Kitchen design trends and tips 2020
The kitchen is the heart of every home. It’s the room that brings the whole family together, it sets the atmosphere of your home for your guests and everyone else. If you’re like us you want to know what makes a kitchen stand out and shine. We rounded up a few hot trends and style tips for 2016 that we would love to share with you. Below are a few tips on color choice, countertops, layouts, and flooring.
Color
A topic as old as the kitchen itself. To truly have an appealing room, color is key. Yet the kitchen should not be separate from the rest of your home. Tailor the kitchen to the already existent style in your home. Whether that be bold, modern, classic, or minimalistic. You can design an exceptional kitchen but forget to make it fit in with the rest of your home. Use colors that are already present within your home if you can’t come up with anything else.
A general rule to follow is to utilize multiple contrasting colors. Pick a color that fits your style and use a contrasting color to create emphasis. Here are a few examples of colors that contrast one another to create exceptionally beautiful looks that are trending right now.
White and Red
White and Black
Yellow and White (with maybe a hint of blue)
Blue with stained wood cabinetry
White and light Blue
Light colors with dark stained wood cabinetry
Pair with a complimentary backsplash for a phenomenal look. The combinations are limitless, which is why the most important rule is to follow the style of your home. Don’t forget your ceiling. The “fifth wall” is a key component to the overall feeling of your kitchen. You can accomplish a cozy feeling by painting the ceiling darker than the rest of the walls. To make your small kitchen appear larger do the opposite and paint the ceiling a few shades lighter than the rest of the kitchen.
Lighting is a compliment to great color choice. Bigger and bolder light will make your whole kitchen seem much more alive, always pair great colors with brighter lighting. If possible go with natural lighting including skylights and windows.
Countertops
Stone is the go to material for countertops in 2020. Stone is elegant and gorgeous; Granite, Quartz, Marble, and Soapstone. Natural stone, and engineered stone (quartz). Each is subject to personal preference, and each has pros and cons.
Granite is the most commonly used kitchen countertop surface. It is one of the hardest stone materials on the planet, which makes it the ideal material for the job. Although it isn’t the cheapest its elegance and durability is unmatched. You will never find one stone slab that looks identical to another, meaning your stone will be unique and like no other. Granite countertops are a top kitchen trend for this year, and you won’t regret making this choice.
Quartz is an engineered alternative to granite. It is made up of 93% real stone material and is just as resilient and durable as granite. Quartz has been a popular item the last few years and will continue to grow in popularity in 2020. Engineered Quartz is an environmentally friendly stone material that is sustainable. Quartz stone gives you the complete customizability, you can choose the color and shade of the material unlike materials such as granite.
Marble quite easily is the most elegant and beloved material of 2020. It radiates a message of sophistication and warmth. With beautiful crystals and warm light coloring we can see why this is a material everyone loves. Marble is a very trendy material but we have a few words of caution. Marble is not a durable stone material, it stains and wears very easily. In a kitchen environment where liquid spills and acidic material is common, marble does not fare well. Save yourself the disappointment and chose a lighter granite or quartz that looks just like marble and will last much longer.
Wooden island counter with quartz stone everywhere else
Mixed countertops: It is not uncommon to see multiple countertop materials in one kitchen. Since marble isn’t a very durable material it is common to find it as the choice stone for the island, while all other surfaces have a different stone or material altogether. Like in the photograph above the island has a wooden top counter while the rest of the kitchen has a quartz stone. Mixing when done properly can increase the appeal and elegance. Go ahead and experiment, create a look that is unique to you.
There are many other very popular countertop materials; wood, concrete, steel, and laminate. Each of these materials are popular choices and are trendy, but not all of them will be the ideal one for you. Make sure to consult with a licensed installer and/or designer for advice on which counter material to choose. We are sure you will be able to find something that aligns to your style and budget.
Kitchen layouts
This isn’t an item that is very easy to change, since most of us aren’t willing to completely rebuild our kitchens from the ground up. You can very easily boost the appeal of even your current kitchen layout by implementing some of the above trends. For those who are willing to redesign their kitchen layout here are a few different ones and their advantages.
L-Shaped: The most popular kitchen layout is the L-Shaped kitchen. This kitchen is most convenient for most homes since it uses the space that is available most efficiently. Most commonly the L-Shaped design uses two perpendicular walls to maximize on space in small to medium kitchens. This kitchen layout is more roomy and spacious and will never look cluttered or busy. Add an island and you have plenty of space and a wonderful looking kitchen.
U-Shaped: Or also known as a horseshoe or island layout. This kitchen is highly efficient, allowing for easy movement back and forth between appliances while cooking. This layout provides the simplest environment for productivity. This is the ideal and most popular kitchen layout for someone who cooks a lot. The layout utilizes the “work triangle” that we often hear about in kitchen design. Larger U-Shaped kitchens often include an island right in the middle maximizing on counter space.
One Wall: The ultimate space saver, this kitchen layout is found in small apartments or studios. All of the cabinets and appliances are fixed to one wall. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. You can make a one wall kitchen look sleek and luxurious but lose out on functionality. Due to the difficult layout a one wall kitchen may not be practical for everyone.
Flooring
Since the kitchen is the most used room in the house, the floors in the kitchen need to be durable as well as stylish.
Tile: Travertine tiles have been popular the last few years and today you can pick them up at most hardware stores. With advanced imaging technology real looking stone surfaces can be replicated onto the travertine tile creating an elegant stone look. Tile is also one of the best materials for kitchen flooring because it is water resistant and will not damage as a result of moisture from spills. If your budget allows consider ceramic tile, ceramic is the ideal material. Superior durability which will last a lifetime with minimal care.
Hardwood: This is also a great choice, it is durable and very easy to maintain. Depending on the style of the rest of your kitchen, hardwood flooring may be the finishing touch in creating the ultimate look. Make sure to have your hardwood applied with a protective finish so that spills and occasional moisture will not cause unnecessary damage. Even in the kitchen hardwood flooring can easily last a lifetime if properly cared for.
Vinyl: Over the last few years the quality of vinyl flooring has significantly improved. Vinyl is now very durable, water resistant, and comfortable. The soft touch of vinyl may be just the addition your kitchen needs. Like travertine tile, with advanced imaging vinyl flooring comes in many designs and patterns which looks almost indistinguishable from the real thing. You can get hardwood or tile look alike material for less than half the cost. Vinyl will last for years if properly cared for.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and make your kitchen fit your style. We hope this information was useful and you are able to create the dream kitchen that aligns to your style and budget.
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