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The kitchen is the anchor of the home. It’s where you, your family, and your friends gather to socialize and enjoy delicious meals. So it's no wonder that homeowners often remodel their kitchens.

With any home improvement endeavor, homeowners must look at many factors before beginning. Concerning kitchen design, there are two main aspects to consider: aesthetic appeal and function. You want to make sure the room you create is one you enjoy seeing every day and are proud to show guests. The layout should be a good use of space and provide utmost practicality. Everything should make sense for your lifestyle.

large modern kitchen with white bar top and bar stools

Modern kitchen design trends

Whether it's a makeover or you're starting from scratch in a newly built home, the vast range of choices can be overwhelming. Here are some of the latest kitchen design trends to spark some ideas and help guide your decision-making:

Incorporating high-tech appliances

Technology has made its way into every area of our lives, including our homes. Smart devices and appliances are becoming more popular to use in the kitchen, offering the same advanced capabilities we used to see only in smartphones, computers, and other personal gadgets. Many of these pieces of equipment, such as refrigerators and dishwashers, commonly come in stainless steel finishes. Giving a modern appeal, the sleek, silvery surfaces offer a polished and refined appearance and are a wonderful complement to many types of decor.

Disguised appliances

If the high-tech look isn't your thing, you can still reap the benefits of upgrading appliances without sacrificing the more traditional aesthetic. How? By disguising them behind doors that match your cabinets. A great way to hide necessary elements of the kitchen while creating a clean, more classic look.

Style integration throughout the home

Forbes recently named integrated spaces as a top kitchen design trend. The basic idea is that the kitchen should connect the home, not divide it. So how can you go about executing this design trend? One way, already discussed, is to hide appliances using the same color and materials of surfaces used in other areas. The same concept applies to other elements of the kitchen. For example, why not use the same type of hardwood flooring in the kitchen as you do in the hallways and adjacent rooms? The consistency of design makes it easy for the eye to flow from one area to the next, ultimately making the home seem bigger and more spacious.

white kitchen counter with tile

Soft, neutral color palettes

White will always be a primary color both in and outside the kitchen. But there’s room for other neutral tones that offer just as much flexibility. According to Interior Designer Jane Lockhart, gray is starting to gain popularity as the go-to choice for kitchens.

"Charcoal, grays, and even neutral pastels like pale blue, pale green-gray, and tinted whites are the new alternative to the standard white," said Lockhart.

Lockhart added that homeowners are starting to prefer lighter tones of wood, including whitewashed surfaces. Using lighter hues on cabinets, floors, and walls can make the room feel bigger than it actually is. Keep in mind that using softer color palettes doesn't mean the kitchen design has to be bland. The key is using these muted tones as a canvas for the larger areas of the kitchen, then being strategic with bold statement pieces and pops of color.

Sharp contrasts

To create an impressive juxtaposition in your kitchen design, mix materials and colors. For example, you could use white lacquer cabinets and black countertops to create a sharp contrast that has timeless appeal. Then you might offset it with a different color and material, such as a rustic hardwood floor, to set up a striking balance between contemporary and traditional.

Newest look in kitchen floors

Whereas tile floors have always been a popular choice for kitchens, more homeowners are realizing that high-quality hardwood is one of the most versatile and sophisticated flooring options. Hardwood floors are a great counterpoint to sleek, shiny surfaces, and they can be carried throughout the home for that continuity and flow discussed earlier. Plus, nothing beats hardwood for the warmth and welcome you want in the room everybody is drawn to … your beautiful, stylish kitchen.