Buying a new kitchen involves a lot of decisions, especially if you’re trying to keep one step ahead of fashion trends at all times. Our choice of units, flooring, worksurfaces and lighting has never been greater, and the huge range can be baffling. This is especially the case if you’re trying to choose products which are going to stand the test of time and not quickly date as trends pass. Nobody has a crystal ball, but here are the top 10 trends which experts agree will be featuring heavily in the glossy interior magazines and the most followed kitchen Instagram accounts for 2022.
Bright and Bold Kitchen Units
Navy blue has been a popular choice for kitchen units for a years now, and the plethora of dark blue kitchen cabinets are about to be joined by other darker shades of dark green and burgundy. Darker shades work well with the other huge trend of metallics which can added as handles, or backsplashes, or even taps and appliances. Many homeowners with a smaller kitchen space are put off the idea of a darker coloured kitchen as they are concerned that a small space will appear even smaller, but this can easily be addressed by adding light floors, lighter coloured worksurfaces, paint or tiles. Away from the darker shades in the kitchen, another emerging trend for 2022 and beyond is brighter jewel colours in the kitchen. If the darker shades of forest green or deep blue aren’t your thing, what about lime green, bright pink or sunshine yellow? If you choose the style of doors carefully, it should be easier to have them resprayed or wrapped when fashions move on.
Herringbone – Not Just For Floors
Floors laid in an interlocking herringbone pattern is an ongoing theme in British kitchens, and this theme is going nowhere in 2022. Consider carefully the best orientation for your herringbone pattern, and play around with wider and narrower tiles until you find the best combination for your kitchen. Herringbone isn’t just for flooring though, and we’re expecting to increasing use of herringbone layouts for tiles too. This works especially well with standard metro tiles, perhaps used as a backsplash. Less is more when it comes to herringbone, so if you’ve decided to go for this layout for floor tiles, stick to a more standard tiling pattern for your walls.
Recycled and Second-Hand Kitchens
Everyone’s more aware of our environmental impact and carbon footprint, so it’s perhaps no surprise that recycled kitchens or second-hand kitchens are going to be big news for 2022. Second-hand doesn’t have to mean old-fashioned; you might be able to get very good deals on ex-display models, for example. Even if you can’t lay your hands on a whole kitchen second-hand, look at more sustainable options for other elements of the kitchen. Worksurfaces can be made from reconditioned wooden planks or recycled glass, or look at sustainable flooring choices such as cork rather than vinyl or tiles.
Marble Finishes
We’re going to continue to see extensive use of marble in UK kitchens. Marble is hardwearing and delivers that luxury look, but also works extremely well with the other big trends of darker coloured cabinets and metallics like copper and gold. Marble is a natural product with no two slabs having the same appearance, so always make sure you choose your worksurface in person rather than online.
Wallpaper in the Kitchen
Fashion is moving away from the feature wall in bedrooms and living rooms and wallpaper is starting to make a reappearance in kitchens instead. Choosing a vibrant, patterned wallpaper can bring a real sense of warmth and homeliness to a room, especially where you’ve chosen white surfaces and cabinets. Wallpaper is also much easier to paint over or replace when trends change. Look for one of the ranges of wallpapers which are especially designed for use in a kitchen or bathroom which will stand up to the humid conditions, and experts also advise coating your wallpaper with a coat of matt varnish to give further protection to the surface.
Kitchens as a Work Space or Office
Millions of us were sent home to work in our kitchens and dining rooms during the pandemic, and with many yet to return to the office full time, there is going to be an ongoing need for kitchens to double up as a workspace. Check out the large kitchen suppliers for all sorts of nifty ideas which allow you to create a workstation in the corner of the kitchen, which can often be hidden away when the working day is over.
Smart Kitchen Gadgets
There’s certainly not going to be any slow-down in the speed at which appliances get “smart”. Ovens can be controlled from apps on your phone, perhaps adjusting the temperature automatically depending on what you’re cooking. Or what about a fridge which keeps track of what you’re using, and creates your shopping list for you? One of the most popular kitchen gadgets is the boiling water tap, with the 2022 versions able to filter your water and produce sparkling water too.
Cabinets with Mesh Front
Bringing together the trend for dark coloured cabinets and open display, one of the big new ideas for 2022 is having metallic mesh as an insert in a cabinet door rather than a solid panel, or transparent class. If you’re thinking of embracing this trend, it’s usually fairly easy to source a new cabinet door if yours are a standard size. Stick to one metallic finish though, as incorporating silver, and copper, and gold all in the same room will just end up looking cluttered and confused.
Minimalism in Kitchen Design
We’ve seen an increasing trend towards sleek kitchen design, cabinets without handles, highly polished finishes and plenty of storage for a totally clutter-free kitchen. This trend is going nowhere for a few years at least, so consider have a clear out in order to keep your surfaces free.
Pantries
A separate pantry to store all food items is a luxury often added into many larger kitchens, and they are now starting to appear in smaller kitchens too. For a real cutting edge look, add a glass door to your pantry rather than blocking it off.
