8 trendy kitchen remodeling ideas for 2021, according to designers

8 trendy kitchen remodeling ideas for 2021, according to designers

8 trendy kitchen remodeling ideas for 2021, according to designers— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.

Chances are you’ve spent more time than usual in your kitchen this year (thanks, pandemic), and if the space is feeling a little stale, it might be time for an upgrade. Kitchen remodeling is always a popular home project, as this room gets used more than most, and as an added bonus, a new kitchen can add a lot of value to your home if you decide to sell down the line.

However, the question is always where to focus your efforts. We wanted to know the most popular kitchen remodeling ideas for 2021, so we asked a few of our favorite interior designers for their thoughts. Here are the trends they think will be big in the coming year.

1. Upgrade to smart appliances

Smart appliances
Credit: Samsung

Smart appliances let you control your kitchen from your phone.

Most kitchen appliances are expected to last for around 10 years, and if yours are reaching the end of their lifespan, it might be time to replace them. If you’re in the market for new kitchen appliances, you should definitely check out today’s smart appliances, which can be controlled via your smartphone.

For instance, Samsung offers a line of smart refrigerators that feature its “Family Hub.” This touchscreen display lets you create shopping lists and calendars, and it can also display photos and play music. Samsung and other top appliance brands also offer smart ranges, dishwashers, and more.

Get the Samsung RF23M8570SR Smart 4-Door Refrigerator from Appliances Connection for $3,595

2. Create an “appliance garage”

Garage
Credit: Schuler Cabinetry

You can tuck appliances out of sight with an appliance garage.

Most people have at least one or two small appliances that live on the kitchen countertop—for me, it’s my KitchenAid stand mixer and toaster. However, if you’re tired of seeing them all the time, you can hide them away with this cool cabinet feature.

“We are seeing a lot of people adding appliance garages or pantries complete with electrical so that ugly appliances don’t have to sit on your countertops,” says Anne Carr of Anne Carr Design.

This handy design feature allows you to conceal your small appliances, all while keeping them readily accessible.

Get the Vertical Lift and Stay Cabinet from Schuler

3. Design a custom range hood

Range hood
Credit: Bertazzoni

You can build a custom range hood around a sleek insert.

You can add some flair to your kitchen with a custom range hood: “Skip the stainless range hood!” recommends Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors. “We like to use a range hood insert instead and then design a custom hood around it. You can use plaster, shiplap, or other wood trim detailing to create a focal point that is an additional design element in the kitchen.”

Insert hoods from brands like Bertazzoni give you maximum air extraction power above your range—important if you’re known to occasionally burn things when cooking—while still allowing you to customize the look of your kitchen.

Get the Bertazzoni KIN36PROX Master Series Cabinet Insert Hood from Appliances Connection for $1,310

4. Extend cabinets up to the ceiling

Cabinets
Credit: Wellborn Cabinets

Extend your cabinets all the way to the ceiling for a more modern appearance.

Many kitchen cabinets stop just a foot or so shy of the ceiling—but why? You can create a more seamless design in your kitchen by extending them all the way up.

“If you are designing a kitchen, it's more than likely your cabinets will have to be custom made,” says Lester. “So, why not take advantage of any extra storage space by taking the cabinets all the way to the ceiling. Those upper areas are great places to store things you only use seasonally.”

Some people also opt for glass fronts on their upper-most cabinets, creating the perfect safe space to display your favorite pieces of fine china and other décor.

5. Incorporate mixed metals

Metals
Credit: Moen

Try using unique metallic finishes in your kitchen.

Some people need to have all the metal in their kitchen matching, but if you’re open to a more eclectic appearance, you can try mixing and matching different metal finishes.

“Gone are the days when only one or two types of metal could be used in the same space,” says Tiffany Leigh Piotrowski of Tiffany Leigh Design. “Lately, we've been enjoying a mix of brass, nickels, and black metals all in the same kitchen space for a layered, pieced together look.”

Today’s top hardware brands like Moen and Kohler offer kitchen faucets and other kitchen accents in a variety of finishes, including everything from black and white to champagne and brass.

Get the Moen S711ORB Waterhill Kitchen Faucet in Oil Rubbed Bronze from Appliances Connection for $760.73

6. Add under-counter appliances

Under Counter
Credit: Appliances Connection

Under-counter appliances are becoming more popular.

Dishwashers aren’t the only appliances that can be installed underneath your kitchen counters. You can put that space to good use with a drawer refrigerator, which gives you extra room for cold drinks, produce, and more, or even a drawer microwave! It’s a great way to clear off your counters, giving yourself more room for food prep and serving.

7. Embrace the “new neutrals”

Paint colors
Credit: Farrow & Ball

Painting cabinets is an easy way to update your kitchen.

There are some new classic colors in town! If you’re tired of those white kitchen cabinets, you can switch things up a bit with a warmer shade of paint.

“We've been telling our clients for a while now that, while a crisp white kitchen will always be classic, warmer and softer tones in mushroom, beige and putty are going to be the more popular choice for cabinetry color moving forward,” says Piotrowski.

Get Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster, 750ml, for $44

8. Kick porcelain to the curb

Sink
Credit: Blanco America

This sink looks like concrete, but it's much easier to take care of.

Looking for a new kitchen sink, but not sure what you want? Designers say that porcelain sinks aren’t as popular anymore—instead, people are opting for low-maintenance sinks made from contemporary materials.

“In kitchen design, we are seeing a shift away from porcelain sinks,” says Carr. “People are experimenting with concrete or engineered materials. Blanco, for example, makes a sink with a material called ‘SILGRANIT.’ It comes in a variety of colors and gives off a concrete look without the maintenance.”

Get the Blanco 442752 Diamond Silgranit Undermount Super Single Sink Bowl from Appliances Connection for $387

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