Designing a kitchen seems like a fun thing to do until you finally get down to business and realize you have to make a few crucial decisions about the layout, furniture, amenities, design elements, and other key features that will live in your house for years to come.
You’ll have a lot of pressure on your shoulder, not only because kitchens are one of the most important rooms in the house, but also because kitchen remodels tend to fall on the expensive end of the spectrum, so you want to get it right the first time.
Since it’s not every day that you invest in a kitchen renovation or remodel and you want the changes you make to stand the test of time, it’s important to be very careful when deciding which kitchen trends you should follow. The trouble is it can be really difficult to distinguish between fleeting fads and time-tested trends that can help you achieve the look and the feel you’re after.
So, if you don’t want to make design mistakes that you’ll later come to regret, here are some of the kitchen trends that experts say you should cross off your list.
Open-plan layouts
At number one we have one of the most popular trends that have graced the design world in the past few years: the open-plan layout. Interior designers were mad about creating open-plan spaces, both in the kitchen and in other areas of the house, but it seems like this trend is finally coming to an end. While open plans were praised for creating an easy flow, especially in small spaces, there are good reasons why you should let go of them.
Kitchens are first and foremost functional spaces – they’re used for cooking, preparing meals, eating, or entertaining. Unfortunately, the open-plan design is not always the best option in terms of functionality. Things can get pretty messy when you don’t have designated areas for different activities. Plus, you probably don’t want to look at the pile of unwashed dishes in the sink and the chaos occupying your countertops while you’re trying to relax in the living room. Therefore, if you want to keep things tidy and organized and use your kitchen more efficiently, it’s best to consider broken-plan layouts instead.
White as snow kitchens
White kitchens are the white t-shirt equivalent in interior design. They’re said to be classic, timeless, and versatile, but if you ask experts, they can also be boring, cold, sterile, and lack character. There’s a fine line between tasteful simplicity and dullness, and white kitchens are walking it hard, much too often falling into an unfortunate extreme.
We’re always going to have a soft spot for using white in the kitchen, as it can create a soothing, fresh, and clean ambiance. However, too much of a good thing can become a bad thing and that’s also the case with the all-white aesthetic. If you decide to opt for a white background, go for kitchen units that have a personality to break the dullness and monotony of the space. Try to add pops of color by mixing different materials and hues and accessories. There is nothing wrong with choosing bold colors for your kitchen, as long as you don’t go overboard with it.
Busy patterns
Patterns have always been used in kitchens to create focal points and add a bit of interest to the space. They can look great, especially when used in all-white kitchens, as we mentioned earlier, but they can also turn into design disasters quite easily. When it comes to patterns, it’s often the dose that makes the poison, meaning that you have to use them with care if you don’t want to end up with a horrible result.
The less is more approach is a good rule to follow in this situation. As eye-catching as they might be, patterns can also go out of style quickly, and you can get bored with them after a short while. They can make the space look crowded and chaotic, and can also be pretty tiring for the eyes. That’s something to keep in mind when redesigning your kitchen, especially if you’re planning to sell your house at one point.
Open shelving
Just like open-plan design, open shelves seem to be living their last days. There are many open shelving advocates out there who will never admit there might be something wrong with this trend, but if we look at it from an objective perspective the drawbacks are pretty obvious.
Open shelves look absolutely lovely in a kitchen, but only if you have great organizing skills and style, and you’re willing to invest some time and effort into keeping your kitchen immaculate. Otherwise, they’ll make your kitchen look like complete chaos, so they’re not a good idea at all if you want to create a highly functional and low-maintenance kitchen. You can make a compromise and install a few open shelves in your kitchen, for aesthetic purposes, and use closed cabinets for storage. That way, you can get the best of both worlds.
Industrial style kitchens
Industrial kitchens have been riding the popularity wave for quite some time now, but they’re about to hit the shore soon. In fact, according to some interior design experts, they’re already out of the picture, and they’re not going to come back anytime soon.
The reason why most designers have abandoned the industrial-style ship is that it was quite rigid and became overdone and outdated in time. If you’re a fan of this aesthetic, there are ways to include industrial elements in kitchen design, but in a more subtle manner that will not make your space look tasteless or obsolete.
Design trends come and go all the time, making it difficult to predict what’s going to be in or out in a few years. The one thing that will never go out of style is quality, so no matter what trends inspire you, make sure you invest in quality pieces when designing your kitchen.
