For a few years now, white transitional kitchens have been ruling the design world. It’s gotten to the point that many high-end kitchens (not to mention interior design magazine spreads) have gotten yawn-inducingly similar. But as with the pushback against white bathrooms, this year homeowners are looking to add personality to their white kitchens. A lot of fundamentals this year are staying the same; expect more L-shaped transitional kitchens with shaker-style cabinets and stainless steel appliances. But the biggest 2019 kitchen trends involve adding colors, patterns, and signature DIY touches to help set your kitchen apart.
Bigger, Bolder, Full-Height Graphic Backsplashes
Tile backsplashes are getting a big glo-up this year. Now, I know as well as anyone that “add a tile backsplash!” has made just about every collection of kitchen design advice for the last five years at least. But in 2019, it’s go big or go home. Think full-height backsplashes that go from countertop to ceiling, either over your kitchen sink, above your stove, or both. This not only gives you a huge canvas to work with (which makes it a great way to add color to a white kitchen), but also makes for a beautiful statement piece, especially if you opt for a graphic tile pattern or a tile medallion. Bonus if you show off even more tile by replacing your upper cabinets with open shelves.
Put A Little Black In Your White Kitchen
The biggest manifestation of the pushback against all-white decor is a huge uptick in the opposite direction: using black for everything from small accents to an overarching color scheme. Expect to see lots of white cabinets get repainted black this year. Don’t quite feel bold enough to make that kind of commitment? Consider adding black accents to your kitchen instead. Incorporating even a few black elements is a great way to give all that white a fresh new feel. Think black upholstery, lighting fixtures, range hoods, bar stools, accent islands, window frames, grout or tile patterning, or even industrial-inspired iron hardware for those open shelves. Even just a little bit of contrast can make a big difference in a predominantly white kitchen.
The Re-Rebirth of the Farmhouse Kitchen
On the opposite end of the spectrum, 2019 kitchen trends are also showing a swing back towards classic farmhouse kitchens. Rather than opting for the dramatic modern or industrial feel that adding black accents can create, the return to farmhouse kitchens is more about adding coziness and warmth to your space. Think lots of wood accents and maybe a few vintage fixtures. But the goal here is the same: to take a bland white kitchen and breathe new life into it. Wood floors and butcher board countertops, reclaimed vintage farmhouse sinks, and classic lighting fixtures should all be on your checklist.
Seamless Indoor/Outdoor Kitchen Integration (And Some Cool, High-Tech Window Hardware)
Looking for a more dramatic change? This one’s for you. For the last few years, deck and patio design has been getting more elaborate and more involved, up to and often including full-fledged outdoor kitchens in place of a standard grill setup. One of the biggest 2019 kitchen trends is a shift that I’ve been predicting for a while: homeowners merging indoor and outdoor kitchens. Now, this has taken a while to become the new “it” thing because it’s certainly no small undertaking. At the very least, you want glass doors between your indoor kitchen and your deck. Better yet, you want glass doors that can either be folded accordion style or removed entirely. Why bother? Even when they’re “closed,” these window walls offer spectacular views; when they’re moved out of the way, they allow you a huge amount of space to entertain in, barrier-free.
Build Your Own Banquette
Of course, not all the 2019 kitchen trends involve huge-scale renovation. While white kitchens are getting re-imagined on a large scale, small DIY projects are the big winners this year. One of my favorites is building a DIY banquette. We’ve seen a big resurgence of built-in banquettes and breakfast nooks in recent years, but booth seating can be prohibitively expensive to build. The alternative? Replace the built-in bench seating with a standalone upholstered bench or loveseat, paired with a freestanding table and chairs. A DIY banquette is not only more affordable, but leaves you more room to customize your look. Benches are available in an amazing array of fabrics and designs, so you can get creative without breaking the bank. Bonus: you’ll end up with about the same amount of seating – and the same comfort level!
Streamline Your Entertaining With A Portable Bar Cart
Adding a bar cart to your kitchen or dining area is another affordable, low-impact alternative to a large-scale construction project. Instead of building a full-service wet bar (which means dealing with cabinetry, plumbing, electrical wiring, and appliance installation), make a much more modest investment in a bar cart that matches your decor. Then, then dress it up with your finest glassware and use it to display your liquor collection. While it won’t chill your wine or give you a spot to wash your limes, it will store your collection – and look good doing it. Bonus: most carts are on wheels. That makes it easy to bring your whole collection (plus an ice bucket!) to wherever it’s most convenient to entertain.
Spice Up A White Kitchen With An Accent Island
It’s also worth noting that while many people are making big changes to try to update their white kitchens, there’s also one popular solution this year that’s both affordable and DIY friendly: repainting your kitchen island. If refacing your kitchen cabinets is beyond your budget or outside the scope of the remodel you want to do, updating your island instead is a much more manageable project. So what color should you paint your island? Black is an easy choice and certainly in line with the trend towards high-contrast black and white kitchens. Gray is another good standby. But if you want something a little less stark, you’re in luck; the trendiest colors are bold emerald or teal, to add a big one-two punch of color to your space. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you could even tile your island to match your new graphic backsplash!
Fewer Cabinets But Better Storage
Last but certainly not least, the trend towards better, smarter, more personalized kitchen storage is forging ahead full steam. If you haven’t jumped on that particular train, 2019 might be the time to give it a try. The idea here is to make the cabinets you have work both harder and smarter. Instead of a big cabinet with a single shelf, you want to add organizers. Anything from pull-out shelves to pan racks will make it easier to both fit and find all your most-used items. Some cabinet upgrades take a lot of work (like adding pull-out shelves or upgrading cabinets to deep drawers). But most you can purchase individually and install yourself, to fit the way you use your kitchen.
Often start-of-the-year design trends call for extensive renovation and total re-imaginings of whatever room they’re making recommendations for. But while most 2019 kitchen trends can be turned into a large-scale project, most of them strike me as very DIY-friendly. Rather than rebuilding your kitchen for the ground up, this year think about how you can refine your space to make it more enjoyable and functional. So this year, if you’re looking for permission to start a fun weekend project in your kitchen, this is it!
