organized drawers

Design Trends for 2022

Over the years, we have witnessed some really great design trends that lasted many years, and some that couldn’t go out of style fast enough. 2022 is quickly approaching, and with that, let's look at some of the anticipated trends for kitchen design.  

 

Minimalism has been a popular trend for the last few years, and it looks like it's going to be here to stay for a while. In the kitchen, this looks like: 

 

  • Clean, clutter-free counter spaces. We are going to see more “appliance garages” to hide small appliances like the toaster and air fryer.  

  • Additionally, disguising major appliances as cabinets will continue to gain popularity.  

  • In more modern kitchens, hardware will be phased out. Push-to-open cabinets may start to replace the need for traditional cabinet pulls. 

  • Large, organized pantries are in high demand, for both new builds and home renovations.  

  • In a true pursuit of minimalism, open shelves are starting to replace traditional upper cabinets in the kitchen. They give the kitchen a more light and airy appearance, as opposed to the closed-off feeling cabinets can give in a small space. These shelves can be a way to decorate functionally, displaying dishes, cookware, or ingredients, or recipe books. 

 

Colors + Finishes for the Kitchen 

 

Everyone has their own unique taste when it comes to the finishing touches of their kitchens, but here are some of the popular trends for 2022: 

  • White cabinets will continue to be a timeless choice, but natural wood finishes and neutral colors will increase in popularity 

  • Sage green and midnight blue will be in high demand 

  • Matte finishes are preferred for their clean look 

  • Wood floors (especially low maintenance options such as luxury vinyl plank) and large tiles will continue to be consumers’ top picks  

  • Two tone cabinets! Typically white or a light neutral on upper cabinets, and a darker or bolder color on the lower ones 

  • Darker finishes for faucets + cabinet pulls 

  • Contrasting colors throughout the room to avoid the “sterile” appearance of one color 

 

Trends That Apply to the Whole House:  

 

  • Open concept floor plans have been around for a while now, but many homes are taking it a step further to create a seamless flow from room to room. Many homeowners are phasing out their L-shaped kitchen in favor of a more linear layout,  further blurring the boundaries of each “room”.  

  • Smart home technology is continuing to integrate into every room of the house, and the kitchen is no exception. Smart refrigerators, Wi-Fi-enabled coffee machines, app-controlled meat thermometers, toothbrushes that let you know how well you brush, the list goes on and on!   

  • Sustainable sourcing/eco-friendly products and materials will be more important than ever for many consumers.  

  • Biophilic design- According to Metropolis Magazine, “Biophilic design seeks to connect our inherent need to affiliate with nature in the modern built environment. An extension of the theory of biophilia, biophilic design recognizes that our species has evolved for more than 99% of its history in adaptive response to the natural world and not to human created or artificial forces. We became biologically encoded to associate with natural features and processes. Rather than being vestigial – or relevant to a world that no longer exists – this need is thought to remain instrumental to people’s physical and mental health, fitness, and wellbeing”. This can easily be achieved through houseplants, natural lighting, and good ventilation indoors.  

 

Customizing Storage for Each Kitchen Work Zone

by Linda Fennessy of Kitchen Magic

A kitchen zone is mainly defined by the appliances that are dispersed in the space: the fridge, stove/oven and sink areas. Moreover, these three zones are what make up everything we do in the kitchen, whether it be cooking/baking, cleaning up, washing, or eating. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s segment the 3 zones of kitchen storage.   


The Fridge // Kitchen Zone 1

The refrigerator sees a lot of activity, becoming a prime zone for these 3 purposes:

  • Storing leftovers

  • Eating + snacking

  • Accessing food + ingredients for meal prep

+ Air tight leftovers keep food fresh for tomorrow’s school or work lunches. A storage container organizer will ease the pain or hunting down matching lids and containers.

+ Food storage wraps stored in an organized roll out keep them organized.

+ Placing glassware storage adjacent to the fridge will provide easy access to casserole dishes and lids custom made for leftovers, providing ease or reheating and serving leftovers. An accessible lazy susan puts these dishes at your finger tips.

Storing the staples used most near the fridge makes it easy to incorporate them as you get in and out of the fridge to prepare meals and snacks.


The Sink // Kitchen zone 2

The sink is a highly used zone, seeing the most traffic over other areas of the kitchen. An uncluttered kitchen is always a goal, but sinks should be the most uncluttered of all since its uses include soap detergents and food preparation. 

Discarding trash or recyclables can be a quick task when it’s adjacent to the sink. The best option is a pull-out version, integrated by matching cabinet doors.  

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+ Creating spaces for sponges, steel and other utensil cleaning items makes washing dishes and meal clean up a breeze. The Tip-Out Tray at your finger tips, keeps your countertops clean and clear.

+ Organized drawers dedicated to flatware, as well as cabinets designed to house dishware and cups, creating access between the dishwasher and everyday dishes will make putting away dishes less of a chore. The dish-peg drawer system keeps your dishes organized.


The stove // kitchen zone 3

Last but not least, the super busy range + oven area. If you have an open floor plan or a doorway from the kitchen to the dining room, it makes sense to locate the range/ovens nearby.

+ The Pot/Pan Organizer basically eliminates you having to crawl into the cabinet to find a pot. Imagine a world with no clanging pots at the start of dinner prep!

+ The Cloud allows for smooth flowing glide out feature for small appliances. Place warming appliances like Crockpots, mixers and blenders in the ‘cooking zone’ zone.

+ Stowing away ‘flat items’ like muffin trays can take up precious real estate. Having these items together on their sides can double your storage space. These tray dividers are designed to do just that.

Most kitchen consultants and designers will tell you, it’s not the space you have but how you use that space. Having quick access to your kitchen tools and storing them properly may make all the difference in how your perform in the kitchen.
— Linda Fennessy, Marketing Manager with Kitchen Magic.