Kitchen Design Trends 2022 – this is what we know. Kitchens have probably been the most used room in the house since the beginning of time. We’ve all seen Downton Abbey right? Now whilst we may not all be aiming for a kitchen to house an army of staff, over the past few years our kitchens are working as hard as that army ever did.
Kitchens are a lot more multi-functional too. Whilst we still want somewhere to cook food and eat, our kitchens are now doing way more than that. They are social spaces, work spaces, teaching and learning spaces and somewhere we relax too. With all of that work to do it’s no wonder kitchen design is evolving.
We had a good look around the Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathroom show last month as you may have read, we have also been chatting to our clients and industry experts and have dug deep in to the new trends to make sure we know exactly what is expected of kitchens.
Here’s our round up of what to look out for over the coming year.
Kitchen design trends 2022 – Curves, curves, curves
Curves are everywhere. Worktops are no longer expected to be long, straight lines with hard angles. Instead worktops softy curve around a corner, edges are more round, seating wraps us up and surfaces appear softer because of it. We are seeing more and more booth type seating within domestic kitchens and this type of seating arrangement works well for families. Cabinetry doesn’t have to be all right angles, more companies are offering softer curved edges that lead you in to a room in a much more gentler way.
It’s a trend we are certainly enjoying as it makes us feel the space opens itself up more. The organic feel of a curved work surface is so much more welcoming we feel and is surely a nod to the natural elements we all crave.
Green Queen
Talking of nature, we never tire of saying this. Green is indeed queen. Not just the obvious greens either – although they are still very much part of the story. We have seen a funkier, more striking minty green make some noise recently too. This zesty alternative to softer sage greens is no less attractive and in fact, offers a punchier option when used with oak or warm wood tones and it sits beautifully with it’s ‘big brother’ – the oh so grown up olive. We can’t wait to create a design that shows this colour palette off to its fullest. Whatever way you look at it, a green colour scheme never fails to impress.
Wood is also very much a winner this year with many kitchens now featuring at least some cabinetry made from wood. Lighter, bleached woods follow the ever popular scandi/nordic trend that is appealing to many. Darker woods are being used to create depth and interest – for example in blue kitchens, mahogany is still working well as the wood to make it feel classy and stylish. Although we have also noticed a steer towards lighter shades of blue too with dusky blue and pale blue seeing an uplift in popularity.
Whilst navy isn’t going anywhere yet, the lighter, cooler blues are definitely adding some interest to the darker cabinets seen up till now.
We think colour in kitchens in general is going to be the way forward. And not just in cabinetry either. Taps, handles, backsplashes, floors – they are all there to show off nowadays. We loved the range of coloured taps on show at KBB and although black was definitely back we also spotted mint green, yellow, orange and bright red. What a great way to add some fun to a kitchen.
Don’t forget about your washing up either – do you remember those gorgeous sinks we showed you in our KBB round up? Full of colour and in all shapes and sizes, they were simply divine. You’ll find more and more suppliers offering much more than the traditional white sink right now. Appliances are not missed out either – have you seen the latest colour offering from modern range experts Everhot? Flamingo pink – not for the feint hearted, but boy does it pack a punch.
Functional spaces
Kitchens are all about function so we mustn’t forget this when designing a kitchen. Whilst you can’t slice a lemon now without seeing a larder (and who doesn’t need a larder?!), what’s interesting is kitchen design trends 2022 is the growth in other more functional units and how they add character and style to a kitchen design.
Breakfast larders featuring large, deep drawers to hold the over-spilling boxes of cereal and loaves of bread we all seem to accumulate, with a deep, full-width shelf above to house the kettle, coffee machine and toaster topped with narrower shelves to show off your best china. Cleverly designed pocket doors slide beautifully in to place to hide all the mess away when you don’t have time to tidy after the mad morning rush. Perfect!
Do your clients have a penchant for baking? We can turn this clever breakfast larder in to a dream baking pantry instead. No need for people to keep lugging that gorgeous mixer in and out of the cupboard or precariously stacking all the muffin trays under or in the oven. With a careful design you can show your clients just how versatile your cabinets can be and offer your client the kitchen they have always dreamed of.
Who said it was just the Australians or Americans who know their coffee? Not us! It’s clear we are a nation that adores our coffee too and so finding the right coffee machine for our kitchens is now as essential as buying the right kettle. Although instant boil taps are indeed taking that worktop space now too.
Coffee machines can be as basic or technical as your customer wants and can be integrated or free-standing. All the big hitters have an offering and you really can find something to suit all tastes and budget. To go along with the carefully chosen coffee machine it makes perfect sense to have a coffee station or bar. This can include a small sink in which to rinse and refill and some artfully lit shelving on which to display your favourite espresso set. Some of the designs are almost James Bond like and we can’t wait to design some kitchens featuring this type of cabinet.
Other functional elements that are being seen more and more include pull out hose taps, pot filler taps, drawers with carefully curated cutlery drawers, huge knife blocks and of course racks to hold your spices, pan lids or cups. Everything within a kitchen can now be so bespoke it’s amazing. And we mustn’t forget storage. You can’t have failed to notice the trend for all things organised – from decanting all dried goods in to beautiful glass canisters and labelling with carefully designed labels, to fruit and veg stacked in gorgeous wicker baskets on open pantry shelves. Getting an organised kitchen is what we are all aiming for. Getting those images though, can be trickier – but don’t worry, we can help with that. And all without a certain Mrs K in sight.
Lighting matters
In a kitchen design, as much as any room, lighting matters and needs to be carefully considered. Pendant lights over islands are fabulous and we see the most amazing designs on a daily basis. LED lights under counters, in pelmets and plinths and inside cupboards are now the norm. These work brilliantly as mood lighting and offer some ambient lighting at night when you don’t want the blinding main lights on. Look out for more elaborate style island lights including chandelier style and multi arms. All have their place and all look stunning. Think layers and you’ll be spot on.
Again, we can help your clients visualise how your lighting can look in their setting – with all kinds of effects and at different times of day.
Double the fun
There’s one more trend we’ve spotted for those of you looking for the ultimate in design luxury. Double islands. Yes, TWO islands in the kitchen. It sounds extravagant, we know. Hell, it IS extravagant. But oh it works – if you have the room. In a commercial space, say a show room, for example, it really adds an extra element to show clients how a kitchen can perform.
All of these new kitchen design trends 2022 make us excited to work with clients on their new product launches and help showcase them in designs that not only follow the trends but set some too.
If you have a product that is looking to shine within a kitchen, get in touch. From cabinets to flooring, lighting to wall coverings we design sets to create images for your marketing that really shows your product in a way that it’s meant to be seen. For more information feel free to get in touch.