If you’re planning a mini makeover for your home this year, it might be time to ditch some trends that have had their day, from high gloss cabinets to breakfast bars
As we step into a new year, it’s an ideal moment to give your home a makeover and keep it looking current. If you’re thinking about updating your kitchen, certain trends have run their course and could be leaving your property looking rather dated.
Looeeze Grossman, a kitchen specialist and founder of The Used Kitchen Company, has spent twenty years trading in used and ex-display kitchens and knows the ins and outs of home design. She’s pinpointed four design trends that belong firmly in yesteryear, including one that’s been popular for ages.
So, if you’re planning a minor revamp of your property, eliminating one of these could bring your space bang up to date.
High Gloss is Out
Following years of high gloss kitchen units dominating homes across the nation, they’re now losing their appeal. Sleek, matte finishes are becoming increasingly popular and not only do they appear stylish, but they’re also simpler to look after. The endless fight against fingerprints and smudges that plague high gloss cupboards will become history.
Looeeze remarked: “The softer, velvety finish creates a more upscale look that works with any décor and feels modern without all the upkeep. It’s a smarter, more grown-up approach to kitchen design, and it’s transforming homes up and down the country.”
No More Breakfast Bars
Freestanding breakfast bars, previously a fixture in modern kitchens, are now going out of fashion. Designed for relaxed dining and sociable cooking, these bars often become messy dumping grounds for keys, post, and whatever else comes in through the door.
However, tastes are shifting towards built-in banquette seating, extendable dining tables, and cleverly designed peninsulas that don’t eat into valuable floor space. According to Looeeze, the traditional dining table is staging a comeback in modern homes, taking the place of casual breakfast bars.
Ditch the Spotlights
Previously the standard fitting in modern kitchens, ceiling-mounted spotlights now appear decidedly dated for lighting the room. They create harsh, flat lighting that doesn’t do your kitchen any favours.
“Today’s kitchens need layered lighting schemes that mix spotlights with eye-catching pendant lights over islands or dining areas, adding depth, atmosphere, and real style,” Looeeze explained. “Thanks to smart bulbs you can control with your voice or phone, sophisticated lighting is easier and more affordable than ever.”
Even better, updating your lighting needn’t cost a fortune. Switch to energy-efficient LEDs and watch the savings mount up.
Hide Your Appliances
If you’ve got a freestanding fridge, oven, or dishwasher on display, it’s a guaranteed way to date your kitchen. It’s time to hide those appliances. These days, purchasers yearn for a sleek, unified kitchen that exudes elegance. Integrated appliances hidden behind cabinetry or concealed panels provide polished looks and an atmosphere of refinement that freestanding models simply cannot deliver.
Even smaller devices like kettles and coffee machines deserve to be tucked away behind cupboard doors. Looeeze explained, “If your dishwasher stands out like a sore thumb and your countertop is covered in clutter, it’s time for a change.”
Make It Practical
Kitchens filled with floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets might appear impressive in showrooms, but the lack of work surface will quickly become a real nightmare. While these towering cupboards provide plenty of space for storing your groceries, where precisely are you supposed to prepare and cook?
Looeeze observed, “The most functional kitchens use tall units strategically, not lining entire walls, to ensure there is plenty of room for real cooking and living. If you are constantly hunting for a spot to chop veg or rest a hot pan, those tall units are not working for you.”}