Kitchen Design Trends in 2022

We’ve asked the kitchen design experts about the top kitchen design trends 2022 will bring. From sustainable designs to bold finishes, here’s what you can expect.

Full article with thanks to: homebuilding.co.uk/ideas/kitchen-trends-2022

If you’re planning a kitchen project for the new year, get ahead of the bandwagon with the newest kitchen trends 2022 will bring. Not only will this help make sure your kitchen doesn’t fall behind the times when it comes to materials, colours and appliances, but also that you’re making use of the latest innovations for the kitchen.

We’ve polled kitchen design experts for what they think will be the next big thing in kitchen design and some of the results may surprise you. From kitchen offices and sustainable materials to creative mesh cabinet fronts and app-controlled taps.

But, while these may point you in the right direction of the kitchen trends to come, don’t forget to make sure your kitchen is a space you really enjoy. Trends come and go, but when investing in a new kitchen, you’ll want to love it for years to come.

What Will be the Kitchen Trends in 2022?

The latest kitchen trends come from a number of sources. Kitchen designers, for example, may notice that more and more of their customers are requesting certain styles, finishes or colours, which can also lead to more investment in new ranges around those themes.

Trend forecasters are another source of the kitchen trends in 2022. ‘Colour of the Year’ predictions happen in autumn and winter every year, and other forecasts feed into what retailers stock in their stores, and how they photograph and promote their latest lines.

Our list of the top kitchen trends for 2022 takes all these into account for a comprehensive round-up of what’s hot in kitchens right now.

1. Bold Kitchen Unit Colours

The trend for using bold, dark colours in the kitchen has been rumbling around for some time now but there has definitely been an expansion in the shades being used— with forest green and burgundy joining navy as top ranking colours.

“Consumers are definitely becoming more experimental with colour and their use of raw materials within kitchen design, which is great to see,” says Alex Main, Director of The Main Company. “Green has continued to increase in popularity — whether used as an accent or across the cabinetry, this bold colourway is becoming a key element in many industrial-inspired spaces.”

“2022 will bring a re-introduction of more heritage shades at the darker end of the palette such as jewel-like blues, greens and metallics,” agrees Graeme Smith, Head of Retail and Design at Life Kitchens. “We’ll also see softer, muted, mid-tone greens and earthy tones. To add interest to a scheme, pair these hues with statement features, such as large-scale patterned or textured worksurfaces, smoked glass cabinets or statement shelving, along with metallic accents for an opulent design statement.”

2. Kitchen Design Trends – Herringbone Floors

Parquet and herringbone flooring is hot news in homes right now — a trend that is set to continue into next year. Perhaps the room that it is most commonly being seen in at present it the kitchen, where it adds texture and warmth to even contemporary schemes.

A herringbone floor doesn’t have to be timber either — there are many other types of flooring it comes in, such as LVT and porcelain.

3. Recycled Kitchens

There has been growing interest in the second hand kitchen market for some time but right now this interest really seems to be at its peak.

From a sustainability perspective, buying second hand or ex-display kitchens makes a lot of sense, recycling products that are usually in pristine condition.

Buying second hand is also a purse-friendly option that can save buyers up to 70% off rrps.

4. Marble, Marble Everywhere

Not only does marble shout luxury and high-end quality, but it is also the perfect partner to metallic finishes such as brass and gold. Choose white or creamy shades of marble and you also have a great contrast with bold greens and blues.

Richly veined marbles are set to be a particularly big kitchen trend in 2022.

5. Kitchen Wallpaper

Yes you read that right — kitchen wallpaper really is a good idea. Often thought of as being about as practical as carpet in a bathroom, there is a new wave of wallpaper now on the market, specifically designed with kitchens in mind.

“What we are seeing is plucky homeowners using wallpaper to counter the minimalism of white cupboards and neutral worktops,” says wallpaper designer Elizabeth Ockford.

“While many might be afraid of using wallpaper in the kitchen due to its humidity, a non-woven paper combined with good ventilation will ensure wallpaper remains in great condition.”

Elizabeth recommends a coat of matt water-based varnish over the wallpaper once its hung and dry to seal all edges and joins for additional protection.

6. Kitchen Design Trends – Kitchen Home Offices

The need for more home working has meant a rise in homeowners searching for space to carve out office areas.

The kitchen is the ideal spot (now that homeschooling is behind us) and kitchen designers have caught on to this by coming up with all kinds of solutions, from units which conceal neat little office set-ups within, to layouts that allow for offices to tuck away in a quite corner of the space.

7. Wooden Kitchens

Wooden kitchen ideas might not be anything new, but the way in which designers are now celebrating the beauty of wood within the kitchen and in the units they are producing is.

From finishes that really draw out the textures within the wood, to new treatments, 2022 is certain to be full of wooden kitchens that exude style and encourage a connection with nature.

8. Smart(er) Appliances

Just when you thought that kitchen appliances were doing as much as they possibly could to make life easier, they just got even smarter — and that is something that is only set to grow in 2022.

From ovens that carry out recipes on your behalf and even take on the role of intuitively adjusting temperature, to fridges that order your shopping — the possibilities are endless.

The boiling water taps we were all in awe of a couple of years ago have seen an upgrade too — most smart taps now also dispense boiling, chilled, filtered and sparkling too (some even allow you to select exactly how carbonated you like your water).

9. Kitchen Design Trends – Mesh Fronted Cabinets

Linking in nicely with the metallic touches that are such hot news right now, mesh-fronted units are on the rise. They offer a pleasing compromise between glass and solid-fronted units, disguising messy contents without appearing heavy or overbearing.

10. Minimalist Kitchen Design

Clutterphobes rejoice — 2022 will see a plethora of sleek, minimalist kitchens hitting the showrooms.

With straight lines, fuss-free details and clean polished details, the new ranges of minimalist kitchens offer a serene retreat from our busy lives.

11. Sustainable Kitchens

Sustainability is important to us all in our homes and 2022 is set to see a sharp rise in green kitchens. There are lots of steps you can take to ensure an eco-friendly kitchen, whether that is taking small measures such as fitting an efficient recycling bin or buying only A-rated appliances.

Some sustainable kitchens are greener than others — look out for those made from responsibly sourced materials and recycled elements (such as worktops), along with those where the production process has used renewable energy.

12. Kitchen Design Trends – Mix and Match Furniture

Perhaps it has something to do with a keen desire to make the most of what is already available (as opposed to buying new) or maybe it is a need to put a very individual stamp on our homes, but mix and match kitchens that combine furniture from different sources and ranges, many with a very different original purpose to the one it ends up having, are definitely on the rise.

You need to get creative to make this look work — look at furniture a new a way. Could that old pine wardrobe be fitted with mesh fronts to start a new life as a kitchen armoire, or is that workbench from the garage crying out to become a butcher’s block?

13. Statement Kitchen Lighting

Lighting used to be a bit of an afterthought in the kitchen — remember those dreadful plastic encased fluorescent strip lights full of flies?

Not anymore — kitchen lighting is recognised as one of the most important elements of this space now. But 2022 will see a shift in how lighting is viewed in the kitchen — yes it needs to be practical first and foremost, but there is no need why practical cannot also equal design wow.

Think enormous pendants, great big dangling statement pieces and shades that glimmer internally thanks to their metallic coatings.

14. Built-in Dining Booths

The trend for built-in joinery ideas has really taken off this year and it is set to become even bigger in the kitchen in 2022.

Bespoke built-in dining booths in particular are one to look out for. They not only make the best use of the space and proportions of a kitchen – an especially good small kitchen idea – but they also add a sense of intimacy and conviviality.