If you’re planning a new kitchen this year, you want to know what the coming trends are. Adrian Stoneham, MD at Stoneham Kitchens, shares his predictions on what’s going to be big in 2022. From dark shaded themes such as greens, blues and burgundy to zoning layouts and bar areas for entertaining, there’s something to suit every taste, space and budget…  

Bold is beautiful

Blues and greens have been popular shades in kitchen design over the past couple of years but this year it will be all about bold and earthy tones. Think forest green and navy as well as sleek black. Burgundy will be one of the latest additions to the kitchen colour palette. If you are not brave enough to go all out with your cabinets, try adding a pop of colour on a feature such as the island to make a statement.

Wonderful walnut

While we often get asked for painted cabinets, we are now seeing more customers wanting a natural feel in their home with the use of wood. Walnut is a particular timber that is on the rise. Not only do the rich grains give a natural warmth, but the dark tones provide an instant sense of luxury.

Double islands

Why have one when you can have two? Double islands are in much demand, especially if you have a room big enough. Offering twice as much worktop space and storage options – what’s not to love. The multifunctional nature of having two islands means you can create zoned areas, such as using one for cooking and one for dining or even as a home office.

The kitchen office

The pandemic paved the way for the home office, as the nation had no choice but to work from home. We’ve seen this trend continue with more requests for kitchens that double up as offices. These areas can be built into your kitchen unit to create a zoned office space with pop-up plugs, charging drawers and filing drawers with lockable options.

Functional drawers

While the external aesthetics of your cabinets are important, what happens on the inside should be higher up your list of priorities to ensure your kitchen functions in the best possible way. Drawer storage and its features have come a long way from being just an empty space. The latest developments include charging drawers with power sockets to charge up your phone or tablet, keeping them out of sight. Bespoke spice drawers, Nespresso capsule drawers and wine drawers are also becoming popular in kitchen design. Drawers with glass sides are also a must-have, allowing quick visibility of your goods.

The zoned kitchen

Open-plan living continues to be popular and we don’t see this changing any time soon. However, there is now a need to create specific zoned areas within an open-plan setting. Divisions and areas can be zoned off in a number of ways by using indoor herb planters, screens, freestanding furniture and peninsular islands. These options are easy to incorporate into your kitchen design without having to break up the space with a wall.

Smart tech

The latest tech in the kitchen is minimal, modern and very smart. For 2022 we’ll see a rise in the popularity of smart ovens that suggest recipes, temperatures and steam levels on your behalf and smart fridges with WiFi connection and internal cameras. Instant hot water taps from Quooker that also provide carbonated and chilled water will continue to dominate and hobs with built-in extractors will be a favourite. The latest Siemens downdraft extractor is gaining popularity with our customers with a sheet of clear glass that is only visible when in use. This also comes with a dimmable LED light to highlight the glass and looks particularly impressive at night.

Raising the bar

For those who enjoy entertaining, bars will be a must-have storage space, which suits both compact and large kitchens. Customised for your needs, bar cabinets can include shelving to display glassware, crafted bottle drawers for fine wines and built-in chopping boards. The pantry bar also has different door options including pocket doors, glass doors and doors with sleek back mirror panelling. On top of this we have also seen a request for wine coolers built into worktops, which works really well on islands and table booths.

Pantry living

No kitchen is complete without a pantry cupboard, which has gained momentum over the past year. This will remain a must-have for modern living in 2022. An effective storage space, pantries allow everything to be in one place providing plenty of drawers, shelving, spice racks built into the doors, timber trays and built-in chopping boards. Keeping your food goods organised, the pantry is definitely worth considering for your new kitchen.

Premium handles

This may seem a small detail to think about in your kitchen but little touches such as handles can make a big impact on your kitchen design. This year you’ll see a whole range of premium handles to choose from including those with tactile milled surfaces in bronze, nickel, chrome, steel and black that will add a luxurious finish to kitchen cabinets.