Whether expanding open living concepts or testing out new countertops, homeowners are introducing new kitchen design trends with functional and fashionable renovations. Roughly 85% of homeowners would consider island seating rather than adding a separate dining space in the kitchen, according to a December 2021 survey from the New Home Trends Institute, and as a result, a growing number of designers are creating eat-in kitchens to save space.
Bolder kitchen designs are trending, but white is still the most desired color palette, followed by neutral tones and soft blues, John Burns Real Estate Consulting reports. When updating kitchen spaces for practicality, homeowners are including more storage space and opting for resilient, nonporous surfaces like quartz.
Quartz is the material of choice right now. According to John Burns Real Estate Consulting’s Kitchen and Bath Market Index, almost half of industry professionals reported seeing quartz increase in popularity among consumers in 2022 versus in 2021. As an engineered stone, quartz does not need to be sealed, unlike porous surfaces like marble or granite. Engineered stones also allow for a broader selection of colors and patterns, making it easier to achieve stylistic preferences like a bright, white kitchen.