Kitchen Design Trends of 2016
The kitchen is one of the most popular areas of the home to remodel. If you’re looking for a home improvement project that will give you a high return on investment, the kitchen is one of your best bets. We are not looking to sell our house in the near future but I do like to keep my home current. My kitchen cabinets were originally a yellow based cream color and were beginning to look dated. I’m now in the process of painting my cabinets using General Finishes milk paint. I already painted the bottom cabinets in Millstone.
I am now almost done painting my top cabinets in General Finishes Antique White. I really like the differing colors between the bottom and top cabinets and I will share pics as soon as I finally finish!
My kitchen cabinets are solid wood and have a traditional design that I happen to love because they really never go out of style. Here are some of the current kitchen cabinet trends to help you choose the right kitchen cabinets for your space!
Flat-Paneled Cabinets
If your home is modern and minimalistic, sleek, flat-paneled cabinets are an excellent choice to perfectly complement your kitchen. Consider installing stainless steel cabinets to give your kitchen a sharp look. In addition to looking great, stainless steel cabinets are also easy to clean (although they do show fingerprints) and generally hold up well over the course of time.
![Stainless Steel Cabinets](https://thepainteddrawer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/stainless-steel.jpg)
image via Pinterest via myscandinavianhome.blogspot.com
White Cabinets
White cabinets have been a classic for decades. I happen to be really partial to a white kitchen. Whitewashed kitchens are becoming more popular, so if you love the idea of a sparkling white kitchen, ask your remodeling company about their selection of white cabinets. If you don’t want the kitchen to be one shade of white, white cabinets look classy paired with dark floors and walls to warm up the space.
![white cabinets](https://thepainteddrawer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/White-Cabinets.jpg)
Image via Pinterest via thefreshexchangeblog.com
Floor-To-Ceiling Cabinets
If you have a lot of dishes and appliances to store, floor-to-ceiling cabinets are a great option to give you the extra storage that you need while looking amazing. Hiding clutter is an instant way to make your home look bigger and tidier, and adequate cabinet storage is one of the easiest ways to tuck away extra items that would otherwise be sitting out on surfaces. Perfect for a large family that has a ton of water bottles, lunch boxes, etc.!
![floor to ceiling cabinets](https://thepainteddrawer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/floor-to-ceiling-cabinets.jpg)
image via Pinterest via plainenglishdesign.co.uk
Mixed Material Kitchens
If you’ve never been one for matching, mixed material kitchens are great for those with bold style. For example, tile floors, a stainless steel refrigerator, and dark wooden cabinets are an unlikely combination that looks surprisingly polished together. In the picture below, warm wood floors, a modern island and traditional painted cabinets with stainless steel appliances all flow together.
![mixed material kitchen](https://thepainteddrawer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/mixed-material-kitchen.jpg)
image via Pinterest
Pops of Color
The kitchen is a centrally located area of the home that draws a lot of attention. To reflect your style, consider adding colorful accents to cabinets. A brightly colored backsplash adds a pop of color that spices up the kitchen, or you can go bold and opt for colorful cabinets. These blue cabinets are gorgeous.
![pop of color cabinets](https://thepainteddrawer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/pop-of-color2.jpg)
image via Pinterest via nicety.livejournal.com
Go Grey
If black or espresso cabinets are a bit more harsh-looking than you’d like, go with grey. Shades of grey from light to charcoal complement almost every color of floor, and grey cabinets show fewer signs of wear and tear than white cabinets.
![Gray Kitchen Cabinet](https://thepainteddrawer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Gray-Cabinets.jpg)
image via Pinterest via lizmarieblog.com
The options for remodeling your kitchen are nearly endless. When its time for a kitchen remodel, spend some time looking through magazines or websites to find inspiration. You spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so make sure that you are uncompromising and end up with exactly the style and vibe that you’re looking for. Whether you go for muted tones or unexpected splashes of color, the kitchen should reflect your own personal taste and style.
I hope you all have a great weekend!
Do you recommend milk paint instead of chalk paint for kitchen cabinets? My oak cabinets have noticeable grain and I want to paint them some shade of off-white. I plan to put darker wax around the molding as opposed to glazing. I suppose a top coat of some sort will be needed. What do you think about my plans? I am older and hope to minimize my time working up on a ladder! (I will cheat and leave the doors on while I paint.)
Hi Peggy, I have found General Finishes milk paint to be fantastic on cabinetry. The top coat is easier to apply than wax. However, you really can’t dark wax it like you do chalk paint (it has to be glazed). If you plan on using dark wax then you should use chalk paint and wax. You can also apply General Finishes Flat Out Flat top coat over chalk paint. Good luck!
Thanks for clarifying the process for me. I’m a bit afraid of applying glaze cause I’ve messed it up a couple of times, so I will have to look for a video of yours and practice! I like the idea if that top coat.
Hi Peggy – glaze is definitely more difficult to apply than wax. I would suggest going onto the General Finishes website and looking at their video tutorials. They have a good one on how to apply glaze to kitchen cabinets. Maybe try it first on a test piece of wood from Home Depot (like a piece of molding). Good luck!