Latest Trends in Kitchen Design

By Sharon Johnson

Trends Likely to Become Timeless

A recent survey by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) points to the following trends:

Cabinetry: While traditionally styled cabinets remain the most popular, simpler Shaker-style cabinets are gaining ground. Cherry cabinets have dropped in popularity in favor of maple. Darker stains are more popular than lighter ones, but if you are going to paint your cabinets, off-whites, beiges, and bone are more in vogue than bright white.

Design: We are moving away from the rigid lines of boxy cabinets to more fluid, flowing shapes. Look for countertops that curve; cabinets and hardware that have more organic shapes; and stand-alone, furniture-style storage and service pieces that look like they'd be equally at home in the living room.


Lighting: LED lights will continue to appear in both accent and task lighting. Look for LEDs in unusual places, such as inside a refrigerator, along the rim of a range hood, and even embedded beneath a glass countertop.

Appliances: Just as the kitchen itself has to perform multiple functions, so too do the appliances. You will find that appliances now multitask, offering more capabilities within one unit and allowing the user to customize an appliance's performance.
  Eco-Friendly: Green products are no longer a niche market. Manufacturers have embraced the benefits of creating products from sustainable resources, and consumers have answered the call. It is the right thing to do for the environment and for one's family. Cabinets, countertops, and even paints are now available in low- or no-VOC formulas, meaning there is no dangerous off-gassing creeping into the home environment.

Convenience: Built-in storage systems are now de rigueur. Look for storage built into unexpected places, such as corbels that slide out for stashing cooking spices or hanging dish towels. Another convenience trend that dovetails with the eco-friendly focus is the increasing use of in-home composting systems. Soon they will be as common as undercounter recycling centers.