Every year, kitchen design evolves in new directions. Influences from the last year, technological developments, and our shared sense of taste introduce new opportunities to modernize your kitchen with each renovation project. 2021 was a crazy year for remodeling with many families planning ahead to sell or to personalize their home for years of indoor enjoyment.
2022 kitchen ideas promise some wonderful trend developments that you’ll want to try out for yourself. This year is all about embracing minimalism and discovering new ways to create open and functional spaces while creating unique designs that reflect your lifestyle and preferences.
Kitchen with Quartzite countertop island with extended overhang to accommodate dining chairs
1) Blending the Kitchen and Family Living Space
Home life has once again become the center of most lifestyles of 2022. We are all spending more time at home, with family, and in our home’s shared living spaces. This has brought us back to the place where family most often meets: around meals. With so many dining nooks converted into home offices, families now often meet around the island instead. The open-plan design is transforming from mere room-to-room flow into a natural extension of family space from living room to kitchen.
Today, families are more likely to spend time together eating breakfast or snacking at the kitchen island, meaning kitchen designs are embracing this family meal style. Rounded islands and bar seating are increasing rapidly in popularity along with guest-friendly little design upgrades like outward-facing silverware drawers and drawer dish storage.
We’re also seeing islands growing longer to accommodate more seating and space. If a pull-out desk isn’t your style, a long island can give you all the space you need to cook, bake and prepare before dinner and study, write reports or complete your assessments afterward. Among the newest kitchen ideas is incorporating a bench along the back of the island or against a wall and placing a table in front of it for even more sitting space.
White granite coffee bar countertop with travertine subway tile
2) Bringing In Texture and Depth
Kitchens are well-known for being glossy and often flat in texture. Glass tile, gleaming cabinetry, and polished metal are what make a kitchen – until now. Homeowners across the nation are looking to embrace texture and a sense of 3-D design to their kitchen renovations. We are seeing everything from textured wallpaper to subtle cabinet carvings to holographic tiles. Texture and depth are in and there are currently no limits except the subtlety of aesthetics to curb your choices.
Matte finishes are among the most relevant kitchen trends, from paint to wood. The sparkle of a gloss is out, and the simplicity of texture is in. These finishes are much easier to clean, leave no fingerprint marks, and it creates a more timeless look for your cabinets, islands and countertops.
Tile back splash over 4″ height granite back splash
3) Nifty Geometric Tile Designs
Speaking of newly textured looks, backsplash tiles are getting a makeover. Simple subway tiles have been the hot neutral choice for years, but now is the time for geometry to see its day in the sun. Geometric tiles make it possible to create a visually dynamic backsplash that spans from the counter to the lowest cabinet or stove hood without overpowering the design. Hexes are especially popular right now and, decoratively, go hand-in-hand with the hex-shaped light panels and sculptures currently entering the smart home markets this year.
Mesh on cabinetry is also an elegant way to incorporate your own style and gives your guests a glimpse into your lifestyle while staying on-trend. You can create rustic, vintage and sophisticated looks with mesh that are perfect stand-alone pieces or a way to correlate your geometric tiles with your cabinets.
4) Hidden Appliances and Invisible Kitchens
Minimalist kitchens are currently popular and along that vein, hidden appliances. In 2022, it is becoming extremely popular to build appliances behind cabinetry panels so they blend with the kitchen without revealing their function or location. Fitted refrigerators and dishwashers, in particular, are disappearing into the wood panel. At the same time, cabinetry design is improving to create better storage space for smaller appliances like your blender, toaster, or coffee pot to disappear when not in use.
The far extreme of this trend, taking the luxury condo market by storm right now, is the invisible kitchen trend. Invisible kitchens hide everything behind cabinetry and slide over panels so that a minimalist kitchen becomes literally invisible with not a single appliance or cooking surface apparent when closed. Other than the niftiness of hidden rooms, the value of an invisible kitchen also shows in making the space multi-purpose when the kitchen is “put away”.
Honed Black granite countertops with custom bump outs
5) Black is Back in High Contrast
Black appliances, black cabinets, and black countertops are all the height of 2022 style in a serious way – but not necessarily all together. While an all-black kitchen is dramatic, 2022 kitchen trends are embracing the contrast of black on white, muted colors, and metal finishes. A black countertop in a minimalist white kitchen is striking, where black cabinets and appliances in a cheerful kitchen add weight and elegance to the design.
High-contrast using black in your kitchen is a unique choice for every design. Choose your balance of dark and light and make a splash with the darkest color in the palette.
Waterfall Island with Miter Cut Joint
6) Going Green
More and more people are incorporating elements of green into their kitchens. They embrace the fresh color and reconnect with nature by adding plants and bright splashes of color on cabinets and with paint. People are thriving with this organic color in a variety of shades. Softer tones like sage create a more elegant and traditional space while dark tones and brighter hues create bold spaces that liven up modern and contemporary kitchens.
With so many people working from home, plants give the touch of fresh air we all need. Some people grow lime trees while others place pots on their windowsill or hang them from the wall. Plants help purify the air, sharpen your focus and encourage much easier breathing. Getting a breath of fresh air doesn’t require going outside when you can simply step inside your kitchen.
Source: LDa Architecture via houzz
7) Rich Wood Grains and Natural Color Schemes
Rich wood grains are seeing a surprising resurgence in a market focused on mixed metals and sleek minimalism. However, the flip-side of the minimalism coin is a growing focus on natural themes. In fact, we’re even seeing rich wood grains combined with otherwise minimalist kitchen designs. On the natural side, muted greens and warm browns are taking over the paint palette for gentle and inviting 2022 kitchen designs. This matches an increased focus on bamboo kitchen utensils and growing plants in the kitchen.
8) Built-In Pantries and Hidden Organization
During the pandemic, we saw a new passion for built-in storage. It makes sense to find ways to keep tidy and organized when you’re stuck inside. But as the world reopens, that trend isn’t fading. Walk-in pantries, built-in pantry storage systems, and innovative cabinetry upgrades are all hot trends well-worth installing in your kitchen.
We especially love slide-out vertical racks for everything from spices to cooking pans.
On the flip side, those looking to optimize their kitchen storage are using hanging shelves. These shelves act as functional displays that keep your kitchen tidy and aesthetic. When you set glass mason jars or a cute plant on top, you’re right on par with this trend that has taken over social media. Placing LED lights underneath can also illuminate your shelves and items and create an eye-catching focal point.
9) Sustainable Design
The trend for sustainable kitchen design is on the rise and not going anywhere soon. Kitchens can now be designed with greater energy efficiency, built from fast regrowing wood that doesn’t require clear-cutting, and produced without harmful chemicals that leech into the home or groundwater. Sustainable kitchen designs are better for family health and the environment. It’s not just a trend, it’s a practical choice that many homeowners are making with each new renovation.
Appliances are becoming more high-tech with smart features and controls. People often look for voice controls or touch applications to power their machines. Energy-saving refrigerators and water-saving dishwashers are on the rise. New ovens are particularly in circulation because induction cooking is safer for preparing meals while producing less air pollution. LED lights under the cabinets are showing up in home kitchens.
Crema Bordeaux granite counter tops
10) Kitchens with Personality
Last but not least, we are seeing some serious kitchen personality in 2022. While most renovation trends tend toward neutral and resellable, many families are kicking back in their homes for the long haul and that means designing your kitchen to be a personal joy. Bright colors, retro-style appliances, and quirky design sensibilities are taking center stage from the elegant grey-neutral kitchen designs of years past.
Arch City Granite & Marble Kitchen Upgrades
Is it time to personalize your kitchen experience with a new renovation? Which kitchen trend are you dying to try out for yourself in 2022? To find the perfect custom-cut countertops for your new kitchen design, contact us or explore our gallery for yourself. We’d love to talk designs and trends with you and help you discover new ways to create a unique kitchen that you love.
