Since the pandemic started in 2020, many of us have been spending so much more time in our homes. This has meant a lot more time being spent in the kitchen. We were cooking a lot more meals at home, spending time with the family, setting up a workspace or even a place to do homework within the kitchen. That has led to a greater demand for kitchen renovations to create a space that's more functional and beautiful. We're going to look at what some of the top experts predict will be the new trends for 2022 kitchens.

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1. Pops of colour

Over the past five years we've seen colour start to come into kitchens more and more. Now that's not to say that white kitchens are out, but it does mean homeowners are starting to personalize their spaces with the use of colour. You can be bold and choose a dramatic colour for your kitchen cabinets, or you can keep it a little simpler with the cabinets in white but dramatic bold pops of colour in the countertop, backsplash, wall paint or accessories. Pops of colour in the kitchen will allow homeowners to bring some of their own personality into their kitchen.

2. Pet-friendly spaces

Since the pandemic, more people have adopted pets than ever before. This means having to make sure that we have a space for them. There are so many ways you can do this in a kitchen. You can utilize the toe kick to store bowls for their food and water. Utility cabinets will start to be a part of kitchens where dog leashes and cat food can be stored. We’ll even start to see specific areas in the kitchen being set aside for dog and cat beds. How could we ever live without our fur babies?

3. Quartz slab backsplashes

We've already started to see it in 2021 with several of our clients opting for the slab quartz backsplash instead of the typical tile backsplash. Although several years ago this was an extremely expensive option, the price has come down quite dramatically as the cost of tile has gone up quite a bit. There really isn't that much of a difference anymore between the cost of a tile backsplash and the cost of a quartz slab backsplash. The quartz slab backsplash provides a very clean, sleek and sophisticated look. The other advantage of this type of backsplash is that it removes all grout lines, a complaint we get a lot from clients who hate to clean grout.

4. Natural materials

Since we have been spending a lot more time indoors over the past couple of years, there's been a huge trend to bringing the outside in. This includes the trend we can expect to see in 2022 with wood being a popular natural material coming back into style in kitchens. Wood pairs beautifully with metal and natural stone, two other trends we should expect to see in 2022. With this pallet of wood, metal and natural stone, this lends itself beautifullyto injection of colour and personality.

5. Storage

You can never have too much storage in a home, particularly in a kitchen. With so much more time being spent in the kitchen now, storage is being sought after in every nook and cranny. This trend will continue in 2022 with homeowners wanting to make use of every available inch of space for storage. For more information on ideas for kitchen storage, click here to read a blog post we've dedicated to this topic.

6. Layered lighting

I always say that you can't have too much lighting in a kitchen. After all you don't want to be concerned with shadows when you're chopping vegetables with an extra sharp knife. However knowing how to properly layer the lighting is key to a successful kitchen design. If you have too much task lighting, such as pot lights in the ceiling, your kitchen can look more like a landing strip at an airport. Layered lighting involves having some task lighting and some accent lighting. For example, you can have some pot lights in the ceiling if you like, add in some under cabinet lights and have pendant lights over the island.

7. Marble

Marble looking countertops, floor tiles and wall tiles have been popular for several years but you're going to see even more of it in our 2022 kitchens. Strongly veined marble looking countertops, and the busier the better, will produce a look of luxury and style. This look is durable, sustainable and classic, making it a timeless option for kitchens.

8. Black

Although I already listed that pops of colour were going to be making a comeback in 2022, black is also expected to be a popular choice for kitchens, and not just as an accent colour. We're going to see a lot more black cabinets, black walls and black countertops. Black offers a beautifully luxurious and inviting space.

9. Handleless cabinets

We've seen a lot more streamlined visions in kitchen trends over the past few years. Handleless cabinets are going to be a strong trend in 2022. Push open and close doors offer a very sleek and simple look. If you don't like the idea of handleless cabinets, you can opt for recessed handles which will still create a very simple, streamlined appearance.

10. Gold

Gold has been on trend for a few years now and 2022 is no exception. Now that faucets and handles are available in a wide variety of finishes, sinks are following suit. Sinks are no longer just for function but they're now starting to become a style statement within a kitchen. Smeg has started designing sinks with that in mind.

Bonus Trend

Green

If the colour of the year from many of the major paint brands is any indication, green is here to stay for 2022. The colour of the year for Sherwin-Williams, PPG and Valspar was a shade of green. We're going to start seeing a lot more green on kitchen walls, backsplashes, countertops and especially in accessories in kitchens.

In summary…

There are some gorgeous trends we can expect to see in kitchens in 2022. Most of them are timeless and classic, and we can expect to see them around for many years to come. We always encourage our clients to be cautious of trends that might go out of style faster than they tire of them. The same is true here. When looking at a trend you like, make sure you think you’ll be able to live with it for at least 5 or more years.