A crucial piece of thoughtful kitchen design is monitoring incoming and outgoing trends, and incorporating these trends into the designs offered to homeowners. At National Lumber, we make it our mission to keep track of what’s new in the world of kitchen design so you can create modern, inspired spaces that will appeal to homeowners. Here is our round-up of kitchen design trends for fall 2021.
Walk-In Pantry
The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns made many homeowners deeply aware of how space is utilized and maintained throughout their homes. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and excessive clutter can sour the feelings we harbor about one of the most essential places in the house. While a walk-in pantry may not at first seem like a necessary design piece, a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders found that 81% of homeowners identified this feature as either essential or desirable in their kitchen builds. Walk-in pantries can utilize smart design decisions, such as the build-out shown above from our friends at Done Construction, which adds both pantry space and hidden appliance compartments.
Double-Sinks
That same NAHB survey identified another item of particular importance to consumers: the double sink. In fact, over 4 in 10 consumers say a double-sink is an essential feature for their kitchens. This is not necessarily surprising. Maximizing space is important for any kitchen design, and a double-sink helps make it easier for homeowners to keep kitchen spaces decluttered. It’s a multi-function design piece that adds value to any home and attracts the attention of homeowners.
Wood Grain Finishes
For a while, it seemed like the trend was to conceal authentic woodgrain textures behind colored finishes to add a flourish to kitchen buildouts. However, for the kitchen design trends for fall 2021, we want to highlight the resurgence in embracing wood grain finishes. More and more we’re seeing homeowners embrace cabinetry that offers an authentic wood style, while still maintaining an elegant appearance. These wood finishes offer a unique way to set your kitchen builds apart from where the general consensus remains.
Handleless Kitchens
In many ways, modern kitchen design is about how it can differentiate and distinguish itself from previous iterations and trends. One of the most prominent examples of this is in handleless kitchen designs, which move away from the distinct hardware pieces that normally accompany cabinetry. Instead, we’re given smooth, free-flowing surfaces that use push-open or recessed handles to operate. This trend may not be for everyone, but it does present some indication of the direction cabinetry may be headed down the road.
Greens Take the Spotlight
In our blog about kitchen design trends for 2020, we highlighted how blues were becoming a prominent color scheme for kitchen cabinetry, as well as backsplashes and other elements. This year, we’d like to highlight the turn towards greens as a great color scheme to bring kitchen designs alive. Greens help highlight the emphasis on thoughtful, natural builds that give the kitchen a distinct identity within the home. Whether a softer palette green or something more bold and bright, we think green is a color that can readily be brought into kitchen builds. It’s a great example of how the kitchen design trends for fall 2021 offer tons of flexibility to builders in creating unique visions for a finished product. However, don’t wait on finding the right cabinet options for your builds. As one of the most in-demand building materials, some brands are seeing lead times as long as six months for cabinet orders. Be sure to chat with the kitchen experts at National Lumber to stay up-to-date on the latest lead times.
Embracing new design trends can be a great way for builders to attract homeowners, and explore new design philosophies. Regardless of your preferred design method, it’s always important to have the best materials suited to each job. The team at Design Center by National Lumber works with builders and homeowners to bring their kitchen design visions to life. Contact our team today to get started on your next project.
