Your kitchen is the heart of your home. It is the space where you prepare your meals and enjoy them while socializing with your family and friends. A recent study by an international kitchen appliance manufacturer found that 52% of households add the most financial value to the kitchen; 40% to the lounge; and 3% to the bathroom/bedroom.
This is not unusual considering that the kitchen holds the largest number of appliances – refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, etc. But more impressive is the fact that most people are willing to spend between $1,000 and $5,000 revamping their kitchen to create the perfect space.
If you are planning on redesigning your kitchen, here are some trends that have the greatest impact on your home’s value:
1. Granite and Solid Surface Counters
When it comes to choosing a countertop, there are numerous options including marble, laminate, concrete, limestone, stainless steel, quartz, wood, soapstone, onyx, and tile, to name a few.
Natural stone offers an earthy look that most buyers find to be particularly well-suited for their counters. But there are other equally popular materials like marble, soapstone, and limestone that provide homeowners with a more upscale look and a wider range of colors.
Consider maintenance, durability, and cost when choosing your countertop material, especially if you use your kitchen a lot. For less maintenance, choose materials like concrete, quartz, and solid surface that are resistant to scratches and stains.
For a busy kitchen, you should reduce the number of counter seams to minimize water and bacteria seeping through the cracks. Equally, choosing a less porous material is obviously more sanitary. For instance, solid surface and stainless steel counters offer a seamless look, plus they’re not porous, delivering exceptional sanitation.
2. Matching Backsplash, Kitchen Sink, and Faucet
Your choice of countertop model influences the type and style of backsplash, kitchen sink, faucet, built-in water filter, and other functional features that will be installed. Fortunately, kitchen sinks come in a wide range of shapes and designs to suit any style.
For modern designs, consider undermount sinks as opposed to the traditional top-mounts. But for the ultimate sleek look, consider getting a single unit comprising a sink and countertop melded together. This is the trending seamless sink.
3. Kitchen Island & Second Sink
The kitchen is a highly functional space, and the more work zones, built-in preparation boards, and drain trays it offers, the better it serves that function. In this regard, some homeowners are adding a smaller sink unit in the kitchen island to reduce foot-traffic during meal preparation and optimize the workspace when there’re many hands in the kitchen.
4. Handleless Units
The seamless and linear look is still trending in today’s modern kitchen, with homeowners choosing plain and handleless doors to create a simple yet contemporary style. You can choose between sleek gloss finishes and neutral earthy or grey hues, and traditional grained wood and wood effects in natural tones.
5. More Technology
Technology has become ubiquitous, making its way to the kitchen and bathroom. Homeowners are choosing appliances with integrated speakers offering Bluetooth functionality, adding pop up sockets for phone charging, and even installing color changing lights to add life to an otherwise traditional kitchen. There are even smart appliances, like coffee machines, that allow you to initiate coffee making via app as you wiggle out of bed.
It is apparent that kitchen designers are getting creative in terms of merging style and creativity in the kitchen. In addition to these trends, there is a growing need for high quality storage space in the form of deep drawers and other storage solutions that conceal small kitchen appliances. It all depends on your budget.