8 Fresh Kitchen Design Trends for 2015-2016
Top Trends for Kitchen Cabinets, Kitchen Fixtures and More
2015 is drawing to a close. It was an interesting year for kitchen design trends, and you’ll probably want to take a look at the list of 8 fresh kitchen design trends for 2015 posted below. However, if you’d like to take a look ahead to our forecast for 2016, we invite you to check out our kitchen trends 2016 report. Thanks for visiting.
Want to freshen up the look of your kitchen? Maybe you’re building a brand new home from the ground up, or you’re interested in doing a complete kitchen remodel. Or perhaps your budget only allows you to change out a few key details in your existing kitchen décor. If you’re updating your kitchen in any form, before you spend any money, it pays to get informed about the current kitchen design trends for 2015.
When decorating a home, it’s important to strike a balance between the trendy and the classic — since kitchen projects are costly, and the work done will need to last for years. With that in mind, we’re suggesting only trends that we predict will have staying power that goes well beyond the year 2015.
1. Wood Kitchen Cabinets
Wood color stories are all over the place,and a variety of different types of wood grains and wood stains are of interest.
Oak is shaping up to be a clear-cut winner; lately, oak kitchen cabinets have seen a dramatic upward surge in demand, with strong interest particularly coming from Canada and the USA. This time around, the focus is on blond wood tones, for example white oak, as opposed to the red oak that was trendy in decades past. To achieve the most current looks, it’s also necessary to carefully select the stains and finishes used.
Mixed wood color stories are also directional for 2015.
Some trend-setting designers are now favoring driftwood-inspired tones that read “gray” overall. Many designers are now incorporating pale woods and warm honey-toned woods into their kitchen cabinet designs. Quite a few designers are still favoring dark woodtones — which have been popular for the first half of this decade, and continue to be relevant going into 2015.
Maple kitchen cabinets have been in strong demand in the recent past, and they remain current for 2015 and beyond.
In urban environments such as Chicago, Philadelphia and Toronto, we’re seeing increased demand for cherry kitchen cabinets. Cherry wood is an enduring and much-beloved traditional favorite, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see interest in it pick up even more steam in the future.
Cherry wood makes particular sense for those embracing the current trend towards warm metals such as copper and bronze.
We’re seeing an uptick in demand for walnut kitchen cabinets, and declining demand for birch kitchen cabinets.
Another up-to-the-minute look: interesting combinations of complementary woods and wood stains.
We see these wood-themed color stories playing out not only in kitchen cabinetry, but also in other interesting accent spaces and architectural details.
2. Minimalist White Kitchen Cabinets and Appliances
White is one of the freshest new “neutrals,” and it’s a color that makes perfect sense in the kitchen. Think simple, clean, uncluttered and un-fussy kitchen cabinetry — with appliances that blend into the cabinets as if they were an extension of them.
3. Metallic or Gray Kitchen Cabinets
Gray isn’t the freshest, newest interior design trend going — which could actually be a good thing for those of you who don’t want to be first to dive into anything.
In the past few years, gray has already been shaping up as a go-to color, and it is still a relatively safe choice as 2015 progresses.
Along with white, gray is a strong contender for the hottest neutral color in trendy designers’ palettes for 2015. Gray is also a much fresher choice than the beiges, khakis and camels that were so prevalent during the last several decades.
For those of you who want to go up-to-the-minute-trendy, consider adding luster to your gray color stories. Metallic surfaces are a hot design trend for 2015, and they are easily accomplished; try freshening up tired spaces with some of the newest metallic paint colors that are hitting the marketplace now. This is particularly timely advice for those of you who can’t do an entire remodel; a fresh coat of paint could do wonders to transform tired-looking kitchen cabinets.
4. Forget Stainless Steel Fixtures. Think Oil-Rubbed Bronze and Other Up-To-Date Finishes.
Stainless steel has its place, and it hasn’t gone away by any means. It’s still an important fabrication at the decorator’s disposal.
However, one easy way to get a fresh, new look is to ditch the stainless steel, and instead use fabrications that look more current.
Oil-rubbed bronze continues to be an important surface for kitchen and bathroom fixtures such as faucets, handles and knobs. Pictured at right, you’ll also see a coordinating bronze towel ring for holding kitchen dish towels.
Oil-rubbed bronze pairs well with Pantone’s choice for 2015 color of the year, Marsala,
If oil-rubbed bronze is too dark or dramatic for your kitchen space, check out other current finishes such as brushed nickel or chrome.
5. Warm Metal Kitchen Fixtures and Accents
Warm, inviting kitchens hold universal appeal. If you find your kitchen in need of some warm accents and details, warm-colored metals are one possible way give the room an inviting glow.
Another creative idea that adds plenty of visual interest: incorporate both warm and cool reflective metals into the same space — perhaps combining accents of brass or copper plus chrome.
6. White or Colorful Sinks
There’s a dilemma faced by those embracing the trends for warm metals such as copper and bronze: how do you make it look good with a standard stainless steel sink?
The solution: You don’t have to. Instead, you go with a plain white sink, or perhaps a sink in a warm color that harmonizes.
Of course, that isn’t to say that bronze-colored fixtures would never look good with stainless steel sinks. There are some designers who have successfully pulled off such combinations. However, for many of us, bronze + white is a safer choice.
7. Open Floor Plan Designs for the Kitchen and the Home
During the past several decades, we’ve witnessed an evolution from closed to open floor plans. Open floor plans continue to be on-trend for 2015 and beyond.
What does that mean for the decorator at work in an open kitchen space?
In light of this trend, there are some details that should not be overlooked.
Let’s say the people hanging out in your family room can see everything going on in the kitchen — and the people in the kitchen have full view of the family room as well. In that case, the décor should be consistent between the kitchen and the family room. While it doesn’t all have to be matchy-matchy, it’s important that your kitchen décor harmonizes well with the pieces in your family room. When freshening up the kitchen, you might want to choose a few of your accent colors from the choices you’ve already made in the family room. You also may wish to incorporate key elements that tie the two rooms together — perhaps coordinating area rugs, several well-placed pieces of artwork by the same artist, or harmonizing color palettes throughout.
8. Continuing Demand for Outstanding Value
Consumers are increasingly cost-conscious, and perpetually in search of cost-saving solutions such as veneers and laminates — which continue to be popular in 2015.
We’re seeing strong demand for overall classic design elements in the kitchen, as consumers feel compelled to search for solutions that will last them for many years. Ironically, we’re seeing a trend towards demand for the trend-proof, particularly when it comes to practically-permanent improvements such as cabinetry and flooring.
So now you’re updated with all the latest info. In the process of any kitchen design project, you’ll be faced with numerous decisions to make, and it will help you to be armed with this list of 8 fresh kitchen design trends for 2015 and beyond. We invite you to make good use of this list when you’re contemplating your kitchen design and / or updates. Happy decorating!
Get More Kitchen Ideas and Inspiration
Want to find out more about the latest kitchen kitchen gadgets, accessories, and fixtures? The following pages have more great kitchen ideas.
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8 Fresh Kitchen Design Trends for 2015-2016
Updated for 2016! Revamping your kitchen? Need some up-to-the-minute ideas? Check out these 8 fresh kitchen design trends for 2015-2016.
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