Get Smart
A kitchen can’t be too techy these days! Hands-free faucets, fridges that remind you when to make a grocery run, and appliances you operate with a handheld device will become commonplace in ’18. Next up? How about a tap that delivers bubbly water or even coffee!
Related: 50 Great Gadgets for a Smarter Home
Vanishing Cabinets
No, Harry Potter fans—it’s not what you think! But upper wall cabinets will definitely be disappearing in 2018. Scrapping uppers makes kitchens feel larger and lets more light into the room; plus, folks have found that ceiling height storage is too inconvenient to access anyway.
Related: The Most In-Demand Home Upgrades for 2018
Zillow Digs home in Oakland, CA
Sneaky Storage
With upper cabinets waning—and nobody really ready to give up tools, supplies, and fodder—designers are devising hidden solutions to pick up the storage slack and make cagey use of available space. These include deeper drawers, corner drawers, pull-out pantries, fridge enclosures, and roll-out trays and caddies, often with a particular item in mind (linens, cutlery, pots and pans—there’s a new slot for whatever you’ve got!)
Related: 9 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Look and Feel Bigger
Islands in the Stream
The island that evolved from prep area to casual dining spot will continue to grow—literally—into the multi-purpose focal point of the kitchen and even the hub of the home, which is compatible with the increase in open-plan living. Islands in ’18 will be longer and larger, accommodate more storage and seating, and house more appliances.
Related: 10 Kitchen Favorites That Last a Lifetime
Zillow Digs home in La Jolla, CA
Sink Different
The porcelain and stainless steel sinks that ruled for years will make way for alternative materials like stone, copper, and concrete. Perhaps the newsiest idea is the composite sink, made of the same stuff as the countertop (such as composite quartz or granite), which creates a seamless look and simplifies cleaning and maintenance.
Related: 10 Things Always to Keep Near Your Kitchen Sink
Zillow Digs home in Menlo Park, CA
Turn the Tile
Sorry, subway, your train has left the station! The familiar rectangle is now considered square, with tiles for 2018 coming in all shapes and sizes, and solid colors giving way to cool patterns. The idea is to bring the backsplash all the impact of printed wallpaper with greater durability.
Related: 12 Vintage Kitchen Features We Were Wrong to Abandon
Color Code
While strong rainbow hues are still around, painted cabinets are moving toward subtler, darker hues like navy and plum. For appliances, dark gray tones with a brushed metal finish are supplanting stainless steel. One benefit to going to the dark side: These shades don’t show dirt or wear-and-tear as easily as bright, white, and shiny surfaces.
Related: 18 Paint Colors You're Going to See Everywhere in 2018
Flat Out
One of the easiest ways to attain 2018’s new minimalism is with flat-paneled cabinet doors, as opposed to the raised panels of traditional kitchens. Flat panels can be super simple, with no visible knobs, or gain impact from a high gloss finish or clean-lined hardware. Sleek!
Related: 18 Tiny Kitchens We Love
Stow Aways
The next strategy in America’s war on clutter is to “garage” our small appliances. Custom cabinetry is being designed with niches, drawers, and other out-of-sight places to conceal toasters, mixers, coffee makers, and more. The idea is to keep everyday necessities close at hand yet not in your direct line of vision.
Related: 11 Cheap Cures for a Cluttered Kitchen
Here Boy!
We love our pets, but we don’t want to trip over their bowls (not to mention litter boxes!). So today’s kitchens are being designed with an eye toward Fido and Frisky. Consider a kitty cave or doggie bed housed in a cabinet, or a retractable feeding station built into a kick plate and operated with the touch of a toe!
Related: 8 Tiny Projects to Try in 2018
Metal Heads
Hardware is about to get the Midas touch. Brass is back bigtime, and warm rose gold and bright copper are also in the hopper.
Related: 10 Total Kitchen Makeovers—and What They Cost
Rustic Recipe
On the opposite end of the spectrum from glossy and glitz comes a rugged natural or industrial vibe. Think open shelving made from rough cut wood or pipes, bleached wood cabinet doors, exposed beams, and neutral colors and finishes for flooring.
Related: Here Are a Dozen Things to Stop Paying For in 2018
Zillow Digs home in Montauk, NY
Get Cooking
Nothing dates a house faster than an outmoded kitchen. The good news is that home trends tend to stick around for a few years (or many more) once they become popularized, which means homeowners who adopt these ideas now will likely enjoy them (and their resale value) for a long while to come.
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