9 Top Trends in Kitchen Design for 2018 | Home Remodeling …

Decades ago, the kitchen was hidden in the back of the house. It was a place where meals were preparedand dirty disheswere washed. Fast forward to 2018 and the kitchen has a much different role. Today, the kitchen is the focal point of the home, the place that brings everyone together at the start of the day or after a long day way. Now instead, the kitchen is paraded in all its beauty and warmth at the very center of the house.

Kitchens have changed a lot over the decades and planning for yourkitchen remodelis very important. Technology advances and changing social dynamics have contributed greatly to the rise of the modern kitchen. There is a far bigger focus on open concept homes that revolve around the kitchen so everyone can be together. As with any modern design trend, clean and simple styles have become favorites for homeowners with natural light becoming an essential aspect of the overall look and function of the kitchen space.

With advice from design experts, here are the top 10 trends in kitchen design we expect to see in 2018.

Technology has entered the kitchen in full force and not just in the form of fancy gadgets and appliances. Today, you can have a kitchen with technology integrated into every function and appliancefrom the faucetsto the fridge to the lighting. This is what we call a smart kitchen.

Smart kitchens are an evolving aspect of design. In fact, a lot of kitchens today are built smart from the ground up. For older kitchens, sensors, smart gadgets and other devices can be added to for convenience to the homeowner.

Easy add-ons are motion sense-equipped kitchen faucetsthat can sense the presence of hands underneath and will come on automatically or try a one-touch feature. Refrigerators that can alert you when your groceries items are running lowor a coffee maker programmed to have your coffee ready when you wake up. There is also a gadget that monitors your eggs, telling you which ones are almost going bad. Do not forget to update your lighting systemallowing you to control all the lights from your smartphone or tablet.

Technology integrated kitchens are becomingmore popular as homeowners experiment with novel technologies. This is one of the biggest trends going into 2018.

White is still a big favorite for kitchen cabinets. Homeowners love it for its clean look, which is especially beneficial in a space that tends to get cluttered. White cabinets are simply beautiful and timeless and can be used in almost any kind of kitchen style. We expect white to remain a popular cabinet color in 2018 and probably for years to come. To break up the all-white kitchen expect to see islands in a variety of different paint colors or wood stain colors. The mixing of finishes create a needed accent pieceand additionalpops-of-color for the brave of heart.

As popular as white cabinets are, grey is the second choice for many. Grey cabinets are like a chameleon of sorts. Versatile for any look or project. Grey cabinets work great when paired with natural elements, glamour accents, or none at all.

White and grey seem to be the two big cabinet colors going into 2018 still. Their modern clean look will keep them as favorites for years. But there is another color palette slowly making its way into the kitchendark jewel tones: black, navy, emerald green and even plum. It will surprise you at how well dark kitchen cabinets can work in and/or enhance a kitchen space with its dramatic and luxurious feel.

Dark kitchen cabinets portrayfull-on elegance and a deep rich luxurious atmosphere that the other options just dont. They cast the kitchen in a subtle dramatic essence. However, you have to be careful that it does not overpower the room, making it feel perpetually dark. But more and more homeowners are getting bolder and opting for a kitchen with dark cabinet colors in 2018. While a darker color palate may not be the new white anytime soon, it certainly will get more popular with time.

Related:The Psychology of Why Gray Kitchen Cabinets Are So Popular

While styles like farmhouse and mid-century modern are still popular, homeowners are getting more streamlined in their overall aesthetic, designs and alternative materials for kitchens. Stress-free environmentsare what you would like to come home too, and drown out the day to day stresses of life. Which usually means, simplicity. Take a look at our homeremodeling portfoliofor design ideas.

Removing upper wall cabinets has become a growing trend in the last few years since it opens up the visual space making the kitchen appear much larger and brighter. It allows you to utilize the countertop space more productively. Not to mention, most people cant reach what is on the top shelves of the cabinetry anyway. Although open shelves would be a great alternative if the added storage space is needed or a focal point element was desired.

When we say streamlined, we dont want to equate that with boring. So, consider materials with texture. If you are using open shelving, rough cut wood to bring in natural elements or metal tubing for a more industrial attitude. Floor tiles in a natural stone or backsplash tiles that are sculpted, beveled, or stacked make for the perfect focal point. These interesting textures are very different than the usual polished or glossy finishes we see everywhere. You may even want to consider a ceiling treatment to bring in that added punch. Coffered, tray, and wood beams are the perfect choices to consider.

For high-end kitchen countertops, quartz still reigns supreme. The material is extremely hardy, can last virtually forever, is a breeze to maintain and is anti-microbial. Granite, the main competitor in the high-end bracket, requires slightly more maintenance.

When quartz countertops first came into the market, the main worry was lack of variety in terms of colors and finishes. But with time, thanks to technology, manufacturers have provided awide range of colorsto choose from as well as realistic stone patterns.You can even get quartz finished with elaborate swirls and large veining to imitate other materials like natural stone. These unique styles have become immensely popular.

But there is a notable trend toward softer and more neutral colors. More and more homeowners are opting for colors like: grey, taupe, creamy or white finishes. The pattern preferences have changed to veining from particulates that weve seen in past years. This definitely follows the trend towards cleaner styles seen in most home spaces.

While we are still on the topic of countertops, it is important to mention the rising popularity of compositesinks. These are sinks made from the same material as the countertop. This creates a cleaner uniform look and makes cleaning and maintenance much easier. However,it is going to be a tough battle against the still very popular stainless steel andfarmhouse sinks.

One of the biggest annoyances with kitchen cabinetry is the unnecessary waste of space. The way the basic shelves and drawers are structured leaves a lot of wasted space. Worst of all, available space is often too small for some of your larger things or the opposite: its too wide and does not give you a way to properly and efficiently organize the space.

One of the foundations to a functional kitchen iskitchen storage. If it is inadequate or ineffective, you will be faced with endless frustrations and challenges. To counter these storage challenges, homeowners are starting to look for better storage solutions within thecabinetry. These can include: appliances garages for small appliance, drawerdividers for cutlery & utensils, pull-outs for spices, tray dividers, roll-out traysand caddies for pots & pans; as well as wastebasket cabinets for garbage and recyclables and/or deep drawers. These will make it easier to store foods, drinks andsmall appliances.

2018 will also see a range of new kitchen storage options throughout the whole kitchenfocused on makingdaily lives more effortlessand making cooking fun.

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9 Top Trends in Kitchen Design for 2018 | Home Remodeling ...