The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where our days begin with making breakfast, brewing coffee, checking emails, and finishing up one last homework assignment at the kitchen island. 

The way a kitchen feels, looks, and functions can bring ease into your day, gather your family together for meal times, make cooking run more smoothly, and inspire and motivate you, depending on the colors, countertops, backsplash, lighting, flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, and other choices you make when designing your dream kitchen.

Here are a few kitchen design trends to look out for in 2022 and to consider for your own space:

Prioritizing Color

Color plays an integral role in the design of a kitchen. It can either make a statement, add contrast, have a psychological or emotional purpose, or create a visual balance within a space. Hannah Yeo, Color Marketing & Development Manager for Benjamin Moore, says “Color offers us the ability to set the tone for a space, whether that color is used in a big way with a lot of impact or in a small way to add unexpected interest.”

Whether going bold with dark and moody colors or taking on a more natural look with neutrals and a woodblock countertop, color can completely transform the way a kitchen feels and looks. Here are a few colors experts predict will be on trend this upcoming year: green, black, nature-inspired hues, neutrals, yellows, and burnt orange.

Natural Light

Having natural light in a kitchen saves energy and is proven to be a greener option in eco-friendly designs. When done right, it can also increase productivity and mood, prevent the growth of mold and mildew, and increase your home’s value. Natural light can be added to a kitchen in many forms, including light shelves, sun tunnels, skylights, glass doors, and clerestory windows.

Pet-Friendly Features

If you have a cat or dog and want to maximize your space, there are a few ways to incorporate your pet’s needs into your kitchen design. You can install a pull-out food and water dishes and food storage drawers to eliminate the need to take up space elsewhere in the home. Also consider pet-safe appliances for cats adamant on jumping onto stoves, hidden gates, durable flooring, rugs or runners for pets to lay on, and pet-friendly surfaces.

Slab Backsplashes

A solid slab backsplash can be luxurious yet functional. Marble, granite, and quartz are great natural stone materials that can make a statement when used as a backsplash. Cost-wise, when compared to a tile backsplash, a slab can be similar in price to tile, if not less. The material cost of a slab is more expensive, but installation is lower in cost as it doesn’t take as long to install. As a bonus, it’s easier to clean and maintain. 

Textured Surfaces

Texture is often prominent in living rooms and bedrooms, but adding texture to kitchens has increased in popularity. Using wood grain, brushed metals, stone, concrete, and brick has become more common and has given kitchens a new depth. Using the right balance of these textures and finishes can give a kitchen a sophisticated and more natural appearance.