Another of the big kitchen cabinet trends is open shelving. Instead of putting in a solid bank of cabinets with doors, consider mixing in some open shelves or glass doors to break things up a bit, make your kitchen feel more spacious, and add visual interest.
Adding more cabinet options and features, such as appliances that use cabinet doors as fronts, are ideal for 2021 kitchens. Wooden finishes are also making a return for cabinets, but typically in lighter shades and not the traditional cherry wood of the early 2000s.
Dark Oak & Walnut
Oak and walnut have fine linear grains so it's hardly surprising that they have become the favorites for 2022 kitchen trends. Walnut has a naturally deep color that lends well to neutral yet distinctive color palettes. A flat front walnut style cabinet will be the top choice for kitchens.
Other manufacturers such as Whirlpool and Miele have also released appliances in a wide range of colors. This has caused interior designers and smaller appliance manufacturers to wonder: Could this be the end of stainless steel? Stainless steel is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Well, it should be no surprise… the classic white cabinet will still be the #1 cabinet color for kitchens in 2022 and beyond. White is crisp and clean, will brighten any kitchen, and will most likely never go out of style.
Two tones. Two-tone cabinets — the upper cabinets in one color, the lower cabinets in another — are a big trend for 2021. Adding an eye-catching touch to your kitchen, two-tone cabinets can come in infinite color combinations — including black and white or gray and white.
Natural materials, like wood and stone, are always in style. Have your contractor install maple, birch, or cherry cabinets. Look for stone options such as granite, limestone, or slate. Your kitchen will be stylish and trendy both now and in the future.
Go with Light Colors
Light colors are more reflective than dark colors and they will make your kitchen appear bigger as well as more open and airy. Light blues, greens, or pale yellows are other great colors to make your space look larger than life.
Seen as a relic of the early 90's, the oak cabinets of yesteryear had a major issue: they didn't look all that great paired together with the then-prevalent styles of granite countertops. However, oak cabinets are currently in the middle of making a comeback.
Honey Oak Cabinets
A staple in kitchens of the 1980s and '90s, these golden-toned wood cabinets have fallen out of favor as white and gray cabinets have risen in popularity. If you don't like your light-stained cabinets, but they're in good shape, consider refinishing or painting what's there.
The answer is – no! The oak trim and oak flooring finish (the golden color known in the industry as “honey”) will never come back in style. Today, there are many beautiful versions of stained oak on the market that allow it to appear more contemporary and aesthetically pleasing.
And perhaps most telling, Pantone, widely recognized as an authority on predicting color trends, has chosen Ultimate Gray (17-5104) as its color of the year for 2021. But some experts believe gray's days are numbered, soon to be replaced by a return to warmer and brighter colors.
but people are becoming bolder when adding pops of color to their kitchens. Cool-toned cabinets are dominating the trends this year and white, gray, two-toned, blue, and even green cabinets are on the rise.
Tiny Backsplashes
Skinny backsplashes are out of style, we are happy to report. A ceramic tile or glass backsplash that stretches from counter to cabinets is much easier to keep clean, and is more likely to catch spills and splatters.
Subway tile is the most enduring choice for a backsplash. Avoid bold, trendy colors, and instead look for white or neutrals. Keep it simple, and bring in color elsewhere in the kitchen, with more easily replaced items, such as dish towels, art, bowls of fruit and rugs.
First, let's talk about white kitchen cabinets … these aren't going anywhere in 2022. A white kitchen is classic and never goes 'out of style'. It may not always be the current trend, but white kitchen cabinets are always beautiful. We'll also continue to see the two-tone cabinet color trend in 2022.
While the all-white kitchen will probably never go out of style, there are lots of new design trends for 2021 that will make you equally happy. Think: natural elements with some pops of color as well as a visit to the dark side with colors you might never expect.
The general rule still holds that white cabinets aren't going anywhere anytime soon. They are still classic if done correctly, but I am noticing some push back on the whole “white on white on white” look that I see very often. White cabinets, white (subway) backsplash and white (quartz) countertops.
The U-Shape
Arguably the most versatile layout for any size of kitchen, a U-shaped floor plan surrounds the user on three sides, so it allows for longer countertops and extra storage cabinetry. “If you have enough space, I love a U-shaped kitchen with an island in the center,” says interior designer Tina Rich.
Are Oak Cabinets Coming Back in Style 2022:
For 2022, you will probably see a return to oak wood for kitchen cabinets as vintage becomes designer, and homeowners go back to the real wood of time past. Oak has the texture and look of subtle elegance with its neutral color and design versatility.
With proper care of professionally painted kitchen cabinets, you can expect your newly painted cabinets to last 8-10 years. However, there are a few things that can drastically shorten this timeframe, leaving you needing them repainted 3-4 years later.