For kitchens, 2020 was just a practice year. 2021 is all about figuring out how to spend the rest of this decade cooking, cleaning, and repeating. Kitchen trends for this year are explorative in nature, ditching the nonfunctional for the creative and organized. Find out what is kicking for your kitchen in 2021 with these top 10 trend categories.
1. Black Cabinets with Standout Hardware
Bold choices will highlight your creativity and break way from the Instagram norm. If your kind of bold includes all things dark and brooding, paint everything black or close to it. This means the ceilings, walls, and cabinets.
Then, appease the eye by adding pops of cabinet hardware. Gold is chic and timeless, but anything industrial is also in right now. Industrial kitchens that look more well-crafted than internet-ready are the move. You will find yourself leaning toward hardware that makes a lasting impact in quality and aesthetics.
2. Extra Pantry Space
Spring cleaning takes on a whole new meaning in 2021. Your stockpile of canned goods and Netflix-and-chill snacks needs somewhere to live. This will be seen in the form of:
- Larders (countertop cupboards)
- Extra floating shelves
- Entire pantry rooms
Skimping on space isn’t recommended. Getting groceries delivered every other day calls for more room to store your goods. Why not do so in a classy, functional way?
3. Coffee and Snack Stations
Similarly, folks are looking to make their workday fuel more accessible. Setting up a coffee and snack station makes taking breaks from virtual work more fun. Remote work is more common than ever, and people are looking to accommodate this new lifestyle. Even if you return to work face-to-face, you will now know the value of having a streamlined way to grab a cup of joe and some snack crackers.
4. Eclectic Patterns
Everyone is always looking for the next big thing. In the past, carbon copies of bright white kitchens popped up on feeds across the globe. Now, people are ditching this copycat nature and the industrial farmhouse look that came along with it.
To break away from the norm, take a look at hobbies you enjoy. Knick knacks from your thrift trips or your favorite novels can take up residence in your kitchen. That wine rack may turn into a bookshelf for plant-based recipe volumes. Your countertops may benefit from an elephant statue or two. Whatever you choose, you will want it to be different. Mixing patterns is the quickest way to take your kitchen from drab and functional to eclectic chic.
5. Hidden Appliances
Since you are adding interest to the eye in the form of hand-woven rugs and flashy sculptures, you have to hide something to make up for the creative clutter. Luxury kitchens are already known for having appliances hidden within cabinets and drawers. However, 2021 will see these secret compartments making their way into more and more homes.
Along the same vein, new smart home appliances are trendy. Early adopters of smart fridges step aside, it’s time for everyone to invest in a little smart tech for their kitchen. Talking coffee makers and remote controlled ovens are just a few on the long list of gadgets that will be popping up in homes this year.
6. Cozy Nooks
Interior design is slowly but surely phasing out the open concept. This is a big one. Open floorplans have been the rage for quite a while now, leaving their closed counterparts feeling cramped and left out. However, comfortability is key. You can create the illusion of a closed concept using tables, screen doors, room dividers, plants, and the like. This gives the distinction and guidelines that everyone craves for this year. Your kitchen will feel like a haven rather than an extension of the living room.
7. Pops of Paint
Referring back to number 1, you don’t have to opt for a complete blackout in your 2021 kitchen. Balance is everything. If you don’t like the idea of mixing funky patterns or throwing trinkets all over your kitchen, you can switch this out for a bright paint color. This will give the eclectic feel while keeping clean lines and cleared counters. Consider a coral-leaning orange or a bright, royal blue.
8. Eco Materials
2021 brings about more eco-conscious choices. Natural materials, such as marble and wood, are top choices for bringing the outside in. Also consider energy-saving lightbulbs and even UV-absorbing paint.
9. Nostalgic Feel
There will be kitchen trends from years past resurfacing. Retro vibes from any era can transform your kitchen into a nostalgic wonderland. Trends are cyclical, and taking inspiration from your favorite decade is natural. Some ideas for this are bright colors of the 70s and toasters with a 50s vibe. Mix and match as you please.
10. Organized Chaos
For most people, being comfortable involves having everything organized. The way this is permeating into 2021 kitchens includes mudrooms, “second kitchens”, and even outdoor spaces. Think of any unused space as an extension of your kitchen, leaving more room for prep and cleanup.
However you decide to incorporate these 2021 kitchen trends into your home, they will take you into the next decade with flare and sustainability. Remember that just because your kitchen looks amazing, you don’t have to share it on social media. You can, but be prepared to inspire.
