Kitchens and bathrooms are working harder than ever. Homeowners expect multifunctional spaces that can handle family life, entertaining, and working from home. Part of maximizing the potential of kitchens and baths is making sure they’re inviting, and even exciting places to spend time.
Kitchen and bath renovations remain the most popular choices for homeowners making improvements. According to Houzz, these two spaces attracted the most home-improvement dollars this year, with an average of $25,000 spent on kitchens and $13,500 on baths. One kitchen may not be enough for many homeowners, as a “back kitchen” for prep and storage is now a sought-after feature.
Styles are shifting away from the brilliant white showpiece to daring colors and natural wood. Homeowners also want some tech in their workhorse rooms. If you’re dreaming of a space you love to live in, start with these leading trends.
Goodbye, Gray and White
Long the staples of the farmhouse kitchen trend and minimal style, white and gray are fading away as the dominant neutrals in kitchens and baths. The sleek sophistication is giving up ground to livelier, colorful looks for more inviting spaces. You can always paint those white cabinets for an instant transformation.
Warm Walls and Woods
Wood cabinetry beat out white in this year’s National Kitchen and Bath Association Kitchen Trends Report. But deep cherry and mahogany stains are out, and light finishes and natural woods are in. White oak and walnut are popular choices. Homeowners are embracing the beautiful visible grains in natural materials to inject coziness into kitchens and baths.
As part of the warming trend, latte shades of beige and taupe are returning to walls. These classic colors help kitchens bridge the divide between living and purely functional spaces.
Blue, Green, and Jewel Tones
One of the biggest shifts in kitchen and bath design is the move toward dramatic colors. Green and blue are the most fashionable choices for kitchen and bathroom cabinetry. Jewel tones like a sophisticated teal or dazzling emerald look the most modern, but softer French and powder blues and smoky greens are also in play. Cobalt is coming on strong as an alternative to serious navy.
If you aren’t sure about a full color commitment, use a bold color on the kitchen island or as a playful pop on a bathroom vanity.
Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year
As the 2024 Color of the Year, the paint giant calls Upward a “breezy, blissful blue.” The whispery-soft hue has silver undertones that translate to a variety of styles— classy and traditional paired with antiques and gold accents, and more casual and restful blended with natural materials like rattan, glass and white wood.
Dramatic Stones
There’s no easier way to add luxury to a kitchen than going big with marble, granite, or quartz. Using a monolithic slab as a backsplash instantly sets the tasteful tone—quartz works well for this treatment, and it’s stain-resistant. It’s also the most popular countertop choice, by far, in the 2024 NKBA Trend Report.
Homeowners aren’t shying away from dark and dramatic veining, especially with a place to experiment on the kitchen island. Black is even making a move to set a moody vibe in contemporary spaces.
Two-Toned Kitchens
Torn on cabinetry? Take two. The upper cabinets might shine with a natural stain while the lower cabinets or island dazzle with a trendy color. Or you might pair a natural-toned wood with a creamy warm white. Mixing finishes creates a personalized and approachable look for happy, lively kitchens.
Upgraded Lighting
The secret to a kitchen that’s equally polished and functional is a layering of task lighting, ambient sources, decorative over-island pendants, and nighttime illumination for safety. Lighting is smarter now, too. In addition to programmable features, high-tech kitchen lighting automatically adjusts to motion and the level of natural light.
Upgrade Your Kitchen and Baths with CCG
If you’re ready to update your high-traffic rooms, call Central Construction Group to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We excel at kitchen and bath renovations and updates of all scales. Call 317-213-6246 or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.
