The kitchen is the hub of any home. When it’s designed with your needs in mind, it becomes somewhere much more significant than just a place to cook meals. It’s where your family gathers, where you sip coffee while catching up with friends, and it’s where you can escape the day-to-day stresses of life.
And it really doesn’t matter whether that’s in your small apartment, in new homes Myrtle Beach, or at a ranch in Texas. When your kitchen is on-trend, then it can make a huge difference to the whole home.
You’re probably now wondering what’s expected to be on-trend in 2022; well, we have all the answers for you in this guide. From minimalist to high-tech and eco-style, 2022 kitchens represent all the trends we see in other areas of our lives.
So, let’s now dive in and see how you could transform your kitchen area.
Top Kitchen Trends
Did you know that designers are now applying scientific research to home designs? Dr. Sally Augustin, for example, is an environmental/design psychologist who has recognized that when spaces are designed effectively, they can enhance our wellbeing and allow us to perform more effectively.
So, with that in mind, let’s now look at the three kitchen themes that not only are right on trend but could seriously make you feel much happier and content with life.
Minimalism
If you’re thinking of stark surfaces with little personality, think again. Minimalism is about creating a space where you’re not overwhelmed. An area where there is room to work and where it’s easy to find everything you need. It means reducing the amount of information that your vision needs to process and letting your brain focus on the job at hand.
Neutral palettes with calm colors are the key to Scandi style, and these include:
Soft gray
Perfect for a neutral color that enhances the atmosphere and works really well within an area that’s primarily white in color. It just brings in that subtle hint of color without being too distracting.
Light green
With its connections with nature, green is one of the most relaxing of colors. However, go for a subdued shade that’s not going to disrupt its calming effect.
Pale blue
Another color that we associate with the outside is a pale blue. It reminds us not only of the tranquility of the ocean but also of a calm summer sky.
Going for neutral palettes doesn’t mean that you can’t include a striking piece of art or a dramatic light fitting. It just means that less is more. Pick one statement piece that catches the eye and let that become the focus rather than trying to take in a room full of distractions.
Having lots of storage is key to the minimalist design, and for that storage to then be organized in a way that makes it easy to find what you need. It really is that adage of ’a place for everything and everything in its place.’
We love the trend for handless cupboards and drawers; it really provides a sleek and smarter appearance to the whole kitchen. Touch to open designs are also perfect for not needing to touch surfaces when your hands are covered in bread dough!
Eco-Style
We have all become much more conscious about how our choices impact the world around us. We know that resources are not infinite and that it’s essential to consider how those decisions impact our carbon footprint.
Thankfully, kitchen designers and manufacturers have also recognized that many homeowners want a great look for their kitchen space but that the design needs to be accompanied by green credentials.
Here are our top three-pointers to creating an eco-style kitchen.
- Look for kitchens made from sustainable timber.
That means that it’s been harvested responsibly from well-managed forests. Wood produced this way causes no damage to the surrounding environment, and there is no risk of deforestation because there is a cycle of continual replenishment.
- Consider reclaimed and recycled materials.
For a unique and characterful design with full eco-credentials, search out salvage yards and recycle centers. Some retailers also offer recycled pieces, and with the upcycling trend showing no signs of slowing down, your kitchen could be one of a kind while also having minimal impact on the environment.
- Consider natural stone worktops
When you choose marble, granite, or limestone for your worktops, you’re choosing a completely natural product that requires no pulping or bleach. Stone worktops also last a lifetime, so while there may be energy costs associated with their quarrying and transport, this is offset through the decades of use they’ll provide.
Even once fitted, a natural stone worktop continues its environmentally friendly stance. That’s because you won’t need harsh chemicals to keep it clean; soap and water are all that’s required.
High Tech
Our third on-trend kitchen design for 2022 is for the high-tech kitchen. From voice-controlled baking to charging stations on your island, the high-tech kitchen continues the theme of technology helping with day-to-day activities.
And, at the end of the day, technology should make life easier rather than more challenging. Are you going to be home late from work? Then being able to control your oven from an app on your smartphone means that you can delay when it switches on. That then means that your casserole is perfectly heated just as you walk through the door rather than being burned dry.
Lighting is another key feature of the kitchen designed with high-tech in mind. Lights that switch on when they sense movement are a godsend when you walk into the kitchen loaded up with shopping bags. Their ability to also recognize when the room is empty and switch back off is a great way to reduce energy use and keep electricity bills lower.
