What Are the Trends in Kitchen Design for 2021?

In the past 6 months it’s a fact that we are all spending a tremendous amount of time at home. The kitchen has always been the “Heart of the Home”, but with so many families working and schooling virtually, the need for a comfortable, practical and updated kitchen is more important than ever before. In the recent Home Advisor “State of Home Spending” survey produced during mid-2020, 41% of homeowners said that “making their home better suited for lifestyle needs” was the top reason they completed home improvement projects this year. And millennials spent 60% more on home improvement and doing on average 30% more projects than in 2019. Kitchens are at the top of the list for home updates and the trend is that in 2021 we will see even more home renovations.

Money that families have saved by not eating out in restaurants, not going on vacations, nor spending on other amusements or outings, is being allocated for renovation and refreshing to add value back into their homes. Most importantly, no matter how you use your kitchen these days, the overall design of this area plays an important part and sets the overall mood and tone for the rest of your home.

So, let’s see what’s trending in kitchen design for 2021:

Two-toned kitchens

The popular approach to using two different colors or woods in kitchens continues to trend for 2021 and grows more popular every year. The days of matching cabinets throughout the kitchen are waning. Many designers are opting for dark woods or navy, deep green and dark greige colored bottom cabinets and/or islands, while keeping upper cabinets lighter to give the sense of more open space in the room. Or consider making the island very light wood or painted white while having subtle darker shades throughout the other cabinets.

Pot Fillers

A popular accessory trend that continues to grow is the over-the-stove, wall mounted pot filler. Having the ability to fill everything from large, heavy soup pots to smaller pots and tea kettles reduces the strain and the time of everyday cooking tasks. Most popular pot fillers have a wide reach so that no matter how large your stove, the pot filler can be moved to fill any vessel. The other advantage is that your kitchen sink will be free for other tasks. The newer sleeker pot fillers lend an additional element of design to the kitchen as well.

Sustainable Kitchens

With many more young families remodeling their kitchens in recent years, there has been an upswing in requests for sustainable or eco-friendly kitchen design. The largest part of a kitchen redesign is the cabinetry and there are manufacturers that offer options which include low emission products, eco-friendly kitchen appliances, bamboo and other repurposed materials. If this is a consideration for you, discuss the choices early on in the remodeling process.

Statement Backsplashes

Backsplashes used to be installed to protect the walls from food and grease behind the sink, work areas and stove. Today though, a backsplash can be the focal point of your kitchen. Striking colors, herring bone designs, mirrors and various materials such as glass or mosaic can create an amazing statement that adds texture and personality to the room.

Smaller Kitchens

People are downsizing – whether because of aging out of a large family home or just because the expense of upkeep on a large home has become prohibitive – many people have moved into smaller spaces. Condos, townhomes, apartments or small homes are becoming very popular. The question is how to make the most of a smaller kitchen. Designers need to be clever with how they utilize the space in the best possible way. Consider minimal clutter and simple composition for maximum productivity. The layout is the most important consideration in designing a compact kitchen. Floor to ceiling cabinets to utilize the most area or running cabinets along one wall are two options that make the most of smaller areas and open up a smaller room.