install new hardwood flooring. It’s the most economically sound decision to polish old hardwood floors because the cheaper flooring options may not last as long as you expect.
Tiles Transformation
The most long-lasting material with a much lower carbon footprint than laminate or anything with plastics is ceramic or porcelain tile. This durability makes it incredibly popular in the kitchen both for flooring and the backsplash. They are man-made, come in a wide variety of colors, patterns, shapes, and styles, and are made from natural materials (clay). Without chemical finishes, their surface can handle stains, water, or greasy spills. Porcelain is even more durable but needs to be processed at higher temperatures and can become slippery.
If you’re not set on buying some intricate patterns in your kitchen and keeping up with minimalist interior designs, you shouldn’t have a problem with this. However, what can happen to tiles is that their design can fade in time. The added benefit to tiles is that you can actually refinish them and paint any elaborate design on them. It might be a tedious process, but the results can be amazing.
Are Small Kitchen Trends in?
When we take a look at traditional kitchen trends from the past, we can’t help but notice the intricate styles and decorations cabinets were adorned with. However, those luxurious traditional kitchen trends can’t really fit in a smaller kitchen.
Small kitchen trends are on the rise from a sustainability standpoint and from an economic perspective. Square footage is getting more expensive by the day, and housing affordability decreases, so space is becoming more limited. A smaller home is more affordable, so small kitchen trends are the result.
Thankfully, the interior design styles become kitchen trends that will last, promoting minimalism and simplicity. Traditional kitchen trends take up too much space, both physically and visually. Your kitchen will look overcrowded, stuffy, and much smaller than it actually is. If your kitchen is small, to begin with, all three kitchen trends mentioned above clear visual clutter. With simple lines, smooth transitions, and a balanced design. We can’t always tear down walls whichever way we want.
Conclusion
The environment’s importance and how we treat it will stand out throughout 2021 and even after 2022. We will see more and more sustainable materials used in everything from massive timber used to building skyscrapers to the materials used everywhere in our homes. The focus for the following years is on a cleaner future through environmental planning. This will lead the interior designs for the following years, and eco-friendly interior designs will become the norm. We’ve seen this gaining more and more momentum over the past years, and when it comes to interior design trends, this can be seen in everything that will happen in 2022. Even if some trends include more metal finishes and metallic aspects, or glass, all are coming from a sustainable perspective that changes how we see our homes.
Are you on board with these trends, or are trends just another form of consumerism for you? Give us your thoughts on the subject in the comments section below. As we mentioned already, as long as you’re happy with how your kitchen looks, there is no need to change anything. After all, renovating your kitchen every two years will only increase the amount of waste we produce. Like & Share this article with friends and family if they want to be up to date with the latest trends in kitchen designs.
