Charter One Realty Blog

Who doesn’t love a gorgeous kitchen? It is once again time to review some of our favorite kitchen designs! From outstanding backsplash designs to simple hardware swaps, the heart of the home tells a story the moment you enter it. 

In 2021, design trends shifted ever-so-slightly away from the much-loved “farmhouse” look. If you recently embraced shiplap, metals, and wood tones, don’t fret. There are simple ways to keep your kitchen looking fresh and on-trend in 2021.

As you consider new changes to your kitchen space, decide if you want the design to whisper, talk or yell! This helps you decide how bold to go with each design element. Read more to check out our 2021 kitchen design trends and gather up new ideas for reimagining your current space! 

Everything Doesn’t Have to Be White: Embrace Wood Tones

Instead of painting your cabinets and walls white, how about installing natural wood cabinets, or consider featuring a stained wood hutch with complementary painted cabinets? Those of us who love the clean feel of all-white-everything might have a hard time getting on board, but wood tones are definitely in.

For a lived-in cottage feel, butcher block countertops can add a lot of warmth and coziness to the space without going too modern and allowing that farmhouse aesthetic to keep shining.

If you like contemporary elements in your kitchen, try sleek wooden floating shelves. Use these for everyday items like small plates, cups, and coffee mugs so dust doesn’t have a chance to collect. Or, use the wooden shelves to highlight precious pieces including art, a vase or two, fancy decanter, small cutting boards and dress them up with a plant. 

If you have high ceilings, a great way to incorporate wood is by adding beams to the ceiling, which is always an amazing home feature. 

Statement Backsplash Kitchen Design Trends

From tile to beadboard to shiplap, brick, and wallpaper, the way to show off your personality in the kitchen design is in a backsplash. If the kitchen is otherwise neutral or timeless, creating a statement backsplash can be a great way to introduce a color palette through patterns and textures. Whether it blends into the upper and lower cabinets or tells a story the moment you walk in, there is no doubt a featured backsplash adds depth and personality to the overall design. 

Moody Cabinet Colors

As mentioned, white cabinets are a classic kitchen design, but in 2021, we are seeing more kitchens feature cabinets in dark blues and greens. Contrasting cabinets in bold colors makes a huge statement and instantly elevates the space.

Plus, the darker colors hide fingerprints and messes from pets and kids well and can be versatile in pairing countertop materials and colors.

Many recent trends are pulling inspiration from European kitchen designs, with moody monochrome cabinets and backsplash, where the counters are the talking point. And if dark cabinets aren’t your style, try a medium brightness to embrace the trend but stay true to what you like. 

Gold, Brass or Bronze Hardware Kitchen Trends

Stainless steel may be the sought-after high-end look of appliances, but gold hardware is a very popular choice for cabinet pulls, knobs and faucets. 

The warm, brassy tones can still pair well with stainless steel appliances if that’s what you have. Be sure to consider the tones in the countertops when choosing complementary paint colors to pull everything together into one cohesive look.

Conclusion

Kitchen design inspiration can be overwhelming. Consider these trends when you plan your home’s updates:

1. Use wood tones in the kitchen to add warmth and coziness. 

2. Statement backsplash is a fun way to show personality. 

3. Moody cabinets can make a statement as two-tone or monochromatic for a European kitchen-inspired design. 

4. Use gold, brass, or bronze hardware and fixtures for a relatively easy change. 

Which of these 2021 kitchen design trends would work best in your home? What are your plans to update the kitchen this year? 

Share with us in the comments below!