Getting a kitchen renovation right can feel a bit daunting if you’re a renovator or first home buyer. It’s undoubtedly one of the most heavily used rooms of any house, and one you are under a bit of pressure to get right. Learning about some of this year’s trends and features can help you make the right choices that will stand the test of time. So we’ve put together a handy list of these trends to give you somewhere to start when you begin researching what flatpack kitchen trends you want.
Modern Layout
A brand new flatpack kitchen is often only as good as its layout. If you want a practical kitchen with lots of bench space so that two people can cook in it at once, or because there are often multiple people rolling through during busy times, think about the placement of your cupboards and fridge.
You’ll want the kitchen to be able to be navigated if these doors are open, so don’t just think about how it looks when everything is closed, but how it will work if doors are open and people want to get through.
Open Shelves
Flatpack kitchens can get a helping hand from far more expensive fit-outs when it comes to design trends that prioritise a bit of “white space”. This trend leaves some space on top of cabinets, or between them for open shelving or wine cabinets or spice racks. Just a few touches like this add a lot of personalisation to any kitchen and can break up the dominant colour of the kitchen really well, making for a pleasing design feature.
Ergonomic Appliances
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on appliances to make them high functioning. A simple design trend we’ve seen more and more that not every renovator gets right is thinking about usability. For example, the cavity where you place your microwave should be at a comfortable height, and not require you to stoop or reach above the head to use.
While it might be tempting to put appliances like this above eye level, or below hip height, the fact is that you want a functional kitchen, not a display home. And if a bowl or dish has been heating in the microwave then it will be hot. You don’t want to have to contort into a kitchen corner or be unstable when you are reaching in and pulling out your hot meal. The same logic applies to where you place your dishwasher, with the ideal placement being near the sink to minimise any dripping after rinsing dishes, but off-centre so that you can still access the bin or washing supplies underneath the sink.
Customisation
Flatpack kitchens are definitely functional, but the design trends we’ve seen include a lot of attention on small details that make a big difference to the overall look and feel of the final product. Tapware that is either hyper-modern or cool and retro or some coloured shelving to complement the rest of the kitchen, are two ideas that any renovator or first home buyer can think about to add some interest to their kitchen.
A DIY kitchen renovation is a great project to get into, and Smart Kitchen has been helping renovators with these projects for years. Our showrooms are located in Preston, Maribyrnong, and Kilsyth, and our friendly, experienced design team are always up for a chat about how our products can make your kitchen renovation trendier and more friendly on your budget.