10 of the Hottest Trends in Kitchen Design This Year

February 7, 2018
Photo courtesy of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography
Photo courtesy of Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

Tastes for cabinets, counters and appliances evolve over time, but interior designers and remodeling professionals are often the first to know what’s next.

Here are some of the kitchen trends that are predicted grow in popularity this year, as seen at the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show presented by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).

Farmhouse-style kitchens are in, followed closely by transitional and contemporary styles, while traditional kitchens have fallen out of favor. The farmhouse style includes barn doors, weathered elements, a mix of wood and painted cabinetry, and a touch of rustic wood on a beamed ceiling or an accent wall.

A prime influencer of this trend is HGTV star Joanna Gaines, whose ubiquitous shiplap walls and barn doors are turning up in urban and suburban kitchens far from their farmhouse inspiration.

Clean lines, sharp angles and open shelving hold favor in all three of these popular kitchen styles—farmhouse, transitional and contemporary.

Quartz countertops far outpace granite and marble in popularity, with 94 percent of professionals calling quartz “trendy,” according to NKBA’s 2017 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends Report.

White and gray prevail as the top color choices for kitchen palettes, with all other colors trailing far behind. Color palettes of white-and-gold (rose, yellow and white gold) are turning up in more custom kitchens, too.

Hardwood floors rank as the most popular choice for kitchens, with ceramic and porcelain tiles the second most popular option.

Gas cooktops are far more prevalent and desired than electric models. Energy-efficient induction cooktops and convection ovens are also trendy.

French-door refrigerators are the trendiest style and 75 percent of professionals said in the Kitchen & Bath Design Trends Report that homeowners want wine refrigerators, too.

Custom-designed, dramatic or elaborate range hoods are coming into vogue, along with more ornate backsplashes that extend from the counter to the ceiling.

Kitchen designers agree: the kitchen is a multi-functional space and, even when used for cooking, it may need to accommodate several chefs at once. With that in mind, some larger kitchens are being built with more than one island or an island with an attached lower level for homework, casual dining and budding chefs.

Ovens with French doors, opening on each side, have grown in popularity in custom homes, and more mainstream kitchens will likely feature them in the coming year.

What’s next in kitchen trends

While high-tech refrigerators that generate grocery lists are promoted as the next big thing, most homeowners have yet to integrate tech into their kitchens. A good indicator for what’s coming next is what’s currently being used in fully custom homes—with kitchen trends, you’ll often find that the luxuries installed in a custom home today become the must-have features of a general new construction home built tomorrow.