22 Top New Trends in Kitchen and Bath Design From Industry Experts

We asked reps from Brown Jordan, Kohler, Cosentino and other top brands to tell us what consumers should look for in the year ahead. From cotton candy outdoor kitchens to art deco faucets, find out the big kitchen and bath trends.

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April 29, 2021

By: Felicia Feaster

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Darker Kitchen Islands

Designer experts at surface manufacturer Cosentino, makers of Silestone, Dekton and Sensa say that dark surfaces on kitchen islands are trending.

Fashion-Forward Appliances

The Samsung Bespoke line of glam refrigerators offers unique customization options and fashion forward colors like matte black, white gloss, navy and champagne rose steel with rose-pink glass, sky blue glass, white glass and grey glass panels. Changeable color flat panels offer customization without long-term commitment.

Outdoor Kitchens Go Colorful

Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens creative director, architect and designer Daniel Germani says bright colors, especially red, are trending in outdoor kitchens. According to Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens' Outdoor Living Report, 82% of American homeowners are interested in updating their outdoor space.

High-Style, Easy-Install Cabinets

Affordable and stylish when a full-kitchen remodel is not in the picture, cabinet refacing is an option for old or beat-up cabinets. These Nieu Cabinet Doors from design influencer Angela Rose allow you to add instant farmhouse style. Available in 16 door styles and 14 colors, these cabinets give a designer look with less money and without a whole kitchen overhaul.

Versatile Showerheads + Super-Cleanliness

This new 2-in-1 Freespin showerhead from Kohler is a versatile option for our current cleanliness-is-everything moment. Use this detachable showerhead to wash dogs or feet. The showerhead offers 360 degree rotation and can mount either vertically or horizontally.

Handles As Jewelry

Kohler's handsome Artifacts faucet with marble handle detail shows the new trend for distinctive, statement bathroom fixtures and for the growing popularity of Art Deco design.

Luxe Details

Historic style and luxe details like these marble handles distinguish the new breed of Artifacts bathroom handles from Kohler.

Mixed Metals

The Tone with Kohler Konnect faucet shows the popularity of mixed metals in design. This kitchen faucet is offered in multiple color combinations (shown here is brass and matte black).

Industrial Looks Are Big

With its chic concrete look, the Silestone Loft Camden countertop series is inspired by younger, urban dwellers' love of industrial spaces and materials.

Technology Makes Inroads Into the Bath

This high-tech Kohler Moxie with Amazon Alexa showerhead has a built-in wireless speaker so you can listen to podcasts or music while you sing in the shower. You can also remove and take the speaker wherever you go.

The Farmhouse Trend Continues

The Kohler Ironridge sink celebrates farmhouse design while offering a cleaner, more modern take adaptable to different kitchen styles.

Seamless Surfaces Are Trending

For better cleaning, more and more people are looking for seamless surfaces in kitchens and baths. Rather than tile, people want materials that are easier to install and easier to clean like this Cosentino White Zeus Silestone surface with a coordinating sink basin for a clean, seamless European-inspired look.

No Grout Lines

Seamless solid surfaces lend drama, sleekness and cleanliness to the bath — just as cleaning becomes a major obsession for most homeowners in 2020/2021. This Cosentino Dekton grout-free shower wall makes a definite statement in the bathroom. Materials like Silestone and Dekton are expanding beyond kitchen countertops into exterior cladding, bathroom and kitchen walls.

Outdoor Kitchens Marry Style + Functionality

No longer just about a functional place to grill, the new Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens modular, freestanding collection Elements was created with international architect and designer Daniel Germani. “People are getting more daring,” he says, choosing colors like mint, cotton candy and sea spray for their outdoor kitchens.

Taking the Outside In

Designer Daniel Germani says “more and more people are designing the whole space and matching indoor and outdoor kitchens.” In addition, people are also bringing outdoor kitchens like this fun Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens Elements model indoors because these outdoor-tough materials are more durable.

Low-Slung Outdoor Furniture

Designer Daniel Germani says more and more homeowners are looking for chic, lounge-inspired low-slung furniture to complement their modern outdoor kitchens.

From: Ecocentrix Landscape Architecture

Smart Fixtures

"Homes that feature smart technologies are becoming increasingly popular," says designer and real estate developer Sabine H. Schoenberg. "Using internet connected devices to remotely monitor various household amenities from a smart fridge to smart lighting modernizes the space and empowers homeowners. Touchless faucets are a convenient and cleaner approach as well." All such features can increase the resale value of your home too, says Schoenberg.

SHOP NOW: The Best Kitchen Faucets for Every Style and Budget

From: Tiffany Brooks

Lighting Is Key

Marble-topped counters are well lit by under-cabinet lighting in this high-end kitchen. "One of the most important ways to brighten up a space and add some ambiance is in the lighting," advised Sabine Schoenberg. "Super functional LED under-the-cabinet lighting provides excellent illumination to food prep surfaces and the actual fixtures are hidden to the eye. Adding an accent LED lighting fixture above the center island adds warmth to that social spot," she says.

From: Montgomery Roth

Zero-Maintenance Surfaces

“A big request I’ve been getting from clients is for zero-maintenance surfacing, especially from people who’ve had marble countertops previously,” says designer Young Huh. “They’ve found that the upkeep of sealing can be exhausting and it doesn’t retain its appearance when installed as long as they’d hoped. For a marble look without the hassle, I often recommend (and use!) Et Calacatta Gold from Silestone or Dekton Aura 15.”

Pro Tip: Be honest about the elbow grease and time you’re willing to invest in maintenance. If you love red wine, coffee, and cook frequently with olive oil, all three can wreak havoc on natural stone if not regularly sealed. If the maintenance seems cumbersome, move on from marble and go with a more durable, man-made alternative, says Young Huh.

From: The Ranch Mine

Bidets Growing in Popularity

A Harris Poll commissioned by Kohler found 85% of adults are interested in purchasing automated/touchless bathroom products. And in 2020, Kohler saw bidet sales online increase by a wide margin. Kohler makes several bidet attachments from a splurge $600 C3-155 Bidet Seat to a more economical Puretide Quiet-Close at $165 pictured here.

Provide Continuity Between Countertop and Backsplash

A countertop upgrade serves as a perfect opportunity to update the backsplash says designer Young Huh, who advises carrying the same surfacing material up the wall. “That seamless flow of surfacing extending up the wall creates a very cohesive, European style that’s emerging in the U.S. market,” she says.

Pro Tip: Seek manufacturers that have surfaces in various thicknesses; slimmer formats offer more affordability and easy-to-install solutions for backsplash installations, says Young.

From: Deep River Partners, Ltd.

High-Impact Product Upgrades Are Trending

Rather than costly updates like reworking floorplans or adding costly new appliances, more and more homeowners are looking at small but impactful renovations. One of those is swapping out an outdated kitchen sink for a new one like this stylish Kohler Cairn Neoroc sink.

22 Top New Trends in Kitchen and Bath Design From Industry Experts

Related To:

Shop This Look

Darker Kitchen Islands

Fashion-Forward Appliances

Outdoor Kitchens Go Colorful

High-Style, Easy-Install Cabinets

Versatile Showerheads + Super-Cleanliness

Handles As Jewelry

Luxe Details

Mixed Metals

Industrial Looks Are Big

Technology Makes Inroads Into the Bath

The Farmhouse Trend Continues

Seamless Surfaces Are Trending

No Grout Lines

Outdoor Kitchens Marry Style + Functionality

Taking the Outside In

Low-Slung Outdoor Furniture

Smart Fixtures

Lighting Is Key

Zero-Maintenance Surfaces

Bidets Growing in Popularity

Provide Continuity Between Countertop and Backsplash

High-Impact Product Upgrades Are Trending

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