Whether your kitchen needs a minor update or a major renovation, the modern design trends of 2020 are sure to breathe new life into one of the most important rooms of your home. This year, interior design experts have noticed a number of significant trends that they believe will remain fashionable (and functional!) for many years to come. Although you can’t really go wrong with any of the suggestions offered by the industry experts, our 7 favorite modern trends include:
1. Natural Touches
Warm hues, natural wood grain, slab backsplashes, and soft neutral colors are slowly but surely taking over the all-white kitchen craze of prior years. Walnut cabinets are particularly appealing this year, according to interior designer Liz Stiving-Nichols. "It feels substantial, warm, and there is something unknowingly comforting about it," she says. "The flat-front cabinets and carved integral pulls allowed the walnut itself to remain an uninterrupted design feature." Adding a variety of natural textures will further enhance the coziness of the kitchen. Light fixtures in warm gold or copper tones will give the room unique focal points, as they’ll stand out from the beige, grey, and brown colors of the rest of the kitchen. You can also experiment with functional decorative elements, such as hanging copper pots and other cookware to add interest to the overarching subdued shades of the kitchen space.
As well as all of this, using natural touches and elements in a modern kitchen extends far beyond its visual appeal. It connects the room with nature, and for those who are concerned about their environmental impact, it adds a sense of sustainability. By choosing to use materials such as reclaimed wood, you are aligning your kitchen with your eco-friendly values, and using things like granite or marble countertops keeps the earthy vibe going while adding a modern and luxurious touch.
You should also embrace natural light coming in through big windows and skylights, not just so the room is bright and airy but also to allow all the different colors and textures in the space to come alive. Not only that but adding a few indoor plants and herbs into the design of your kitchen not only adds a pop of color but can help improve the air quality and absorb some of the cooking smells. It's not just about making your kitchen look good; it’s about making it a healthy and harmonious place to spend time.
2. Pantry Cupboards
Pantries, also known as larder cupboards, have become a must-have staple for new homebuyers. “Having a larder makes perfect sense,” says Leisha Norman, a designer at Harvey Jones. “All the food goods are in one place and not scattered around in numerous wall cupboards, meaning people can be more organized when doing their food shopping.” A larder is also great if you want your kitchen to be more spacious and inviting. If all your pantry items can be stored in one large cupboard, you’ll no longer require dozens of cabinets throughout your kitchen! You can take advantage of this extra space and create a cozy breakfast nook, display a large piece of artwork, or transform a wall of unused cabinets into something more practical for your family.
Pantry cupboards can be designed to integrate seamlessly with the rest of your kitchen cabinetry so that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Choose your pantry cupboard from a range of styles and finishes to match the rest of your kitchen design. One of the biggest benefits of pantry cupboards is the fact they allow you to keep your kitchen organized and easily accessible. Patry cupboards can come with shelving that can be adjusted and various compartments to allow you to store all sorts of food items, containers, and kitchen tools, making using the kitchen more efficient and pleasant. They also help to reduce food waste as you can better take stock of your food inventory and plan meals more effectively.
3. Custom Hoods
“We think custom hoods are the new trend of 2020,” says Janice Barta of Barta Interiors. “We are noticing a surge in custom kitchen hoods that steer away from the boring painted wood.” Interior designer Pamela Durkin agrees with this sentiment, explaining that custom range hoods are now considered to be “showstopping” focal points for modern kitchens. Instead of being eyesores, customized range hoods are becoming integrated into the rest of the kitchen, creating a seamless design. Regardless of how you choose to customize them, these metal hoods will always echo a classic, timeless look.
These bespoke hoods provide not just aesthetic benefits but functional ones too. They include effective ventilation systems, to help get rid of cooking odors, smoke, and grease particles in the air, to help make the kitchen environment feel cleaner, fresher, and an overall nicer place to be.
4. Pops of Color
Calming colors, such as blues and deep greens, are excellent choices when you think about how much time you spend in the kitchen. These soothing, beautiful hues seem to effortlessly blend with a variety of other modern design trends, including mixed metals, natural wood cabinets, light countertops, and more. One color in particular, Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year, Classic Blue, is definitely making waves in the world of interior design. "The blue color family is extremely versatile," says Sue Wadden, the director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. "Its varying shades—from light to denim to navy—have calming qualities that induce a sense of comfort at home and feel almost neutral." Of course, if blue isn’t your color of choice, you can choose your own favorite hue and start adding splashes of color with new barstools, cabinetry, or even appliances.
However, if blue doesn’t hit the spot for you, why not opt for a bright and sunny yellow, an energy-filled red, or a soft pastel shade? The key to incorporating these pops of color is achieving a balance between the vibrant accent colors and the overall design scheme. Select colors that harmonize with the other elements of your kitchen to create something visually attractive and cohesive. Whether you use them sparingly or abundantly, pops of color add life, energy, and even playfulness to a modern kitchen.
5. Sleek and Streamlined Cabinetry
One major trend is the streamlined look of cabinets without handles or knobs, with homeowners opting for a simple push-to-open mechanism or recessed handles instead. The lack of extra ornamentation makes the kitchen look sleek and trendy, while still being convenient for busy families. “It’s all about simplicity and a focus on cabinetry details,” says Busola Evans, an editor for Homes & Gardens. Without the knobs as distractions, you can better ensure that the visual draws of your kitchen are the specific spots or features that you truly want to showcase.
6. Open Shelving
In direct contrast to the trend listed above, open shelves are also gaining traction in kitchens across the country. They’re unique, functional, and incredibly stylish when organized with the right materials. Yanic Simard, an interior designer with the Toronto Interior Design Group, recommends storing commonly-used items on open shelves rather than fancy, rarely-used china or wine glasses. Items such as coffee mugs, spices, cute storage jars, and tea bags are a few items that can make your kitchen feel cozy and personalized to your exact needs. It might take a little experimentation to find which items create the best combination of visual appeal and functionality without looking overly cluttered.
As well as looking great, open shelves provide practical advantages. They allow you to access things that you use frequently, removing the need to rummage through drawers and cupboards. They can also make smaller kitchens feel bigger, as they add a sense of openness. However, it is important to remember that you need to keep them tidy and organized otherwise they can look cluttered and messy.
7. Double Islands
Due to the popularity of open-concept floor plans, kitchens have steadily become more spacious to decrease clutter and make essential items more easily accessible. If you want to create better flow and increase efficiency in the kitchen, adding a second island rather than one single countertop island is a no-brainer. To further promote kitchen organization and functionality, it may be helpful to have distinct purposes for the different islands, such as using one for food prep and the other for eating and setting prepared plates. Choose countertops with a lovely natural finish, and you’ll find that your entire kitchen will feel more airy, open, and welcoming.