Without question, the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in your home. It’s a workspace for creating meals. It’s often a place where you grab a quick meal or a snack. It’s where you entertain family and guests. If you have kids, it’s often where homework and school projects get done. It’s that kind of diverse utility that has shaped the design of kitchens over the years. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the major kitchen design trends for 2020.
Before we get into design specifics, let's distinguish between a trend and a fad. Fads come and go faster than you can say "Avocado-green appliances." Fads can be fun, but they tend to be less. A trend, however, is generally something that develops over time to reflect changing needs. Trends focus more on how you live, and what's important to you to make your home more comfortable and convenient. Trends also tend to stick around longer.
That being said, there are visual trends that are important to note because ignoring them can make the kitchen in your custom home look dated. That’s why some of the trends we’ll highlight will focus a bit more on décor, while others will focus more on utility and functionality.
Beautiful Carrara marble is finding its way into the kitchen. It’s a bold and elegant look. However, if you’re concerned about staining (from red wine, for instance) you might consider quartz instead. Engineered quartz is more affordable, less prone to stains, and still looks like natural stone. Here’s an article that talks in more depth about choosing the right countertop material for your custom kitchen.
There is something warm and welcoming about reclaimed wood. Maybe it’s because the material always seems as if it has a tale to tell that connects us to a simpler time. While this trend has been around for a while, it continues to enjoy growing popularity.
Keeping kitchens organized and uncluttered is a challenge. That's one reason kitchen pantries and larders are so popular today. You can keep large packages of food and seldom-used kitchen devices (mixers, blenders, bread makers) conveniently stored out of sight. Pantries are great if you want walk-in storage space. A larder is a perfect plan if you don't need quite as much space—or if your floor plan won't accommodate it.
Once upon a time, homeowners (and designers) wouldn’t dream of using varying colors in the kitchen. Everything had to follow a simple color palette. No longer. We’re seeing more instances of white cabinets being offset by bold colored bases (or go with a bright pastel!). The start contrast is very striking! A variation on this trend is the mixing of metals in the kitchen. Look for an increase in metal fixtures this year. Don’t be surprised to see nickel used for knobs along with cool brass for the faucet. You may see yet another metal used for light fixtures.
While this trend isn't new, it has picked up steam. Instead of wondering whether stainless steel, black, or transparent black appliances have staying power, more homeowners are simply hiding their appliances—such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and microwaves—behind cabinetry. That leaves you with a kitchen that looks bigger. On top of that, you can choose the appliances that best suit your needs, even if their casings aren't a perfect match!
Open concept floor plans aren’t going away anytime soon. In addition to allowing lots of natural light, open floor plans often create even more visual space. You can have a bigger-feeling space without adding square footage. Another benefit is that open plans allow you and your guests to wander easily between spaces—and as the host or hostess, you’ll never be left out of the action when you’re in the kitchen. Open plans, however, do require a bit of planning, because both rooms (your kitchen and your family room) are visible to each other.
Despite the rumors of their demise, white kitchens remain extremely popular. They are bright and cheerful and feel more open. But what we’re seeing is increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing dark flooring to offset (and show off) those white cabinets.
These are just a few of the trends we’re hearing about in the homebuilding industry. Keep in mind that fads will come and go. Even trends will evolve and change over time. But as you plan your new custom home, keep timeless beauty, comfort, convenience, and functionality in mind rather than chasing the latest “hot color” scheme. Make your kitchen a place you and your friends and family love to spend time.