My Favourite Inspiring Kitchen Trends For 2018

My perfect copper kitchen sink and  copper mixing kitchen tap from Olif.

I bought my first house in the last few months of 2017, and so far I’m really enjoying being able to shape it to my own tastes and design aesthetics. In fact, if you’re a frequent follower of my blog you’ll probably have already seen my post on my copper and marble kitchen sink. I absolutely love it! If you’ve got similar plans for your kitchen, I would definitely encourage you to go ahead with them. It’s amazing how much of a difference even a simple change can make. And if you’re looking for inspiration, there are loads of brilliant new 2018 kitchen trends to check out. I’ve summed up a few of my favourites – I think you guys will like them!

Go Wild With A Splash of Colour!

The colours most on-trend this year are of the boldest, brightest and most vibrant variety. I know it can be a bit scary to take a risk on a strong, attention-grabbing colour like deep red or violet, but as long as you don’t go too overboard, you can produce some absolutely stunning results. The Scandinavians are pioneering this style right now, and designer kitchens with bright pops of colour are becoming all the rage. As a Scandi lover myself, I think it’s brilliant! There are already elements of it springing up in lots of designer kitchen showrooms in Manchester, for example in beautiful statement walls.

If that sounds like a little too much for you, though, don’t worry. Delicate pastel colours are equally on-trend, which is great if you’re a single gal like me and you want a bit more of a feminine touch to your kitchen. They complement grey colour palettes particularly well to create an amazingly sophisticated effect, or you can add a charming touch of extra character to kitchens with wood effect finishes. Meanwhile, a muted shade of sky-blue is the colour of choice for more contemporary kitchens.

In fact, blue itself is turning out to be a favourite for 2018, too. Industry experts think that darker shades are probably going to be the most popular, but the wonderful thing is that there are so many shades to choose from anyway! Blue is a popular choice for interiors because it has a naturally calming effect, making it a perfect fit for your kitchen. If you’re thinking about a kitchen makeover but you’re not sure where to start, you could do a lot worse than blue.

Be Creative With Kitchen Materials

Once you’ve decided on colours, there are tonnes of possibilities for kitchen materials, every one of which can add a different texture and ‘feel’ to your kitchen. Often, this effect is best felt through your kitchen worktops. I opted for white and grey marble worktops in my own kitchen, and you can see from the images in my last post that they definitely add a wonderful sense of texture. (They’re super hardwearing too, which is always handy.)

Metallics are another major feature of on-trend kitchen designs in 2018. Traces of gold in particular can give a luxurious feel to worktops and appliances, but if that sounds a little extravagant – understandable! – you can always take your pick from brass, copper and other mixed metals too. They’re arguably more cost-effective in most cases. Personally I love copper the most; its colour is warm and inviting, making it perfect for creating a welcoming atmosphere in your kitchen. On top of that, metallics make particularly striking focal points. What’s not to love?

Light Up Your Life (And Your Kitchen)

Along with colours and textures, lighting is another key part of the overall style of your kitchen. What kind of lighting you use, where you put them and how you position them can all have a really dramatic effect on the finished look and mood of your kitchen. It’s probably no surprise to you guys that according to the experts, the traditional setup of three pendant lights is still popular right now, a classic choice often suspended above a kitchen island or peninsular. Soft illumination from embedded spotlights is another timeless trend, and is brilliant for giving the space a more relaxed feel. Some of you might even know what I’m talking about from first hand experience!

Other, more innovative styles are closing the gap, too. Concealed LEDs are becoming more popular, with LED strips lining the underside of worktops or edging kitchen cabinetry. It can give your kitchen an amazing space-age, contemporary feel – if that’s your sort of thing!

As I touched on above, I can’t cover 2018’s kitchen trends exhaustively – we’d be here forever! – but this is just a taste of my favourites. What are yours?