Ideas & Trends for Updating Your Kitchen

Kitchen renovations can offer an excellent return on your investment—actually more than any other room in the house, which is largely due to the high volume of use it receives.

Styles in kitchen design change from year to year. That’s why it is important to understand these ever-evolving trends and select the ones that will stand the test of time for many years.  

Efficiency

Today’s kitchens are all about efficiency and practicality.  How can you get the most function out of every square inch? Start with the layout. Since the kitchen is the hub of the home, it’s important to understand how the space impacts adjacent rooms and traffic flow. Your cabinets should also work to organize and improve the efficiency of your kitchen design. Floor-to-ceiling walls of cabinetry are popular options for achieving the most function, providing ample space for stowing away appliances, bake ware, dishes and more.

Simple, contemporary style

Adornments and embellishments are a thing of the past, and today’s modern kitchens are taking on a contemporary design that will hold its value over time. This minimalist trend is best defined by simple and clean styles, limited colors, sleek lines and minimal aesthetics while offering up big, open spaces for entertaining.

Sizeable islands

If your kitchen layout allows for it, islands are a great central feature that can be added to maximize the space in your kitchen design. Big kitchen islands provide an excellent place for preparing food, entertaining guests and a casual space for sitting and eating. 

Glass tile backsplash

Many homeowners today are opting for glass tile backsplashes, which come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes to complement any kitchen color scheme. Not only do they add brightness, clean lines and a polished finish to any kitchen design, they are also very easy to clean and care for.

Lighter color palettes

Kitchens today are moving away from dark colors and finishes in favor of lighter, warmer color palettes, such as whites, greys and greens. Neutral colors help make the kitchen look more spacious, airy and soft.

Eco-friendly options

As today’s kitchens become greener, sustainable options become more and more popular.  Bamboo backsplash, energy-efficient fluorescent lighting, cork flooring, convection ovens and recycling stations are just a few of the renewable products and materials available for outfitting an eco-friendly kitchen.

Layered lighting
Finally, because the kitchen is the primary entertaining hub of the home, lighting should be layered, combining ambient with task lighting. Under-cabinet LED lights and bold pendant lights are becoming more commonplace to achieve an inviting, functional living space  

If you live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago IL and looking for kitchen updates or a full kitchen remodel, contact KLM Builders and Remodelers for a FREE consultation.