Kitchen trends for 2016:

The kitchen has traditionally been the center of the home, and remains so in most homes today. Having one designed and functioning exactly the way you want can make your home truly a haven. It’s no wonder that remodeling baths and kitchens are the most effective renovations in terms of recouping your investment when you sell. Do them right, and you may never want to!

Here is a look into what is being talked about for the best in kitchen design trends for this new year. As we’ve written in previous articles, the Pantone colors for 2016 (note we said colors, not color) are both pastels; one a pink, one a blue. Interestingly, I am already seeing these colors throughout the fashion world in new collections coming out already this year.

In keeping with these selections, what you will be seeing as current for 2016 in terms of kitchen color schemes will be pastels as accents for the kitchen rather than bold, bright accent colors. Muted and slightly colored cabinets in grays, gray-greens, soft blues and tinted whites will show up alongside white cabinets for this year.

We’re seeing a move toward lighter woods being used for cabinets and a return of the metal range hood as well.

Hi-tech and smart appliances will be incorporated to help busy families be as efficient as possible in their kitchens this year. Hidden charging stations, room for all of our essential devices and time saving appliances will be very much in demand.

Further integration of the kitchen into the surrounding spaces will continue to be a top priority in both kitchen remodels and new construction. And the envelope is being pushed between these spaces even further. Look for integrating appliances into other living spaces as opposed to them being traditionally relegated to the kitchen, for example, hidden wine coolers in your living room…. If you are the hostess or the “chef” the last thing you want when having guests in your home is to be separated from the fun while preparing the food!

We will look into further trends that will be impacting kitchen design in future posts so stay tuned!