As 2021 draws to a close, it’s relevant to take out our crystal balls and gaze into the future of kitchen design to see what our Mint Kitchen Group experts think will be the prevailing kitchen design trends in 2022.

More than ever before, design for kitchens and interiors is heavily influenced by the pandemic and how it has changed the way we view our homes and how we gather with friends and family. Given that we will likely be living with COVID well into next year, the long term effect of restrictions will continue to be a key consideration in the way we design our homes.

Kitchen Design Trend #1: The Home as a Haven

As a direct result of us all spending more time at home this year (and last year) than ever before, we’ve evolved a new appreciation for the home as a relaxing, welcoming haven – a safe space from the world outside. And, as we’ve spent more time at home, we’ve realised what it takes to create a space that is not only comfortable but functional, as well.

Homeowners are now more willing to invest in renovating their homes to create the space they desire and nowhere was this seen more clearly than in kitchen design. As the hub of the home, the importance of the kitchen has been underscored by these many months at home and many people have realised their existing kitchen is simply not up to the task.

Kitchen design will evolve to encompass a space that provides for many users and caters for a range of tasks and there will be an increasing emphasis on making the space highly functional, even more so than in past years.

Kitchen Design Trend #2: The Multi-Functional Kitchen

Another repercussion from us all spending so much time at home, was that we realised how many different functions we expect from our kitchen. Because it is the main space in which the family live, relax and entertain (when we’re able to), kitchen design will need to incorporate all those functions within one space. And that means more clever approaches to design and layout, more inclusion of helpful gadgets and gizmos (like charging drawers and pop-up power points) that make the space usable for a range of functions, and allowance for additional space within the kitchen for working or schooling from home, or conducting other tasks normally done outside the home.

As the kitchen extends into the family room/rumpus room/alfresco area, our design approach will need to include flexibility and adaptability with the inclusion of eat-in spaces and casual dining, for example.

Kitchen Design Trend #3: Embracing Colour

Another positive outcome from all our time spent indoors, is an increasing move towards embracing colour within our interior spaces. So, rather than sticking with a plain white kitchen because it feels “safe”, homeowners are more accepting of thinking outside the square when it comes to colour palettes and colour schemes for their new kitchen.

We’re picking that this trend will endure throughout 2022 as homeowners look for visual stimuli to provide a balance and contrast to the bleakness of the last two years. Strong colours such as navy and teal are certainly making their way to the front of the pack, but we’re also seeing blends and tones become increasingly popular – in particular the Pantone colour of the year for 2022, Veri Peri, is a gorgeous shade of purple that can be used as a feature colour or to provide an accent.

Even if homeowners still want to stick to a neutral or white palette, we’re finding a shift in thinking towards being more open to one or two strong feature colours used throughout the kitchen, either to provide boundaries between zones or to provide light and shade throughout the design for visual impact.

Kitchen Design Trend #4: Mixing and Matching

One of the benefits of consistently emerging technologies is how we’re able to apply these to kitchen design. Continual research and development in the field of benchtops, splashbacks, board manufacture and hardware design means we have an ever-evolving choice of colours, styles, textures, patterns and finishes to choose from when designing a kitchen.

As kitchen designers, this is a veritable lolly shop of ideas and inspiration and we’re picking 2022 as the year of the pattern with awesome opportunities to provide that real visual “wow” factor that many homeowners are looking for. Following on from the trend of homeowners being more open to stretch themselves within the colour palette of the kitchen, we’re also forecasting more acceptance of patterns and textures when it comes to kitchen design. Mixing and matching within different surface materials – both vertical and horizontal – will allow kitchen design to be amplified like never before and that is a hugely exciting opportunity on the horizon.

Thinking of Renovating?

The kitchen trends of 2022 are already starting to develop and here are some of the most interesting newest kitchen trends in Australia. If you’re considering a kitchen renovation, feel free to contact us today for a consultation or visit our showrooms in Burnley, Richmond, Moonee Ponds or Burwood today!

Our team would be happy to help guide you through what kitchen style will best suit your needs! Do you have any predictions on kitchen trends? Share with us on social media!