Using Quarantine to Redesign Your Kitchen? Here’s 5 Trendy Tips

COVID-19 and the resulting stay-at-home orders have left many people staring at the walls and itching for something to do. Spending so much time at home, you may have become acutely aware of everything in your home that needs an upgrade. If you’re tired of cooking in your outdated kitchen, it may be the perfect time to revamp the space. For inspiration and some useful tips, check out these top five kitchen design trends.

1. Unconventional Materials

Updating your kitchen doesn’t necessarily mean spending a fortune on marble countertops and new stainless steel appliances. The most popular 2020 kitchen design trends actually point in a different direction: unconventional materials that add a bit of flair and personality.

• Leather– Add texture and dimension to your kitchen with leather accents, even beyond your island chairs. For example, you can use sheets of leather on cabinet doors or add leather pull strings to drawers. Adding pops of leather can be as easy as purchasing some leather placemats or leather-lined containers.
• Brass– Brass softens and warms a space, giving a break from the metal of appliances or the stark of a white background. Apply brass sheets to countertops or backsplashes. Add unlacquered brass strap hinges and latches for the cabinets. Cover the range hood for a standout piece. Accent your counters with brass containers and accent pieces.
• Reclaimed Wood– Wood is timeless; it adds hominess and reminds you of nature’s beauty and peacefulness. Installing custom cabinets made from rough, reclaimed wood is a great way to reclaim your kitchen aesthetic. Live edge wood adds natural beauty to an island or tabletop. And don’t forget the smaller details like wooden bowls, utensils, and other artistry to warm up your kitchen space.
• Recycled Glass– Add pops of color across your kitchen with recycled glass. To create recycled glass, manufacturers mix tiny glass shards from used materials like bottles, windows, and windshields into a binding agent like concrete or grout. Adding recycled glass countertops, tabletops, or backsplashes will add sparkle and light to your kitchen.

2. Keeping It Simple

The 2020s will see kitchens become streamlined and elegant in their effortless appearance. To make your favorite elements stand out, you want your kitchen to have a sleek, simplified backdrop. How can you achieve this? It may be as straightforward as eliminating extra clutter or infusing stylish alternatives for your storage. You can also:

• Keep your cabinetry simple in color and use unobtrusive handles and drawer pulls.
• Create more uniformity by hiding or using built-in appliances. This will give your kitchen counters a clean and modern look.
• Showcase only your most beautiful kitchenware, heirlooms, and antiques. The rest of your kitchenware should be out of sight but organized and in easy reach.

3. Bold Backsplashes

Large-scale backsplashes are popular for kitchens because they create multi-dimensional, eye-catching focal points. Be creative in your attempts to draw attention. Have fun, and think beyond conventional backsplashes for impressive results.

• Brick can bring a refined, rustic style to your kitchen. If red brick feels too heavy, consider white-wash or experiment with paint options to lighten the industrial appearance of the brick.
• Forget matching tiles. Get creative with bold colors and mismatched patterns. This way, you can create your own backsplashes that have a little more personality.
• Use mirrored finishes. The gloss, reflective surfaces with create a dramatic effect and will bounce light all across your kitchen.

• Try metal materials or metal finished tiles. Metallics can give your kitchen an industrial feel. Among the different metals and finishes, you’ll have plenty of options to experiment with for color and texture.

4. Sunny Hues

A pop of color can much needed personality to your kitchen. The best way to incorporate color, of course, is to paint the whole kitchen or an accent wall. However, if you’re not quite ready to commit to a paint job, think about accents. Adding color through hardware, cabinets, or furniture pieces will help liven up your space.

• Colorful porcelain pulls and knobs can add a wow factor to ordinary cabinetry. Consider buying vintage crystal hardware or painting over painting over the original knobs and handles.
• Showcase your colored appliances. Standing mixers, blenders, stoves, toasters, and coffee pots are available in colorful options. Put them out on display to add vibrant pops of color.
• Paint or replace your cabinet fronts. Or, you can replace the fronts with glass to display colorful pottery or dishware.
• Mix it up by contrasting the colors of your cabinetry. Unified cabinetry is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Choose one large section of cabinetry, like a pantry or beautiful hutch, and replace it with a more colorful option. To create contrast, choose a stunning shade of green, or yellow, or robin egg blue.
  

5. The Fifth Wall

Instead of ignoring your ceiling, think of it as a fifth wall. Unlike the other four walls, ceilings aren’t cluttered with cabinets and appliances, meaning you have an open canvas to work with. To incorporate the ceiling into the overall kitchen design, you can:

• Paint the ceiling a fresh color. Create dramatic contrast with a bold color or maintain continuity by painting the ceiling the same color as the walls.
• Use wallpaper to add texture and design.
• Use wood beams or paneling to add warmth and create a homey effect.
• Choose lighting installments that complement your kitchen’s look. Elaborate lighting fixtures, such as chandeliers, can add depth and style.

The Heart of the Home

For many families, the kitchen is the heart of their home. It’s where you feed your family, sip your coffee, and start most of your days. Adding subtle touches and incorporating inventive design options can make your kitchen your favorite place to be. Take advantage of the time you have at home and create the dream kitchen you’ve always wanted.