As part of our 100th anniversary celebrations, we’re looking at trends that will take us through the next decade. Last month we looked at food trends and today we’re turning our attention to what kitchen trends of the future will look like.
Cosier and smaller
In recent decades we’ve seen the kitchen occupying an ever larger footprint. This will slowly change. We’ll still want rooms we can sit and eat in, but not those that are so large they require you to shout if someone is on the other side. Though spaces will be smaller, this doesn’t mean they will be any less practical or indeed luxurious. Form and function, maximising the available space, and choosing items designed to last for years will be on the top of our agenda when it comes to installing a new kitchen.
Merging inside and out 
The pandemic made us realise how important outdoor space is and how we’ll never take it for granted again. Doors out on to the garden will become even more important than they have over the past decade and, if that’s not possible, we’ll be adding greenery where we can. The garden will become more functional with space for outdoor cooking topping the must-have list. We’ll also want dedicated areas where we can grow herbs or vegetables.
Reclaimed materials
Waste is on the top of many agendas right now and making considered use of materials has never felt so important. With this in mind, we’ll be looking to reuse materials wherever possible. This could mean anything from using reclaimed wood for the entire kitchen through to choosing reclaimed tiles for the floor and walls. Another way we’re seeing this happen is with people repurposing the kitchen they already have rather than ripping it out and starting again. This could mean simply changing the doors, adjusting the layout by moving cabinetry, or just opting to change the colour with paint.
Mixing modern and vintage
Gone are the days of a sleek and shiny white kitchen where everything is brand new and showhouse perfect. We’re going to want warmer spaces that feel cosy and cosseting and pieces that have a history. That might mean a family heirloom scrubbed pine table or perhaps a dresser or chair picked up at an antiques fair. It’ll be all about adding character and emotional resonance to the space.
Glazed partitions 
This feeds into the smaller kitchens trends. Perhaps we want a more self-contained space, but don’t want to lose any light, or maybe we want a space that offers flexibility, in which case a sliding glass partition would work. Whatever the reasons, we’re going to be seeing more kitchens split
with glass walls and dividers.
Open shelves
Wall cabinets are becoming less popular and open shelves are taking their place. Whether it’s a row of shelves holding glasses, plates, and jars full of kitchen staples, or a single shelf that holds thoughtfully curated pieces, the kitchen shelf is going to be back in a big way.
Behind closed doors
As the space gets smaller, concealed kitchens are also going to be big, with everything tucked away behind closed doors. This kind of look is great if you want to keep all your clutter out of the way. For example, coffee making stations and sinks will be hidden so you’re left with a calming, relaxing, light, and airy space.
Colour confidence
We’re going to get way more confident with colour, mixing greens and pinks, yellows and blues or just choosing shades that bring us joy. This introduction of pops of bold colour could come in the form of appliances, such as an AGA cooker, or with the use of glazed tiles as a splashback or one wall of an island painted in a vivid shade.
Country kitchens
Butlers sinks, kitchen skirts, patterned fabrics and painted cabinetry all feed into the trend for country style kitchens wherever you live. This trend is based on nostalgia and feeling the need to be cosy and cossetted. Where better to do this than the kitchen?
Statement lighting
We’ll be moving away from concealed lighting towards something that screams for attention. Whether it’s a chandelier, a run of reclaimed industrial pendants, or something bespoke created just for the space, lighting is going to be the antithesis of an afterthought and will be designed to be a talking point.
