Key Trends for Kitchens in 2018

Concrete has crept into interior design over the last few years, riding on the back of a resurgence in brutalism’s popularity, and now it’s come to kitchens. The material is most common in worktops, particularly as a concrete-effect finish, but can also be found in other components.

While bold red has dominated for the past few years as a top choice for those looking for a statement kitchen, blue is now taking over in a variety of warm but more subtle hues. Shades vary by manufacturer but are dominated by navy and cobalt.

Often paired with industrial details or concrete-effect finishes, copper is increasingly being chosen in favour of more conventional stainless steel or more brash gold finishes. The material is mainly cropping up as fixtures, although copper-coloured cabinets with a patina are also appearing, with similar metals, including brass, also gaining popularity.

Black matte cabinets and worktops are cropping up in a host of manufacturers’ offerings, particularly in modern schemes. They are also often paired with pale woods such as birch, to provide striking but understated finishes, and illuminated with detail lighting.

While kitchens have traditionally featured a single cabinet design, there is a growing interest in schemes featuring mixes of two cabinet materials. The approach not only creates a greater sense of texture, but provides a way to identify different zones, reflecting the growing multi-use aspect of modern kitchens.