These Are the Kitchen Trends You'll Be Seeing in 2022, According to Designers
Our list includes everything from pet-friendly spaces to slab backsplashes.
Throughout the pandemic, many of us discovered a whole new level of appreciation for our kitchens—it's where we baked all kinds of bread, worked from home, cooked meals when we couldn't go out, watched too much television, aimlessly scrolled through our phones, etc. As we approach the new year, we've certainly realized the importance of having a kitchen that's multi-faceted, so House Beautiful asked 10 designers to share their predictions for 2022 kitchen trends—and our list spares no shortage of design ideas for those looking to revamp this frequented space.
Pops of Color
Color will make a comeback in the kitchen, says Emily Spanos of Emily June Designs. "Since the pandemic, many of us have spent more time in our kitchens than ever before and there’s a natural inclination to make this space feel more personal." She adds that "our homes have been our refuge and source of inspiration, and I see people having a lot more fun with kitchen design in the coming year. Not only can a bold, contrasting color palette weave charm and personality throughout the space but I expect to see a variety of finishes being used as well, including matte and high gloss!"
Natural Light
"Expansive windows along the counter space or extra-large skylights over the island or stove" will be the trend of 2022, proclaims David Thompson of Design Principle Assembledge+. "The idea is to welcome in nature and let sunlight fall across a range of material grains—wood grain, marble, glazed tile, the undulations of brush-applied paint," he adds. "The inclination now is for the gently worn old hand tool, not so much the stainless laboratory. This is a time for both warmth and spaciousness."
Pet-Friendly Spaces
"More people adopted pets than ever before during COVID and as a result, they're thinking about how to incorporate them into the heart of the home," says designer Carol Kurth. "Storage is always a premium in the kitchen, and unclaimed areas such as toe-kick space is often overlooked—what better way to utilize the space." We're sure your pets will agree!
Cottage Style
Shawna Percival of Styleberry Creative Interiors says cottage kitchens are making a comeback, proving "how smart a small space can be. Built in storage, making use of every nook and cranny, is what a cottage kitchen does best. Well, that and offering a cozy, lived in feel that makes you want to stay home—by choice!"
Slab Backsplashes
Anthony Carrino, the vice president of design at Welcome Homes (and star of the HGTV show Kitchen Cousins), says slab backsplashes will be thriving in 2022. "This is a very clean, modern look," he notes. "It gives you the ability to book match your veining and turn it up the wall. And it removes all the grout lines that can make for a busy backsplash."
Statement Hoods
"Architectural statement hoods will be big—and I mean literally!," predicts Drees Homes Design Center's director, Alexa Drees Walker. "Whites and creams paired with darker, earthy hues will be used to create drama. In a departure from subway tile, marble-inspired quartz countertops will become a newly beloved backsplash option. Gold accents and oversized pendants will remain popular," she adds.
Hinge Doorways
"This year, we have seen a significant amount of our clients requesting invisible hinge doorways, which allows for spaces to appear "invisible," says Manny Varas, president and CEO of MVGroup USA. "This trend began in Italy with Lualdi doors, which create a frameless and cleaner look. We've taken this design and executed it with kitchens featuring hidden doorways into walk-in pantries and secret wine rooms." (Take a look at the one featured in this kitchen by Mindy Laven).
Natural Materials
"As we all spend more time at home there is also a renewed sense of wanting to bring the outdoors in, with natural materials such as wood being particular popular," says Daniel Bowler, Director of Eggersmann UK. "This mixes particularly well with other on-trend materials such as metal and stone to create a space that is light, bright and airy and offers something of a blank canvas to inject color and personality."
Storage Space
"Storage has always been essential and its importance has grown over the years as the kitchen has adopted multiple functions within the home, but even more so as we come out of the pandemic," points out Andy Briggs, interior designer at Optiplan Kitchens. "We’ve acquired many more gadgets and have stocked up on all those cupboard essentials, so finding a good way of organizing these are key." Briggs suggests turning to wicker baskets, which "add both a decorative touch as well as practicality" and large jars, which offer "a budget-friendly way of organizing all the little bits and bobs in the cupboard and on kitchen surfaces."
Shades of Green
Given how many paint brands deemed shades of green as the color of the year for 2022, George Forsyth, the director of Drew Forsyth & Co Green is deeming the color a major kitchen trend in the coming year. "This is a shade that embodies renewal, rejuvenation, and energy, so it isn’t surprising that homeowners can’t get enough of it right now," he professes.
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