Before updating your home’s interior, consider how tastes may have changed over the last year. While bright white kitchens and neutral bathrooms were once the height of fashion, design experts anticipate a significant shift in 2022. From integrated home tech to bespoke design elements, bathrooms and kitchens in 2022 are all about personalization and practicality. To learn all about the top eight kitchen and bath design trends for 2022, follow below.
8 Kitchen and Bath Design Trends for 2022
#1 Integrated Home Tech in Both Kitchen and Bath
Designers anticipate smart home tech — particularly wellness tech — will continue its reign well into 2022. In her October 2021 article “2022 Bathroom Trends” for Southern Living, Marissa Wu writes that technology is “an inseparable component of our everyday lives.” As such, it should come as “no surprise that technology finds its way into the bathroom” and kitchen.
Controlling one’s steam shower, fridge settings or oven from “your phone or an iPad on the wall” is becoming a necessity for tech-savvy homeowners. This trend bears even more significance for homeowners planning to age in place. Our recent post “12 Home Improvements to Support Aging in Place” details additional changes homeowners can make to improve their spaces as they age. If you do plan to incorporate home tech devices or apps, Wu recommends homeowners “remember: waterproof, waterproof, waterproof” to avoid any disasters!
#2 Warm, Dark Tones in Both Kitchen and Bath
Mid-Century Modern design is as popular as ever before, particularly amongst new homeowners in the Millennial age bracket. Given this, it should come as no surprise that warm, dark tones are experiencing a resurgence in both kitchen and bathroom spaces. In recent years, designers have rejected clinical, all-white kitchens and bathrooms in favor of soft, welcoming spaces. This year, designers expect hallmarks of moody Mid-Century Modern design to influence both bathrooms and kitchens. They expect to see the incorporation of warm woods, brass accents and darker, more saturated paint colors in bathrooms and kitchens.
#3 Double Shower Heads in the Primary Suite
As mentioned above, kitchen and bathroom design will be all about fun and function in 2022. Because of this, double shower heads are growing in popularity. As we head into winter, no one wants to be left out in the cold as their partner hogs the only shower head. Double shower heads are not only more practical for couples sharing a master suite. They also make cleaning the shower much faster and easier. In bathrooms with larger showers, double shower heads also make more aesthetic sense, as they provide balance and symmetry.
#4 Separate Wet Rooms in Full Bathrooms
In most homes, full bathrooms crowd a bathtub, shower, sink, storage and toilet all into a single space. This results in a cramped interior that is less serene and more stressful. It also reduces the functionality of the space, meaning that only one person can utilize the bathroom at a time. The design trend of installing a wet room in your home enhances accessibility, simplifies maintenance and transforms the space for a more contemporary aesthetic.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a wet room is a separate space containing only the “wet” elements of a bathroom. Most commonly, these elements include the shower, tub and/or steam room. Linen closets, toilets, sinks and medicine cabinets are relegated to an adjoining space that is kept dry. With American homes increasingly becoming more multigenerational, separate wet rooms just make sense.
#5 Statement Hoods in the Kitchen
Jennifer Ebert and Arabella Youens recently identified statement hoods as a major upcoming kitchen design trend. They discuss the trend in their article “Kitchen trends 2022 – 35 new looks and innovations for cabinets, worktops and more” for Homes & Gardens. According to Ebert and Youens, “custom-made hoods in unusual finishes make strong and defining statements in kitchens.” While Ebert and Youens recommend metals like zinc and copper, other organic elements work well too. We love matte terracotta, natural stone and glossy tiles, all of which are striking options that add just as much pizzazz.
#6 Bespoke Design Elements in Both Kitchen and Bath
Another key design trend in 2022 will be customization for contemporary kitchens and bathrooms. Whenever possible, choosing special design elements over mass-manufactured pieces is preferable. From bespoke cookbook cubbies to hand-clipped marble backsplashes, custom decor can infuse any space with more personality.
This particular glass green backsplash was custom-made by local craftsmen. Lit from behind, this glowing green backsplash readily recalls early 20th century Jadeite kitchenware or Uranium glass. View more pictures and read all about this Everett kitchen remodel here.
#7 Glossy Rather than Matte Finishes in Both Kitchen and Bath
While matte surfaces were trendy last year, they have fallen out of favor with many designers and homeowners. Matte cabinets, backsplashes, countertops and house paints are stunning in sleek, minimalistic spaces, but they do have a few downsides. Some say that matte surfaces can conceal spills and scratches more effectively than glossy surfaces.
However, this really only applies to high-gloss rather than regular or semi-gloss finishes. Burnish marks and oil spills are almost impossible to camouflage on matte surfaces, while regular gloss and semi-gloss finishes disguise damage. Furthermore, homeowners with small kitchens and bathrooms might end up with a space that feels flat and cramped if they opt for matte finishes. Alternatively, choosing glossy tiles, metallic wallpapers and shiny hardware bounces light around a room, making that space feel bigger and brighter.
#8 Double Islands in the Kitchen
Spaces and surfaces that perform double duty are becoming synonymous with the modern home. Just like the dual shower heads trend outlined above, dual islands allow multiple residents to enjoy the space at one time. For the couple that loves cooking together, doubling up on workspaces is key to a harmonious chef experience. Double islands are also great for homeowners who love entertaining dinner party guests while they cook. In her October 2021 article “Kitchen Islands—Does Anyone Really Need Two? We Asked Interior Designers” for The Wall Street Journal, Allison Duncan makes the case for double islands. Quoting Chicago-based Marshall Erb, Duncan writes “‘there’s a dinner-theater component to double islands…it’s interactive, like a chef’s table in a fine restaurant.’”
Not only are double islands more practical, with “one for food preparation, another for gathering and entertaining,” but they are also visually more appealing. Quoting Heather Weisz, Duncan notes that the space between two islands “‘is a visual alley, like looking down a road toward the sunset.’” Adding a second island can actually make one’s kitchen feel more expansive and more elegant.
Remodeling Your Bathroom or Kitchen with VanderBeken Remodel
Snohomish homeowners considering a bathroom or kitchen remodel can find expert advice, years of experience and lots of talent at VanderBeken Remodel. The team at VanderBeken specializes in bathroom, kitchen, additions and whole home remodels. As such, this design-build firm is perfect for Washington State homeowners seeking a change.
Schedule a Call With Us at a Time That Works Best for You
We get it, you are busy, and honestly we are too. Schedule a time for an introductory call and one of our team members will give you a call at a time that works best for your schedule. Typically the call will last 15-20 minutes. During this call we will try and answer your questions as well as gather information about your unique project, such as:
- location
- length of time in your home
- aspects of your space that are not working for you
