Kitchen Trends That Will Inspire Your Next Home Project

Elegant custom kitchen featuring white cabinetry, a large black island with marble countertops, and exposed wooden beams.


The kitchen is commonly referred to as the “heart of your home.” It’s where you enjoy meals as a family, entertain guests, and even help out with homework. As the most frequented room in your house, it should be optimized for your lifestyle needs and style preferences.

If you’ve found that your current kitchen is no longer serving you well, it may be time to consider a renovation. Below, we compiled nine 2022 kitchen trends that will not only be popular this year, but remain timeless for many years to come.

1. Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinets

For many years, the standard for cabinetry design was to leave a 1-2 foot gap between the wall-mounted cabinets and the ceiling. While this made the top cabinets more easily accessible without requiring the use of a step-stool, it significantly reduced the amount of storage space.

Today, the new kitchen cabinet trend is to close the gap and extend wall cabinets all the way to the ceiling. This creates a clean, sleek look as it provides additional storage to minimize kitchen clutter.

If you have limited space in your kitchen, you might even want to consider installing a floor-to-ceiling cabinet unit with rollout shelving to store dry goods and small appliances.

2. Large Kitchen Islands

The island has become a staple piece in contemporary kitchens, and that certainly isn’t changing any time soon. But this year, you can expect to see larger islands springing up in kitchen designs.

Islands have always been great for extra storage space, meal preparation, and entertaining. They have recently become a hub for working from home as well. In fact, according to the 2022 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, 20% of U.S. participants said that they use their kitchen island for work.

With the increasing need for multi-functional kitchen spaces comes new kitchen island trends, such as

  • Double islands
  • Oversized statement islands
  • Smart lighting solutions
  • Built-in technology
  • Low-maintenance countertop materials (such as quartz)

3. Specialty Storage Solutions

Thoughtful storage and organization solutions are the key to creating a beautiful and functional kitchen. In addition to being an eyesore, clutter makes it harder for you to complete daily tasks and creates a sense of chaos within your home.

Fortunately, there are several specialty storage solutions available today to make your kitchen look and function better. And according to the 2022 Houzz Survey, over half of homeowners have made upgrading their kitchen storage a high priority.

Some common 2022 kitchen trends for organization include:

  • Peg drawer inserts to organize dishware
  • Slide-out spice cabinets
  • Utensil drawer organizers
  • Pull-out waste and recycling bins
  • Baking sheet and cutting board organizers
  • Built-in storage for small appliances

4. Warm Neutral Colors

Having a light and airy kitchen is a design dream for many homeowners because of its timeless beauty. But oftentimes, people wrongfully assume that to achieve a light and airy look, you can only use white paint.

All-white kitchens are stunning, but you can certainly still have a light and airy style while adding some color. And this year, warm neutrals will be a popular kitchen color trend. Creams, taupes, and greige all give off a warmth that isn’t seen with stark white while still having a soft and clean look.

Another kitchen color trend for 2022 is muted green. In fact, popular paint brands Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore both choose subtle greens for their 2022 Color of the Year. The color is great for a statement wall or cabinets and pairs beautifully with natural wood details.

5. Workstation Sinks

Workstation sinks, or prep station sinks, are another 2022 kitchen trend that’s gaining traction with homeowners.

These sinks feature a built-in ledge and slide-in accessories like cutting boards, colanders, dish racks, and sponge holders that make meal prep and clean-up a breeze. Workstation sinks are often wider than standard sink basins and include multiple faucets for added productivity.

6. Natural Wood Cabinets

While painted cabinets remain a top kitchen cabinet trend, natural wood cabinets are becoming increasingly popular again.

Natural wood cabinets have evolved significantly over time—from the honey-stained maple and cherry cabinets of the 80s and 90s to the espresso fad of the 2000s. For today’s homeowners, white oak cabinets are the style of choice.

With its neutral color, dimension, and texture, light white oak is highly versatile and adds soft warmth to a kitchen space. And unlike many of the stained wood cabinet trends of the past, a natural white oak finish has a timeless beauty. That said, you can always have them painted in the future if you see fit.

7. Designer Range Hood

The time for traditional cabinetry and stainless steel range hoods has passed. Nowadays, homeowners want statement range hoods that make a greater impact.

Investing in a custom-crafted range hood cover is an excellent way to add unique character and create a focal point for your kitchen space. Whether you prefer a traditional, classic, or modern design style, there are a variety of options available for custom range covers, such as

  • Natural wood
  • Painted shiplap
  • Formed metal
  • Plaster
  • Tile

8. Pretty Pantries

Gone are the days of having an unorganized little pantry with shelves full of canned goods. Today, a well-organized, designer pantry has become a priority for many homeowners, and therefore a top 2022 kitchen trend.

If you have some extra space in your kitchen, consider blocking off a corner for a built-in pantry. You could include floating shelves and cabinets to hold all of your dry goods, bulk items, and non-everyday items. Finish it with an elegant door to create a harmonious look.

If you have even more extra room in your home, you can add a beautiful butler’s pantry. This space could include a hidden sink and prep area, electrical outlets for small appliances, or even a built-in coffee area for your daily brew.

9. Extended Tile & Slab Backsplashes

For many years, the standard kitchen backsplash trend was to lay tiles from the countertop to the bottom of the wall cabinets. And while that’s still common, many homeowners are increasing the sophistication of their kitchens by elevating tiling to the ceiling where possible to create a more luxurious look.

Additionally, many people are selecting the same material as their countertops for a slab backsplash on their walls. This offers a clean, cohesive, and high-end look that makes your stone shine—especially those with elaborate veining.

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