5 Kitchen Design Trends For 2020 You Need To Know About

2020 is the year of the 'living kitchen' where function, aesthetic and technology combine to make day-to-day life a little easier and unify the rest of the home.

'Irrespective of trends, when it comes to kitchen design, people still set out with the same objectives: they want an efficient and comfortable workspace that looks good and is nice to cook in. What has changed dramatically - and will continue to do so - is the amount of technology we now have at our fingertips,' says Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio. 'This not only influences the performance of materials but also what we can achieve with the final design.'

There are, of course, some strong key themes this year. Storage is, and will continue to be, a big part of the kitchen space, especially for smaller kitchens. We're looking at ways to conceal storage, maximise space and improve user convenience, and we'll be utilising corner units more than ever before.

There's also an increased focus on sustainability and the need for quality furniture that is environmentally friendly, so as consumers we're becoming more conscious about the products we buy for our home.

And tapping into the idea of the ‘anti-kitchen’ (as the experts at Cosentino called it in 2019), the kitchen is still a space to love and cherish but a growing number of homeowners want to conceal parts of the kitchen, something which Scavolini are calling the 'unobtrusive kitchen'.

Daniele Brutto, co founder of Onestà, explains: 'Gone are the days of having a show kitchen, clients now want that kitchen to be fully functional, durable and easy to maintain and work in, while also being trend-led. A rise in technology in the kitchen has also titled the shift between function and aesthetic.'

So on that note, we've uncovered the biggest emerging kitchen trends for 2020 to give you all the kitchen inspiration you'll need. Planning your dream kitchen starts here...

Monochromatic and Black Kitchens

Kitchen ranges in shades of black, white, charcoal and even midnight are still proving to stand the test of time. Monochromatic kitchen colour schemes offer a sleek and elegant design that will complement a modern apartment or can be incorporated into a traditional kitchen for the perfect family home.

Houzz notes that black interiors are gaining popularity. Searches for 'dark' and 'black' interiors appear in its most popular list for the first time, while searches for 'black kitchen' has increased 46% year-on-year.

The Painted Kitchen

The 'painted kitchen' is a practical choice, offering a modern take on a more traditional look and finish. This is great for emphasising both furniture and architectural detail, and the ever-versatile grey will continue to be the neutral of the moment, with taupe and light greys through to charcoal and slate grey, proving to be the most popular in 2020.

‘Offering a new lease of life to the kitchen cabinet, painted furniture when paired with authentic raw materials like marble and concrete will create a durable kitchen environment that is classic in nature, yet contemporary in finish,’ explains the team at Brandt Design.

Flextension and Family-First Layouts

Multi-generational living has ousted the one-size-fits-all kitchen to welcome future-proof design catering to a growing population that is living longer, marrying later and demanding more in terms of valuable interior design.

This year presents a focus on custom-made kitchen furniture that is able to accommodate different types of user and application. According to Brandt Design, it’s not so much about extension, but rather, 'flextension'.

'Flextension' will create the ultimate in flexible living for you and your family from just the kitchen alone. There’s a focus here on integrated seating areas, low-level and full height storage solutions, and extended breakfast bars or island units that become an all-inclusive workstation, complete with food prep areas and space for cooking, dining and home office work.

Colourful Kitchens

There's a growing interest in brave yet tasteful colours in the kitchen, from vivid greens to deep purples. Founder and managing director of LochAnna Kitchens, Paul Jenkinson, says: 'We predict that the combination of vibrant colours with natural woodgrains and stone will prove to be a very popular choice for 2020.'

For Daniele Brutto at Onestà, he sees green as a key colour for the kitchen: 'Not only have rich forest greens been the go-to classic kitchen shade, but paler greens and earthy mid greens are popular for a contemporary style, as was highlighted by Dulux’s Colour of the Year, Tranquil Dawn. We have recently began pairing pale green shades with natural tones far more frequently to give our contemporary schemes more warmth and texture.'

Serene colour palettes will be key with dusky pink, soft grey and sage green bringing a refreshing feel.

Research from Houzz reveals searches for ‘green kitchens’ have increased by 50% in 2019 compared to 2018. And one of the newest search terms on Houzz is 'yellow kitchen', proving that homeowners are prepared to go bold with their colour choices.

Elsewhere, wine-inspired kitchens are a warm, bold choice for 2020, according to B&Q. Popular looks include pairing charcoal kitchen cabinets with deep, plummy tones or adding dramatic flair by giving your whole kitchen a refresh with cabernet-inspired cabinet paint.

Clever Concealed Storage

Interior storage solutions are having a moment. We have lots to store in the kitchen but we don’t necessarily want it to be on show, so it’s no surprise that discreet storage solutions, or rather hide-and-seek storage, is a must in the kitchen – whether it's simple cabinetry to hide a fridge or dishwasher, or a storage design that minimises counter top small appliances.

This is achieved through bespoke storage elements such as multi-purpose island units with custom seating, built-in appliances, and reactive banks of furniture made up of sliding doors, pull-out larders, pop-up shelves, integrated wine stores and departmental drawer solutions.

A hidden station, which keeps the kettle and toaster from cluttering the worktop and helps to create a dedicated area to sit and enjoy breakfast will be popular in 2020,' says Ben Burbidge of Kitchen Makers.