January is the season of new beginnings. As many are embarking on a programme of self betterment, this also extends to our kitchen designs. There is a motivation to brighten, declutter and remodel to truly welcome in a fresh start this year.
Along with resolutions and grand plans, the New Year also promises new designs and trends that will no doubt flood our Instagram feeds over the next 12 months. But for now, they are fresh and new. Below are some of the items you can expect to see more of in 2018:
MORE COLOUR
Bravo! Bright colours were seen a lot throughout international fairs in 2017 (for example, Salone Del Mobile in Milan and, closer to home, London Design Fair), so it’s great to see the trend manifesting in day-to-day designs.
White will always have appeal as a classic colour in kitchen design, however there has been an increase in richer colours being used. This includes warmer wood tones, such as a mahogany, and greys and blues being used in place of white to add more warmth. This will also extend throughout the home as neutral colours (grey is still the new beige) will be paired with earthy reds, rich yellows and tobacco browns.
NATURAL MATERIALS
Stainless steel is out, concrete is in.
Rustic home décor will continue its reign in 2018 and this means less stainless steel and ‘bright white’ kitchen sinks as we shift to a more simple and calm home environment.
Popular materials will include concrete, stone, copper and granite composites used on worktops and sinks. Concrete will be used in more unexpected ways, for example lighting, furniture and home accessories. Below is a range of floor lamps from Clippings. It is durable and affordable, so this is a trend we can all get on board with.
FLORALS
As a beautiful paradox to concrete, we will also see more florals in 2018. Florals will become the cacti and succulents of 2017. This will include wallpaper, prints and accessories in the kitchen and throughout the home. In particular, we can expect to see oversized graphic florals and interesting interpretations of large scale patterns in high-contrast colours.
BOHO LIGHTING
Expect less engineered metal and glass this year as rattan and bamboo will be expanding its parameters to include lighting.
There will be a more free-spirited approach to lighting, where engineered shapes will be replaced by softer woven designs with materials such as steam-bent wood, spalted beech and rattan. The below example is from Sebastian Cox and is made from mushroom mycelium, which, to clarify, is a form of fungus.
CHROME
If 2017 was the year of brass, then 2018 is set to be the year of chrome. This will include cabinet handles, light fittings and finish as part of our kitchen design.
ALTERNATIVE SPLASHBACKS
Tiles will maintain a timeless appeal when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms but there will be a healthy injection of contemporary alternatives in 2018. Think wood, concrete and resin for your bespoke splashback.
You can create the below look using cement tiles from Cement Tile Shop (£53.40 per box).
MIXING MATERIALS
Our own Head of Design, Melissa Klink, predicts that layered materials will be more prevalent in kitchen designs. She says:
“Dare to mix it up. Whether in metallic finishing, light fixtures, light and dark colours, varying handles, polished and matte finishes… long gone are the days of matching the sofa and side chairs. The same rules apply in the kitchen. Layered aesthetics are a great way to show character and make a space feel more personalised. Mixing can also have the added benefit of being more affordable, as each element is not the same, so money can be saved on the contributing layers.”
FOOD AND DRINK
And finally, for good measure, what’s on the menu in 2018? Here are the headlines for food and drink.
The trendy food for 2018 is Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese dim sum concept. The name comes from a restaurant originating in Taiwan specialising in xiaolongbao, which is essentially steamed dumplings. The popular chain will be opening its first UK restaurant on Tottenham Court Road, London.
For a fashionable tipple, offer your guests Montenegro, an Italian bitter distilled in Bologna. It is made from a secret blend of 40 botanicals, including vanilla and orange peels, and works perfectly as an after-meal drink. Best served straight or on the rocks with orange peel.
Looking for design inspiration? Request a copy of our brochure or browse our blog and Instagram page for recent case studies. Alternatively, visit your local Harvey Jones showroom to discuss your kitchen design with our expert designers.
