The future of kitchens

Most of us spent the better part of 2020 in our homes and kitchens more than we ever have. The ways in which we cook, entertain, work and relax in our homes has changed significantly, and with that come new design trends to help our homes function better. In the kitchen, hygiene takes top priority along with streamlined designs and flexibility for multi-tasking. See which fixtures, colors and styles will continue into 2021.

Inside Spaces kitchen

The Feature of Kitchens 2020 Reshaped the Way use Our Homes and Kitchens Prompting New Trends and Visually Beautiful Spaces.

LEFT Homeowners are craving extra storage and office space, so many are opting for larger pantries to handle kitchen work with work stations located nearby. TOP Neutral colors and large windows that let in natural light are new trends that promote a calm environment.

WARMER COLORS

White will still remain the favorite kitchen color scheme, but warmer shades will soon supersede the cool tones, like blue-grays and navy, of recent years. Expect to see colors like warm beige accented with shades of orange and aqua. These soothing, earthy colors provide a sense of peace and calm, which homeowners gravitate towards for familiarity and normalcy. Warm colors can also be represented by wood tones, so expect to see strong accents of wood in cabinets, feature walls and even countertops. The warmer, optimistic colors can be paired with greenery, gold accents and woven textures for a natural look.

TOUCHLESS FAUCETS

Installing a new faucet can be a quick and simple DIY project that freshens the look of your kitchen and provides a greater level of cleanliness. Motion-control and hands-free faucets, as well as touch-tap faucets are becoming first choices for homeowners. Also making it’s debut is the voice-activated faucet, which not only allows you to turn on water to wash your hands, but can also be commanded to dispense the exact amount you need to fill your soup pot.

LOTS OF STORAGE

In recent years, the “back kitchen” or pantry has become quite popular as a place where much of the kitchen work and storage takes place leaving the front kitchen clean and tidy. Staying home more means cooking more, and that usually comes with an assortment of small appliances, utensils and more groceries, too. To keep the kitchen flowing smoothly, homeowners will look at creating aback kitchen or pantry for increasing storage needs.

DECORATIVE RANGE HOODS

Hidden ventilation is becoming a thing of the past as decorative range hoods become a popular focal point in the kitchen. Range hoods offer a huge design impact–think art for your kitchen–that sets the tone for the whole space. However, in 2021 will be less about ornate details and more about materials. Slab materials like marble, metal, veneer porcelain or

Plaster are easy to clean and minimalistic but make a huge impact.

CONNECTION TO OUTDOORS

The pandemic reminded us how important the outdoors are to mental health and well-being. Many homeowners now crave that connection to the outdoors in their homes. Expect to see more bifold doors and larger than normal windows. Windows that are floor to ceiling in kitchen eating areas or that rest almost on top of countertops promote a less obtrusive view of the outdoors. They also allow in sunlight and can be used for ventilation and fresh air.

SPECIAL APPLIANCES

Health was a top priority throughout 2020 and many homeowners turned to better ways of cooking to promote it. Being home more also gave people the opportunity to experiment with new flavors and dishes. With a renewed This kitchen incorporates neutral colors, a large island for both cooking and workspace and plenty of natural light from floor to ceiling windows.

Interest in cooking comes a spike in appliances like air fryers, grain mills, and specialty ovens. While people are cooking more, they don’t necessarily want to cook longer, so many time-saving appliances are being introduced to the modern kitchen. For example, a convection speed oven combines the qualities of a traditional oven with the speed of a microwave. As these new appliances gain traction, expect some traditional appliances to be replaced.

THE UNEXPECTED

The last few years we saw more homeowners experimenting with out-of-the-ordinary kitchen materials—and we can expect to see a lot more this decade. Think leather-wrapped cabinets or brass sheets applied to countertops and backsplashes. Additionally, look for unusual design elements that make a big impact like curved cabinets and unexpected shapes, spots of bright color, cylinder hoods and striking light fixtures.

FLEXIBLE WORK SPACE

While the kitchen office space isn’t a new concept, it is becoming a more important one. With telecommuting becoming more common, many homeowners are looking for ways to dedicate space as an office. Ideally, this looks like a separate room, but with kids often working at home too, workstations located near or in the kitchen are also becoming imporant. A long, open counter that accommodates mutliple spaces for seating, electronic devices and outlets makes schooling from home organized and efficient.

An alternative to a dedicated work space that is also trending is larger kitchen islands that work in the same way. Not only are they useful for kitchen prep and cooking, if properly outfitted with outlets, they can serve as a work and study space, too.