2018 Kitchen Trends You’ll Love for Years to Come

For the chef who likes to add a dash of unexpected flavour to their dishes, black appliances will help set the stage for glamour, sophistication and intrigue. This trend looks especially chic in an all-white kitchen, with chrome hardware, but don’t shy away from pairing it with wood accents too.

White counters have been topped the wishlist of many a kitchen reno…until now. For 2018, expect more and more homeowners to part from the safe choice of white stone for darker shades of grey, and even black. Butcher block counters picked up steam in 2017, too, but for longevity’s sake, our vote goes with grey.

Faucets will go beyond simple form and function in 2018 to showcase truly innovative designs that stand like works of art in a kitchen. Planning a renovation? See more of the top trends for kitchen sinks in 2018.

Pantone’s 2018 Colour of the Year, Ultra Violet, may have made headlines when it was announced in December, but don’t expect the electrifying colour to infiltrate design anytime soon. Instead, softer shades of violet will seep into the mainstream (providing a much needed nod to the colours of spring!).

If you subscribe to the design philosophy of “less is more,” you’ll love the minimalist kitchens of 2018. These kitchens go beyond simplistic hardware and a uniform colour palette, they’re taking strides to hide everything, right down to the small appliances. This kitchen features sleek sliding panels that reveal cooking utensils and oils, and many boast “appliance garages” with doors that roll up to reveal easy to access toasters, espresso machines and blenders.

We’re all for environmentally friendly kitchens, but when we say “Go green in 2018!” we’re talking colour schemes. Green has become a go-to for designers looking to inject a fresh and cheerful vibe into the heart of the home. Paired with gold hardware and pastel pottery, a green island or cabinetry will really help your kitchen make a statement (and maybe even inspire healthy eating!). For more colourful culinary inspiration, see our roundup of 15 gorgeous graphic kitchens.

Subway tiles may be as mainstream as the midtown bus, but that doesn’t mean you can’t inject a little personality into your design. Subtle it is not, but colourful grout on a white subway tile adds major charm and quirk, and its picking up major steam in the design world. See 10 unusual tile and grout combinations that’ll instantly set your home apart for 2018.

An extra set of hands is always an asset in the kitchen, but with nary a sous chef in sight, at least a motion sensor automated faucet will at the very least free up the one set of hands you do have! This MotionSense Touchless Faucet from Moen is a life changer, you’ll wonder how you lived so long without it! For more futuristic trends, see our predictions for the top kitchen sinks and faucets for 2018.

OK, so you graduated from (boring) white cabinets to a (double boring) grey-beige hybrid. Big deal! For 2018, challenge yourself to go beyond “greige” and introduce deeper shades of grey, or grey with undertones of blue or purple. The contrast you can create with bolder colours will make for a kitchen that won’t go unnoticed.

Light and bright kitchens are giving way to darker, moodier spaces this year, starting from the ground up. Light wood floors have been super trendy, but tend to show every speck of dust and dirt, especially in a kitchen. A darker hardwood provides a warmer, more traditional style, while hiding yesterday’s crumbs.

Range hoods are an automatic focal point in a kitchen, so why not make it a true focal point? From brushed gold to this faux tarnished hood with nailhead trim, range hoods are a go-to statement maker. See 14 more of our favourite range hood styles.

As design rules lax, expect to see more and more kitchens mixing everything from cabinetry finishes to hardware. The overall effect is a kitchen that’s informal and inviting, perfect for those that love to entertain and hang around the kitchen island.

You heard it here first, 2018 is the year of the pantry! With the opportunity to renovate, homeowners are carving out cupboards and closets to create pantries that are truly works of art (at least in the eyes of organization experts!). The key to a great pantry is creating lots of transparent storage (think wire baskets and clear containers), and a countertop with outlets is a Godsend for storing small appliances that aren’t in your daily rotation.

With minimalist cabinetry growing in popularity, homeowners are doubling down on their floor design to inject colour, pattern and personality. Intricate hardwood floors do the trick, but we especially love a hardwood and tile pairing, like this beautiful blue design. Click to see even more inspiring, colourful kitchens.

Your tiny kitchen in the city may be a far cry from a home on the range, but that doesn’t mean you can’t adopt some classic farmhouse features. Apron sinks offer a more elegant take on the utilitarian feature, are typically oversized to accommodate all sizes of pots and pans, and pair beautifully with modern and classic hardware styles.

As much as we look to the future, trends always have a way of coming full circle. For 2018, we’ll be embracing retro appliances in mint green, soft blues and sweet pink. They’re the perfect balance to minimalist cabinets, modern floors and statement lighting.