If you’ve been thinking about updating your kitchen, you may have felt a little overwhelmed. After all, the style you choose will follow you for many years to come. It has to be beautiful and stylish, to be sure, but also functional to give you the flow you need. The trend for today’s kitchen is still an open concept. According to Houzz, more than one-third of homeowners are opting to increase the room’s size, with more than 50 percent opening up to other rooms and 20 percent opening to the outdoors. People are also spending more on their kitchen renovations, with one in 10 homeowners spending more than 100k on kitchen remodel.
But you don’t have to spend so much to have a refreshing new kitchen. A few changes can make a big difference, from painting the cabinets to updating the flooring to adding a backsplash. The first step is determining which direction you want to go in when it comes to showing off your personal style. So, how can you find YOUR kitchen style? Here are some typical styles from which to draw inspiration.
TRADITIONAL STYLE KITCHENS
From Victorian to country to vintage, traditional styles cover a lot of ground. In general, this type of kitchen will contain intricate architectural details, such as framed cabinets with decorative inserts, farmhouse sinks, and pastel colored walls. Elegance and convenience abound here, backed by decorative accents that truly bring a unique feel to the kitchen, from the ceiling to the cabinets to the lighting. Speaking of lighting, including chandeliers and lamp-style lights would all be part of a traditional kitchen. Patterned or tiled flooring complemented by muted tones is also a hallmark of traditional styling.
Traditional will probably never go out of style. It brings a timeless look to any kitchen, from painted or stained cabinets to glass-front doors, says HGTV. Even multipurpose islands that blend classic elements with a touch of modern appeal keep this look fresh. You can even add in industrial elements like streamlined metal barstools.
COTTAGE STYLE KITCHEN
Whimsical and simple, cottage kitchens are vintage-inspired. In this type of kitchen, you’ll find painted cabinets, salvaged hardwood flooring, patterned fabrics and more that give it all a family-friendly approach. Understated at its core, cottage style kitchens often feature wood cabinets made from maple, cherry and hickory, but you may even want to incorporate open shelving cabinets. Beadboard and farmhouse sinks complete the look. Instead of a big elaborate island, incorporate a small shabby chic table to give you more work area and add a certain charm and warmth to the space, suggests Better Homes and Gardens.
CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN STYLE
Popular among Millennials, this type of kitchen is sleek, stylish and stainless steel. Linear lines are the hallmark of a contemporary kitchen, from the layout of the cabinets to the flooring. Thanks to minimalist cabinetry, neutral color palettes, bold artwork and decor, and metallic accents, these modern kitchens boast a subtle elegance, says Architectural Digest. Stainless steel, white, black and gray are the color choices for this type of kitchen, perhaps splashed with color by bold chairs or other accent pieces. Dark hardwood flooring is the preferred choice here, but polished concrete also works. Simplicity and ease of use is at the center of the contemporary kitchen, with quartz, glass, granite or marble countertops dominating the landscape.
