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When it comes to the best kitchen trends, it can be a minefield of ideas and designs. We talked to the trend experts to find out which kitchen trends will be big in 2022.

With cool new kitchen brands popping up and lots of innovative design ideas and clever twists on old appliance designs on display in kitchen showrooms across the country, there are plenty of on-trend looks and state-of-the-art appliances to pick from.

KITCHEN TRENDS 2022

Below, we look at the biggest trends and new kitchen ideas and pictures of kitchens to inspire your next kitchen remodel.

DECORATE WITH COLOR OF THE SEASON Kitchen with green marble backsplash and island

Carrara has competition – the latest natural stones are all about green, the undisputed kitchen color hero for 2022. ‘There’s a definite trend towards more impactful surface choices and we’re seeing demand soar for nature-inspired shades,’ reports Oliver Webb, director of stone specialist Cullifords. 

‘From Indian marbles to Brazilian granites and even onyx, there’s a huge array of exotic green stones to be explored.’ The incredible bottle green, khaki and fresh lime tones seen here are courtesy of Cullifords.

BRING FLOORING UP-TO-DATE

Those seeking an alternative to herringbone or chevron kitchen flooring should check out mansion weave. Originating in 17th-century French mansions, this pattern is being revived for a new audience. While the latest incarnation shares the same polygons and trapezoids as the original, chunkier plank formats and pale timbers bring it up to date.

CREATE A LOVELY LOOK WITH ANTIQUE WOOD

Part of the trend towards less ‘kitchen-y’ cooking spaces, classical wood kitchen cabinet ideas are making a move into the kitchen. ‘Traditional timbers are being embraced in new and unexpected ways,’ says Katie Glaister of K&H Design(opens in new tab). 

‘For example, framing a beautifully book-matched kitchen island in burr walnut with aged brass accents recreates the look of an antique bureau but, elevated on legs, it feels less cumbersome and more modern.’

MIX VINTAGE WITH ANTIQUES

Future kitchen trends are about dispelling any notions of a show home, and introducing some antique or vintage furniture into a kitchen has the immediate effect of creating a warm, lived-in home environment. Farmhouse kitchen furniture in the form of a scrubbed kitchen table or dresser is the obvious choice for a traditional look. Timeless, built to last and often inexpensive to find at vintage fairs, antique pieces will introduce character to a new space. 

This design by Ben Pentreath was a 21st-century take on a Welsh farmhouse kitchen. Simple joinery, including a large larder cupboard and open shelves, combines with a butler's sink, Delft tiles, period-style lighting and antique furniture to create a timeless feel, perfectly in keeping with the house's architectural style.

FOCUS ON LAYERED LIGHTING

Lighting in a kitchen is always a challenge to get right but the art of layering will be key to designing kitchens successfully going forward. The reality is you only need a certain amount of task lighting in specific preparation areas, too many downlighters and the kitchen ceiling ends up looking rather like a landing strip. 

New York-based Steven Gambrel Inc. is known for his sophisticated interiors. Having originally trained as an architect, he's a master at considering how kitchen lighting, kitchen layout and functionality create a sense of place in a room. In this family kitchen for a recently built beach house in East Hampton, Long Island, he's made a feature of the lighting, introducing two sets of bold pendants. In a large, open-plan kitchen space, choosing two such different designs adds character but also helps define the distinctive areas within the room

SHINE WITH GOLD

Now that faucets are available in a wide choice of colors and finishes, sinks are following too, and shouldn't drive up the average cost of a new kitchen too much. Aesthetics have made an impact in wet areas just as they have in furniture and appliance design, with color, shape, size and material heavily influenced by the overall look of the room.

'Sinks have moved up on the scale of importance in kitchen design,' says Joan Fraser, product development and training manager for Smeg. 'Models are introduced to meet customers’ demands for a sink which, in addition to being purely functional, also makes a definitive style statement.'

KEEP STORAGE CONCEALED

A minimalist kitchen with white concealed cabinets and dusky pink velvet chairs

Small space living gives way to even more kitchen innovation, like the small kitchen above. This chic open-plan space conceals the cooking area with chameleon-like skill, allowing the focus to be on entertaining. 

Maximize the feeling of spaciousness by uniting cooking, dining and relaxing into one glorious, light-filled room. Here an uninviting and small kitchen was demolished

in favour of a big living room with the kitchen tucked discreetly at one end. 

The layout is flexible so it transitions from a kitchen to a dining room to

A living area in an effortless way. The cooking space is as invisible as possible, with door panels looking like decorative wall finishings. 

All doors are hidden, with fingerprint sensors that allow them to open and close in a smooth a manner.