If you’re anticipating this year’s hottest kitchen trends, we’re right there with you. So what might the quintessential 2016 kitchen look like? Hi-tech workstations, ’80s glam and muted color schemes are just a few of the looks will lead the pack. Without further ado, here are nine trends we predict will define kitchen design in the new year.
1. Soft, muted color palettes. Good news if you’re already thinking about switching up your color scheme: Kitchen colors are changing. 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. Kitchens sporting lighter wood tones, including walnuts, whitewashed woods and white oak in rift grain will be in demand.
Bold primary colors, on the other hand, will be placed on the back burner. Interior designers agree they’re definitely out as accent colors. Drier colors will become popular. Muted blues and greens and pale yellow pastel will be used as accent colors.
2. Smart spaces. Get ready for a hi-tech makeover. More kitchens will have designated spots for smart devices next year. Look for areas with hidden charging stations to store devices like phones and tablets so that they are always operable, at hand and charged. The quintessential 2016 kitchen will focus on convenience for families on the go via accessible smart appliances. I expect kitchens full of state-of-the-art appliances, from steam ovens to built-in coffee machines to wine coolers.
3. An ’80s reboot. The ’80s are back. Mirrored backsplashes, brass accessories and high-gloss surfaces aren’t dead by a long shot, but they’re more elegant and refined this time around. An elegance not seen in the ’80s will be an incorporation of a variety of natural materials to remove the ‘plastic’ look of that great hair decade. Homeowners will opt for brass with satin rather than shiny finishes.
4. Metal range hoods. One of last year’s biggest trends was metallic finishes, be it 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.
In 2016, metal will assume a more dominant role in kitchen aesthetics and trump wood as the range hood of choice. Wood mantle hoods are being replaced with metal hoods or ones that are a combination of wood and metal. If you’re planning to follow suit with next year’s fixation on neutral color tones, a metal hood can introduce a burst of contrast into your kitchen.
5. Integrated kitchen-living spaces. Maybe your kitchen feels disconnected from the rest of your home. Maybe you want your cooking space to feel more accommodating. Either way, this trend could be for you. More streamlined kitchen designs in which the kitchen converges with the home’s primary living space. It will become part of the main living space even further. Designers will merge kitchens and living rooms by including hidden and integrated appliances.
6. A new kind of tradition. While it’s no surprise that present-day kitchens are embracing simple design, even traditional kitchens may experience a slightly cleaner feel with bold lines and less fussy details.
But, it isn’t the end of traditional design as we know it. It just means homeowners will opt for fewer frills and more calculated, strategically placed details. Traditional designs will always remain popular, but future renditions will be more deliberate with an emphasis on key elements like hoods, islands, cabinet crowns and so on.
7. Texture-on-texture contrast. It’s time to reimagine contrast in 2016. Variations in texture will rule, rather than traditional methods of contrast. Strong contrasting designs are being replaced with more texture-on-texture designs.
It won’t be about mixing and matching textures, though. Instead, designers will reposition the same texture in different patterns throughout the kitchen. The same exact stone can be finished three ways and combined in the same space. The difference is very subtle but at the same time makes a statement about attention to detail.
8. A nod to midcentury mod. This trend is credited to the popularity of midcentury modern furniture and says the period design will trickle down to kitchens. To some extent, this is already occurring with the increasing use of walnut in islands and cabinet doors. But look for more kitchen styles that offer a nod to ’60s modern style, also called Nordic style. You can get in on this minimalist movement by choosing predominantly white color palettes, designing with light wood textures and clearing away unnecessary clutter. Nordic design is all about simplicity and functionality.
9. Well-lit cabinetry. Homeowners won’t settle for just ceiling lights and table lamps to illuminate their kitchens. Extensive cabinet lighting is a trend to watch. Low-voltage light tape strips are used as accent pieces below cabinets, above cabinets, inside cabinets and below countertop overhangs. LED lights are the norm. These features will be grouped with recessed can lights to offer better mood-setting capabilities.
Many thanks to Houzz for great insight into the latest building and décor trends!
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