![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/kitchen-cabinet-trend-two-toned.png\")
<\/a>1. Two-toned cabinets<\/h2>\n
The hottest kitchen cabinet trend today is the two-toned look. Choose two complementary colors for your cabinets and kitchen island, or for your upper cabinets and lower cabinets.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive years ago, everyone just wanted a second color on their island,\u201d says Sarah Robertson, Founder and Principal of Studio Dearborn<\/a> who has over 13 years of custom cabinetry design experience.<\/p>\n \u201cNow people are being much braver if they want a two-toned kitchen. We will put color on the base cabinets in a dark blue like Van Deusen by Benjamin Moore<\/a>, and then [paint] uppers in a very pale gray like Nimbus by Benjamin Moore<\/a>, and it grounds the kitchen. It harkens back to the horizon, dark below and light above, so it feels soothing and organic.\u201d<\/p>\n Randy O\u2019Kane CKD, Senior Designer at Bilotta Kitchens<\/a> with over 23 years of experience, notes that textures are also in the mix. \u201cI\u2019m seeing a lot of tall cabinets like the pantry and refrigerator being done in dark colors, wood, or texture, just like the island, and then a white or a contrasting color for the remaining cabinets,\u201d she says. Some examples of cabinet textures include different wood grains, gloss and matte finishes, or having a mix of solid and paneled doors.<\/p>\n O\u2019Kane adds that colored and textured cabinets add interest to a kitchen, especially with trendy, white quartz countertops. \u201cBring in color in some fashion whether it be in cabinets, countertops, backsplash, stools \u2014 there are a lot of ways to give your kitchen a pop of color,\u201d she comments.<\/p>\n Whereas homeowners were afraid to mix hardware finishes in the past, mixing hardware<\/a> is highly popular today.<\/p>\n Brass is back and in a big way, but we\u2019re not talking about the shiny, polished brass of the \u201880s. Today\u2019s iteration of the trend is a more subtle, brushed brass that pairs beautifully with matte black and brushed chrome finishes.<\/p>\n O\u2019Kane shares that she pairs brass cabinet hardware with a pewter faucet in one client\u2019s kitchen. You can also mix the finishes between your cabinet hardware and lighting fixtures.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s not just hardware that homeowners and designers are mixing. Homeowners are mixing the fronts of cabinets to include details like glass<\/a>, metal doors.<\/p>\n \u201cVery rarely or never are you seeing anything on Instagram where there is one cabinet style or solid doors all the way around,\u201d says Robertson. \u201cThat is not interesting. The new mix is organic, and I find it really interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n Robertson says that she is also seeing fewer cabinets with more open shelving and alternative storage units.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is more open wall space, more open shelving, and bigger windows,\u201d she says, adding that this look is all over social media and design publications.<\/p>\n However, before you go ripping out a third of your cabinets, consider your current storage needs \u2014 and your future buyer\u2019s.\u00a0 According to our recent Top Agent Insights Report, 57% of buyers rank storage as one of the top three most desirable kitchen upgrades.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe natural fallout of that is that people have fewer cabinets, so they need to be better designed,\u201d says Robertson.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are leveraging every inch. The standard pullout trays aren\u2019t the best anymore. You\u2019re looking for specialized storage for baking sheets, slide-away waste cans for compost and recycling, dish drawers, and thoughtful storage.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n With panel-ready appliances, you can camouflage your refrigerator, dishwasher, and trash compactor with custom panels to match your cabinetry.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone is covering dishwashers and refrigerators, and I\u2019m seeing a bit more people being creative when they cover the refrigerator with more of a free-standing cabinet look,\u201d Robertson comments.<\/p>\n Just note that you\u2019ll shell out a pretty penny for panel-ready appliances. Pricing for a built-in panel-ready refrigerator starts around $4,000<\/a> but can quickly reach $8,000<\/a>\u00a0 to $10,000<\/a>. With installation costs, it\u2019s not unusual to see prices go significantly higher<\/a>.<\/p>\n Laminate is the kitchen cabinet trend for a modern look. Homeowners also love this cabinet material since it\u2019s easy to wipe clean.<\/p>\n Laminate is a surface material made from paper and resin pressed together under heat.<\/a> There is low and high-pressure laminate, and although the low-pressure is more cost-effective, the high-pressure laminate stands up to more wear and tear.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are moving away from transitional and traditional more and more, and they want more contemporary, clean lines,\u201d says O\u2019Kane. \u201cMore laminate is being used, and there are a lot of Italian laminates that offer several options, so it looks more and more like wood if that\u2019s the style you\u2019re going for.\u201d<\/p>\n Laminate comes in a wide variety of colors and textures, including matte, fingerprint-resistant finish<\/a>, faux wood, paneled<\/a>, and high-gloss<\/a>. Amy Rio<\/a>, a top agent and Certified Renovation Real Estate Specialist in Glastonbury, Connecticut, echoes homeowners\u2019 preference for sleek, low-maintenance cabinets, suggesting a shaker style<\/a> for those who don\u2019t want the laminate look. Shaker cabinets feature a flat center panel with square edges.<\/p>\n For a truly custom look, add LED accent light to your cabinets.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re doing motion detector lights and touch lights instead of using switches \u2014 lights in drawers when you open them, under the cabinets, and inside the cabinets,\u201d says O\u2019Kane. \u201cThere are even cabinet manufacturers who have partnered with lighting companies, so the lights come built-in.\u201d<\/p>\n LED lights save energy and lower your energy bills \u2014 residential LED lights, especially those with ENERGY STAR rating, use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer<\/a> than incandescent lighting.<\/p>\n Barn doors have been trending for cabinets for a while now; however, O\u2019Kane shares that barn doors with glass and frosted glass are the latest twist on this Fixer Upper<\/i>-inspired look.<\/p>\n She adds that the hardware on the barn doors is also getting an update. Whereas a traditional barn door typically had black or oil bronzed hardware, today\u2019s iteration of the trend features stainless steel or gold finishes for a lighter and more contemporary aesthetic.<\/p>\n When determining which trends are the right ones for you, consider the following:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to sell your home soon, white kitchens are still very popular and sellable. If you\u2019re not looking to sell your home anytime soon, you can afford to take more of a design risk.<\/p>\n \u201cA painted white kitchen is always going to be popular,\u201d O\u2019Kane advises. \u201cIf the homeowners tell me they\u2019re going to sell their house, I suggest white because they are always going to appeal to a lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>2. Mixed metal hardware<\/h2>\n
<\/a>3. Mix and match cabinet panel accents<\/h2>\n
4. Fewer closed cabinets<\/h2>\n
5. Panel-ready appliances<\/h2>\n
<\/a>6. Glossy and faux wood laminate cabinets<\/h2>\n
<\/a>7. Accent LED cabinet lights<\/h2>\n
<\/a>8. Barn doors of all kinds<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Consider your long-term plans when choosing a kitchen cabinet trend<\/h2>\n
White is a safe bet for a timeless look<\/h3>\n
Maintenance matters as much as style<\/h3>\n