Kitchen Trends You Can’t Go Wrong With!

Deciding the new look and feel of your home kitchen isn’t always a simple task. You scour the Internet, your favorite home remodeling magazines and television shows, only to find yourself in the same place you started. There are so many different areas of the kitchen you can focus on – the counters, cabinets, floors, walls and appliances. Before you decide to give up on your search for a new kitchen design, read these trend ideas you simply can’t go wrong with trying!

Try Neutral Gray Tones

There is a rising trend in gray palettes for kitchen décor. It offers a sleek and sophisticated vibe to any kitchen it’s used in. According to NKBA designers, gray is the quickest-growing color scheme (as of 2014). And they were right. Other experts claim that gray countertops will one day overtake the number one position for cabinetry. Right now, white still dominates that cabinet industry.

It’s a good idea to combine stormy grays with warm colors. For instance, you can have gray countertops and backsplashes with wooden cabinets. Your walls can also feature hot colors like yellows and reds. This is the best route if you live in cloudy climates. However, if you live in an area where the sun is shining often, you may find the stormy grays to be pleasant enough without adding any hot or warm colors. If you’re looking to get away from the typical white kitchens, then neutral grays are the way to go.

White Kitchens Still Dominate

If you’re not yet ready to go away from the white kitchen scenery, then opt for the oh-so-popular white kitchen cabinets. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, or NKBA, white cabinets are the top choice among consumers. There’s been a 20 percent climb from 2012 to 2014, when it was featured in the 2014 Best in American Living Awards, which was presented by the National Association of Home Builders.

We’re finally seeing a shift away from stainless steel appliances to those like Whirlpool’s White Ice collection, which has a glass-like gloss to it. The great thing about white appliances is that they’re easier to maintain. There are no smudges to worry about, like you do with stainless steel. The white ice appliances are simple and clean, making them ideal for contemporary and transitional kitchens.

Go with Smaller Appliances

There’s no need for an oversized microwave and oven if it’s just you and your spouse. A lot of millennials and retirees are venturing over to the world of “smaller is better” and are loving it. This shift has gained attention from designers who are looking to cater to minimalist markets. Micro-kitchens featuring two-burner cooktops and combination microwave-convection ovens are the norm now. Even the dishwasher and fridge are being traded in for smaller versions.

General Electric is taking the initiative to offer a whole kitchen collection, which comes with a 6-foot wide chest of drawers. It comes with an induction cooktop, a sink, dishwasher, two ovens and two cooling drawers that double as a fridge or freezer.

Quartz Counters Trump Granite

Granite is still everyone’s favorite, but a lot more people are venturing over toe quartz counters. This is a man-made engineered stone that looks very natural, but without the high-maintenance of natural stones, such as granite. It’s non-porous, so it’s not easily stained. Since 2014, we’ve seen a reversal in the countertop trend towards quartz. It’s the ideal choice for homeowners looking for durable options. The great thing about quartz is that they come in a variety of colors and patterns, making it easy to match kitchen décor.

Implementing LEDs Throughout the Kitchen

Lights are sometimes the best accents for a kitchen design. You can install LED lighting just about everywhere, from inside of the cabinets to beneath them. Use them to show off your china or to accentuate your backsplash. They look attractive and they’re quite versatile, with a rainbow of colors to choose from, including green, blue, red and soft white. Your creativity can really shine through with LED lights.

Why LED? Because they have virtually no heat emitting from them and they are energy efficient. Not to mention, they last 50,000 hours, which is five times the length of CFLs. In the past, LEDs were on the pricey side, but not anymore!

Think Outside of the Box with Refrigerators

You can find unique refrigerators springing up in kitchens across the nation, from those inside of drawers and others inside of kitchen cabinets. It’s a great way to save space and add pizazz to your cooking space. Some people are adding counter-height refrigerators to their prep islands, which is the perfect place for preparing meals. Next to it, you can find wine coolers for the big guys and juice/soda cooler for the children. These fridges aren’t your typical dormitory refrigerators either. They’re quite spacious, some featuring 11 shelves and plenty of compartments and bins for your groceries and beverages.

Install Touch-Free Faucets

The rise of the hands-free faucet began in 2013, jumping up from 20 percent to 30 percent in popularity. You’ve likely had moments where your hands were dripping with goo and gunk or were just filled, making it difficult to turn on the faucet. These are more commonly found in public bathrooms and even in some home restrooms, so it’s no surprise it’s finally made its way into the kitchen. There is a difference between touch-free and hands-free faucets. Hands-free models are only activated when your hands are near the sensor and turn off when they aren’t, which could be annoying for the kitchen. So in this sense, it would be better to go with the touch-free faucets.

The year 2016 is going to be a great one for homeowners looking to renovate their kitchens. There are many different styles and appliances to choose from, and the prices are becoming more affordable for items that were once unattainable. What do you plan to do with your kitchen this year?

Kitchen Trends You Can’t Go Wrong With!

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