Top 10 Home Design Trends for 2016

Last Updated on January 22, 2020

As home design trends continue to evolve, designers have discovered fresh ways to enhance traditional styles and tweak modern spaces to adapt to our ever-changing lifestyles through their design work.

Some of the top designers recently reflected on their biggest projects of 2015, and have compiled a list of learnings that we’d like to share with you, so that you can apply them to your future renovation projects.

Here are ten design trends for 2016 to inspire you to transform your kitchen and bathroom spaces.

Two-Toned Kitchen Cabinets: When you’re torn about sticking to one color scheme for your kitchen, try mixing it up by using one color (or material) on your upper cabinets and another color on the lower ones. Here are a few examples that design experts recommend to bring new life to your kitchen while tapping into your creativity.

• Wood on White: Blending two traditional kitchen schemes is a fresh way to put a new spin on two favorites. White upper cabinets reflect freshness and openness, while wood on the lower cabinets convey warmth and old-world charm. It’s a great way to have the best of a modern and traditional look while keeping it sleek and chic.
• Neutral on Neutral: Combining varying shades of white cabinets with light beige colored walls is a unique way to add depth to your kitchen while keeping it elegant and eye-catching.
• Wood on Glossy: This unconventional color combination brings an eclectic look to your kitchen. By reversing the traditional scheme, designers are opting to use wood on the upper cabinets and glossy on the lower cabinets. By choosing a wood with a subtle texture grain (instead of a bold stripe), you are allowing the natural warmth to come through without making the room look smaller.
• Color on Neutral: This is a great way to punch up your kitchen with a hint of color without overdoing it. Adding a bold color accent on the lower cabinets is a perfect compromise to keeping your kitchen looking fun and relaxed. Experts say that the color red is a great choice for kitchens since it stimulates appetite and can be found on door knobs and appliances. Don’t feel you’re limited to just the lower cabinets; finding the right color at eye-level can also be captivating and welcoming.
• Navy on Wood: Experts say navy and blue-green hues are excellent choices for adding color since they effortlessly mix with other shades. Blue cabinets, for example, blend beautifully with orange-colored cabinets as each color complements the other. Another great combination is navy, wood, white or even gray. White upper cabinets and dark lower cabinets with a full wall of wood create a dynamic and stunning look.

Deep Kitchen Drawers: Homeowners today say storage remains their top priority when designing a new kitchen. Swapping out deep drawers for lower kitchen cabinets is becoming more popular as it reduces costs and allows for a more personalized space. Dividers and inserts allow for better organization of different sized plates, pans and utensils. And, clever corner drawers can also be installed under sinks and range tops.

Black Stainless Steel Appliances: Black stainless steel appliances are creating a buzz for those who are looking for an alternative to their shiny counterparts. If you’re not ready to plunge into the darkness, Whirlpool offers appliances in their Sunset Bronze finish, which offers homeowners another choice to change up their kitchen design.

Workhorse Islands: These multi-tasking islands take center stage in your kitchen and provide additional workspace with deep storage, prep sinks and additional seating. They also act as the perfect space for entertaining, as homeowners enjoy using the space for buffet-style serving or setting up a bar.

Open-Air Kitchens: With the quest for open spaces, homeowners are knocking down walls and raising ceilings. Some are doing away with upper cabinets and opting for open shelving to create an open and airy feeling, which allows for increased space for additional windows. The downside is the reduction in storage space. Kitchen designers are coming up with creative ways to find clever storage spaces, such as deep lower cabinets, larger pantries and large storage areas in islands.

Unique Backsplash and Countertop Combinations: Playing it safe with traditional backsplash and countertop combinations (like white subway tile and granite) are acceptable design choices, but interior designers are tempting homeowners to think outside the box with some unique combinations. Pairing a unique color mosaic tile backsplash with a standout recycled glass countertop is one example of how to make your kitchen stand out.

Special Kitchen Features: Adding one unique element to your kitchen can transform the space from a functional one to a vital one. Using a dining room table on wheels with slide-out benches is a new way to add additional seating for casual meals or a large gathering.

Tech-Free Family Rooms for Family Time: As today’s world keeps us glued to our screens (whether it be on our phones, computers or tablets), the new trend is to keep either the family or living room just that – a place for family time or everyday living. Homeowners are embracing these tech-free zones for quiet retreats for reading and catching up with their families.

Statement Mirrors in Bathrooms: Most homeowners would agree the time of the medicine cabinet has come and gone. Today’s savvy home decorators are opting for beautifully framed mirrors to add class and elegance to their bathrooms. (They are also placing storage areas underneath the sink or in other bathroom shelving or storage areas.)

Bathrooms that Feel More like a Living Space: Adorning bathroom walls with graphic wallpaper or paintings, or hanging ornate chandeliers and installing furniture-like cabinetry in a bathroom, can turn this once ordinary place into a chic living space that you’ll be excited to go into every day.

Granite Transformations offers gorgeous quartz, granite and recycled glass countertops, mosaic tile backsplashes, and cabinet refacing. Check out our products and services, and if you like what you see, schedule a free in-home design consultation, where you will receive a free estimate from one of our expert design consultants.