Whether you want to invest in a new kitchen or refresh tired-looking kitchen cupboards, a successful kitchen design combines many elements – layout, cabinets, worktops, appliances, and so forth. If 2020 was the year of the 'living kitchen' where function, aesthetic and technology combined to make day-to-day life a little easier, what's in store for 2021 and beyond? And specifically, what will we be demanding from our kitchens post-pandemic?
For 2021, the humble kitchen is reinventing itself. Today, the modern kitchen is where we prepare and enjoy meals – it has taken on the role of being a social venue, albeit via Zoom (according to research from Homebase, 88 per cent claim the role of the kitchen is now for socialising rather than cooking), and it's also an office, classroom, playroom, restaurant and much more.
Now more than ever, each square inch needs to work harder and our spaces need to do more, which is why our newly-launched House Beautiful kitchens at Homebase (the Westbourne Kitchen in cobble pictured above) aim to make your life easier by creating a statement space that’s both practical and beautiful.
The most desirable modern kitchen designs will combine purpose and personality, designs which encourage a new appetite for 'more highly curated kitchens that are 100 per cent original and reflect your own personal taste, character and lifestyle', says Julia Steadman, Head of Operations at Brandt Design.
There's a renewed appreciation for designer details with the likes of integrated media systems, walk-in larders, hideaway storage, extra power outlets and open shelving for display purposes.
For 2021, kitchen colours that are inspired by nature – we’re talking earthy tones and biophilic colour schemes including high pigment greens and blues – will modernise the classic kitchen, inspiring more contemporary schemes. Hayley Simmons, Head of Merchandising at Magnet, says we'll be seeing 'more sophisticated colourways with less shine and more matt colours'.
Can't afford a new kitchen? Remember, not all kitchen designs have to be expensive. ‘Kitchens can be costly investments and aren’t easily interchangeable. Using paint to add a splash of colour to walls, cabinet fronts, tiles, or shelving units is not only cost effective, but also allows for a unique burst of creativity and personality to be injected with ease,' says Helen Shaw, Director at Benjamin Moore UK.
Green is the 'It' colour of 2021
It's all about the colour green this year. Sage greens will define the contemporary kitchen, while stronger, more traditional tones like forest green will enrich more classical kitchen schemes, explains Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director at Daval.
Use green to bring the outside in, create a connection with nature from the comfort of your own home, and to benefit your mental health and wellness.
'Green has really become a new neutral,' says Mark Mills, Managing Director at Mereway Kitchens. 'It works beautifully in both contemporary and traditional kitchens bringing a fresh elegance and energy to the space. Using dark green base units help ground a larger space and can even create a feeling of space in smaller kitchens when matched with ivory or bleached wood wall units.
The painted kitchen
A practical choice in the modern kitchen, painted furniture offers a new lease of life to the kitchen cabinet and presents a modern take on a more traditional look and finish. When paired with authentic raw materials like marble and concrete, it creates a durable kitchen environment that is classic in nature, yet contemporary in finish.
A hand-painted kitchen can be sanded down and re-painted in a new colour of choice – a great way to renovate your kitchen without the expense of replacing whole units.
New neutrals
Calming neutrals, from white and ivory to taupe and grey, are still go-to choices. Muted and tonal colours paired with tactile materials, such as wood, rattan, wicker and stone, can create a serene and warming space.
‘One of the key trends we expect to see in kitchens this year is New Neutrals, a calming trend of muted and earthy colours that create an inviting and relaxing atmosphere,' explains Hayley Simmons at Magnet.
'This peaceful choice of styling exudes calm and serenity, a stark contrast to the challenging and fast-paced nature of modern life.'
Clever, practical storage
Storage is, and will continue to be, a big part of the kitchen space, specifically hidden storage solutions.
Essential for a streamlined finish, storage systems maximise space without negatively impacting the look and style of the kitchen. Homebase has seen a rise in demand for clever kitchen storage solutions, including large butler type units that hark back to more traditional times, but have been modernised to deliver more practical, clutter-free living in style. Breakfast cupboards behind pocket doors also reduce clutter and keep the aesthetic as they store away everyday appliances such as kettles, coffee machines and toasters.
The working kitchen
The rise of the 'working kitchen' reflects a repurposing of the traditional kitchen and an increased demand for multi-functional spaces.
There’s a focus on integrated seating areas, low-level and full height storage solutions, and extended breakfast bars or island units that become an all-inclusive workstation, complete with food prep areas and space for cooking, dining and home office work.
Worktables and islands offer added space and clever storage to hide not only kitchen items but also office paraphernalia.
The pantry/larder cupboard
Modern kitchens can integrate sections with open storage so beloved decorative pieces can be beautifully displayed or those essential items used most frequently can be accessed effortlessly.
The kitchen shelfie
Open shelves will be a popular choice for 2021, adding interest to the kitchen and creating a sense of more open space.
The kitchen shelfie is taking centre stage, as searches for 'kitchen floating shelves decor' is up 130 per cent on Pinterest. It's predicted that kitchen shelves will be the new favourite corner of the house, styled with eye-catching cookware and appliances, coloured glassware and handmade clay plates.
The sustainable kitchen
Eco-credentials are a growing concern to the modern homeowner, and as we progressively get more and more focused on sustainability and quality materials in the home, we're increasingly considering the manufacture, design and delivery of a product before purchasing.
'Using environmentally-friendly materials in interior design has seen huge growth of late and we are finding that the pure nature of 100 per cent recycled furniture continues to lend itself to urban-inspired kitchens, which are sustainable and originally designed,' explains Simon Bodsworth at Daval.
Two-tone kitchens
Two tone, contrasting finishes are becoming a desirable aesthetic in the kitchen. You could opt for contrasting wall and floor mounted cabinetry; deep, dark units contrasted with brighter shades elsewhere; an island in an eye-catching hue, or it could be as simple as teaming a darker shade of grey with a softer dove grey hue.
This design feature is also being utilised in parts of the kitchen that aren’t as visible, such as drawer and cupboard interiors which now demand the same consideration as the exterior finishes.
The feature splashback
Individuality in modern kitchen design can be achieved with a feature splashback – an ideal way to make a statement. You can continue your kitchen colour scheme through to the walls and splashback for greater intensity and vibrancy.
Melissa Klink, Head of Design at Harvey Jones, says splashbacks are perfect for instant wow factor. 'Because the application isn’t being used as the main worktop, this opens up a variety of other options like specialised marble and other porous stone. Slab splashbacks are a great way to dictate the colour palette of the room and reflect the light in a soft fashion.'
Clever internal zoning
Broken-plan living will 'define the next decade', declared the design team at British Standard by Plain English last year. And it's still the case – even more so as a result of the pandemic.
This is particularly true in open-plan spaces, where the kitchen, living room and dining area all merge into one. With a need to separate connected spaces, the idea of zoning replaces open-plan layouts with what is referred to as broken-plan.
'Clever internal zoning within the kitchen living space enables the right amount of separation mixed with the right amount of togetherness,' explain luxury kitchen designers, The Myers Touch.
A focus on seating
'Now that we are sitting for long periods at a time it is essential that our chairs and stools not only look great, but are comfortable too,' says Helena Myers from The Myers Touch.
Wine storage
As a result of spending more time cooking and entertaining at home, there's now a greater investment in kitchen appliances. Many of us are incorporating wine storage into our kitchen design, without compromising on cabinet or other appliance space.
The kitchen island
At the start of 2020, the staple kitchen island was slowly adapting into the dining island, ensuring the family can cook, dine and spend time together in one room. For 2021, the desire for a kitchen island remains strong.
According to Homebase, nearly 85 per cent of customers surveyed prefer an island in their kitchen.
'Kitchen islands are a perennial favourite but are even more in demand as we demand more and more of our kitchens as workspaces, classrooms and food preparation areas,' says Tom Howley, Creative Director at Tom Howley. 'I have designed kitchens where the island counter makes up just 15 per cent of the worktop space but boasts 90 per cent usage. When possible, do fit an island counter. They serve as impromptu dinner tables, bars, home offices and food prep stations. Sometimes all at the same time.'
Marble effect
'For 2021 we will see a rise in luxe-look kitchens,' says Steph Briggs, Interior Designer and Co-Founder La Di Da Interiors. 'Marble makes a strong style statement and is undeniably luxury.'
When it comes to worktops, versatile quartz options which mimic the natural appeal of marble without the maintenance are set to be huge in 2021, say Brandt.
Hot water taps
Boiling water taps will become our most used kitchen appliance, transforming the way we think and carry out everyday tasks such as food preparation, cooking and hosting guests.
A hot water tap provides an energy efficient and safe solution to accessing instant boiling water, without the need to switch on the kettle or boil a pan – and they're now available in a variety of designs to suit any colour theme.
Kitchens International notes that it dispenses not just boiling, hot and cold water, but also chilled, filtered, drinking water.
Sculptural lights
Sculptural lights which marry decorative art with design, such as spherical, triangular and coned, to ring lights and spirals, will also dominate the modern kitchen.
'Though it will remain a greatly popular style, the pendant light will be slightly usurped by the chandelier in 2021,' says Chris Jordan. 'Moving away from the ultra-modern, a taste for the rustic and the antique will return as a new take on industrial, with vintage style fixtures such as chandeliers with candle-bulbs and aged metal finishes on the rise.'
Let's talk about wood
Charlie Smallbone of Ledbury Studio has been applying beautiful coloured stains on wood: 'Stains allow you to celebrate the beauty of the wood grain while pushing it beyond its raw, natural state to enhance the overall beauty of the kitchen by adding rich texture. So far, we’ve worked with greys, purples, violets and pinks, but clients can have any colour they want. This chimes with increasing consumer demand for personalisation in the kitchen; creating something that is unique to the individual.'
'Any material that has an organic influence helps to ground the room and provide an instant sense of calm, and reclaimed wood is warm and full of rich detail. The look is beautifully unique and something you cannot recreate using new material,' adds Melissa Klink at Harvey Jones.
Dark surfaces
There's an increased interest in dark shades, particularly when it comes to surfaces in the kitchen.
'Whether used as a sharp contrast to lighter coloured cabinetry or paired with bold dark cupboards, dark worktops are definitely on the up,' says Oliver Webb, Director of Sales & Marketing at Cullifords.
The trend for dark surfaces has emerged as a result of the shift towards two-tone kitchens. 'Shades such as black and dark grey, when used on surfaces such as worktops, floors and splashbacks, can be used to make a room feel very inviting, particularly when combined with textured woods to add a rustic, homely charm,' says Simon Boocock, Managing Director at CRL Stone.
Sink details
To balance the stylised aesthetic of statement taps (from brass to matt black), we are placing more attention on sink details.
'Going beyond just the obvious stainless or ceramic options, we are creating sinks from granite, marble, concrete, corian, and adding edge detailing to make them more appealing,' reveals Melissa Klink at Harvey Jones. 'Within the kitchen, we spend a lot of time at the sink, so we certainly want it to be a spot of interest.'
And, sinks are getting larger too, brought about in part by a migration from city to country living, according to Leanne Adamson, Marketing Manager at Abode.
Technology in all forms
We're now investing in appliances that help keep food fresher for longer and makes cooking easier too. 'Ovens with technical features such as moisture injection and precise temperature help to produce professional end results,' says George Forsyth of Drew Forsyth & Co.
Due to Covid, Lanserring are seeing a higher demand for pure air in kitchens – a system called Clarity creates monitors, analyses and cleans the air in your home. Meanwhile, a system called Shelter perfectly watches over your kitchen from a distance using an ecosystem of thermometers, humidity monitors and leak detectors.
Hygiene
The coronavirus pandemic has made hygiene even more of a focus for homeowners. Choosing materials that are easy to clean and 'technology that helps to limit touch-points in the kitchen' are coming to the fore, says Daniel Bowler of Eggersmann UK.
Cleanability is a key selling point here. There's a trend for handleless kitchens which offer smooth and streamlined surfaces that are easy to clean. 'Matt lacquer technology offers anti-fingerprint properties to support easy cleaning,' say the team at German kitchen brand Pronorm.
'There are now work surface options that can eliminate 99.9 per cent of bacteria in just 24 hours by using a high-pressure laminate that features resins incorporated into the material during the production process.
These resins guarantee the surface a lifetime of antibacterial protection and, as they are completely free from nano-particles, there is absolutely no danger to humans or the environment.'
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