Coloured Kitchen Cabinets and Other Design Trends Landing Soon

Prepare yourself, gang: coloured kitchen cabinets are set to dominate Aussie homes this year and they’re just one of six big changes on the way.

Now I’m not saying that white kitchens are boring. But it is nice to inject a little colour into your world from time to time, right? Well for me, my home is my world. I could seriously become agoraphobic and cope just fine. As long as the internet was working and I could get wine delivered, I’d be happy to never leave the house.

So the news that coloured kitchen cabinets are trending in the interiors space has me rather intrigued. Pleasantly surprised, actually. I’m also quite excited to tell you about five other big trends coming to kitchens this year and beyond. The question is, are you prepared to embrace them?

Let’s take a look at the upcoming changes, which the team at Freedom Kitchens have just told me about. I’ll tell you below if I’m loving, and you can tell me in the comments below if you’re on board too!

1. Coloured Kitchen Cabinets are Dominating

This is one I’m pretty pleased about. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no way you’ll ever see me specify a gold cabinet like the one above, but that’s not to say you can’t make it work.

The colours I’m rather excited about are the darker browns and greens (pictured below), and the navy blues. For those of you not quite ready to embrace such bold colours, there are some lighter greys coming through too. You’ll see a some gorgeous shaker style cabinets further down splashed in a Stone Grey colour from Freedom Kitchens and I’m all for it.

I’m actually working with design clients at the moment who are doing a big reno of their kitchen and they’re keen to embrace a light grey. I’m telling you, grey is the new white. Especially if you love subtle Hamptons style like in this home.

And don’t just take it from me. I hosted a recent trends workshop for Metricon Homes and their design team (who’d just come back from Milan) echoed that darker kitchens were the way of the future (more on that here).

2. Handles, Where are You?

Coloured kitchen cabinets are taking centre stage in more ways than one. There’s a huge move toward celebrating the slimline design of the cabinetry profile itself, which means no handles at all. J-pull or edge-pull handles are being integrated into the top, side or base of the doors, meaning you get a seamless look from all angles.

For those of you loving handles, fear not. Many kitchens are displaying handles on lower cabinetry, and then sporting sections of cabinets above without. It’s a good way to mix and match the minimal with a bit of interest. I personally still love the look of a handle, so I’m 50/50 on this trend.

3. Embracing the Dramatic Splashback

Now this is one I can get on board with, especially if you love a high-end feel for your kitchen. This trend will see marble or engineered stone work its way seamlessly from your benchtop up onto your splashback. It’s a impactful look without it feeling too dominating. An effortless sense of luxury, if you will.

For those of you not keen on that look, another trending moment is the celebration of intricate tile patterns in splashbacks. I don’t mind a dramatic black and white pattern, but I’ve never been very keen on colourful tiles in a kitchen. So this trend gets my tick of approval for the stone running up the wall, but a no for the vibrant tile.

4. Industrial Open Shelving (my Favourite!)

I love industrial style when it’s kept sleek and sophisticated. It’s a look that’s very Melbourne, and I adore it. I loved the kitchen above when I saw it on The Block last year and it’s still a style I find myself captivated by.

If you’re in a similar boat, you’ll be very comforted to know that your taste is very on trend. Open industrial shelves are set to take over in kitchens this year and the ones that follow. Think aluminium shelving in a matte black finish. Industrial but not too gritty – just how I like it. It’s a great way to break up the monotony of cabinetry too. This one is a major major yes from me!

5. Benchtops: Richer and more Textured

Forget that shiny white look and feel for benchtops, because they’re set to be a thing of the past. At least if Caesarstone has anything to say about it. They have a new range of more textured finishes and interesting colour variations hitting the market. Think coloured marbles and concrete, giving your kitchen a far greater feeling of rusticity.

I’ve gotta say I’m not one for coloured marble but I go batty for concrete or even a cement-look benchtop, so this one I’m fully on board with. I wouldn’t mind changing my current benchtop actually; farewell white, hello grey!

6. Appliances are going over to the Dark Side

The lucky last trend really sums up the vibe of kitchens in general for the year ahead: darker and moodier. Outside of the dark coloured kitchen cabinets above, the appliances are also getting in on the action. Matt black and anthracite tones with clean lines are the name of the game here. And you can see those at play in the space above as well.

Appliances are set to get smarter, which I’m sure you already know, and this freaks me out completely! I don’t want Suri to cook my meal for me. It’s far too technological for this old man. But I would fully appreciate a fridge that dispenses wine when I walk into the room. Now that I fully approve of!

If you’re keen to explore coloured kitchen cabinets, or any of the other trends further, click here to check out the Freedom Kitchens website.

And drop me a comment below to let me know which of the six trends you’re loving for your place.