Residential kitchens used to be utilitarian spaces. Even the visually-appealing ones remained nestled at the rear of many floor plans. These days, all of that has changed. The modern kitchen is the heart of a home. It’s where families gather to talk, eat and share everything about their lives. Typically, the food is pretty good, too.
That marked shift in the way we look at kitchens has meant that there is an ever-evolving set of trends that dominate kitchen design on a year-to-year basis. Since it’s not always easy to stay ahead of the kitchen design curve, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular kitchen design trends in 2018 to help you to stay on the cutting edge.
Open Shelving
As we mentioned, the modern kitchen is one part food preparation area, one part meeting space and one part showplace. In keeping with that last element, open shelving is starting to work its way into kitchen designs everywhere. Adding this element to a kitchen has a way of opening the space and allowing for a decorator’s touch to permeate the room. It’s also one of the easiest types of additions to make when undertaking a kitchen remodeling project since open shelving can be an add-on rather than a replacement for standard cabinetry.
Hidden Storage
Another trend that’s appearing in kitchens this year is the idea of hidden storage. It is the perfect complement to the open shelving trend, as it allows homeowners to keep their kitchen necessities within easy reach while using the open shelves for more decorative items.
The most popular options for hidden storage are:
Flexible pull-out organizer systems
Built-in drawers
Floor-to-ceiling pantries
Each of these design elements help to keep a busy kitchen organized and attractive while still retaining all of the functionality that homeowners have come to expect from a modern kitchen.
Multi-function Islands
Kitchen islands have been a staple of kitchen designs going all the way back to the post-war housing boom in the 50s. They’re one of the few kitchen trends that have had any real staying power over the years, and it’s easy to see why. A kitchen island is the Swiss Army knife of kitchen design, offering extra preparation space, additional seating and serving room and even serving as a divider in an open concept floor plan. This year, it’s not unusual to see islands with built-in sinks, appliances and dedicated breakfast bar seating cropping up in new kitchen designs.
The Tech-Enabled Kitchen
Technology is taking over every corner of the modern home, and the kitchen is no exception. In 2018, more and more kitchen designs are starting to feature smart appliances and automated lighting systems, among other high-tech devices. This trend extends to every part of the kitchen and might include everything from in-home devices for automated product purchases to wall outlets with built-in USB charging ports to support a family with multiple power-hungry devices. This year, appliance manufacturers are doubling down on bringing connectivity to the modern kitchen, so this is a trend that will accelerate even further as the year progresses.
Copper and Brass
Many kitchen designs in 2018 put a heavy emphasis on color accents, and that has brought copper and brass finishes back into style in a big way. You’ll find the metals in many high-end faucets and sinks, as well as in cabinet handles and door pulls. Brass finishes work exceptionally well to add a visual pop in brightly-lit and airy kitchens, while the warm tones of copper help to add a refined look for kitchens that adopt a darker tone in their décor. Either way, they draw the eye of visitors and are turning up everywhere in 2018’s most popular kitchen designs.
If you’re building a home or remodeling a kitchen in 2018, there’s a good chance that your new design will feature at least one of these popular trends. Features like hidden storage and multifunction islands aren’t likely to go out of style anytime soon, so they are perfect for both new and renovated kitchens. Also, while even the latest appliances will have a defined obsolescence date, features like USB charging outlets will remain useful for years into the future. Whichever features you choose, you’ll be making a great addition to your home that will give you many years of enjoyment.
No matter what you’ve got in store for your new kitchen, the helpful and friendly staff at any of our locations will help you find the right materials to get the job done. Stop in today and let us help you get your new kitchen off the drawing board and into your home right away!