Interior Design Trends Expected to Take Hold in 2018

1. Dedicated chopping and baking stations. Regular countertop height is fine for those casual weekly meals. But for larger, more involved recipes that require a lot of chopping, rolling or other strenuous maneuvers, a lower countertop is more ideal. That’s why some avid home cooks are gravitating toward dedicated chopping and baking stations that are often a continuation of a larger, standard-height island.

See how to create a dedicated baking station

2. Matte black finishes. Last year, satin brass made its takeover of kitchens. This year, look out for matte black in bathrooms as well as kitchens. Homeowners looking for a statement-making look that’s contemporary and complements a variety of materials and styles are embracing this tough, versatile finish. Companies like Moen, whose matte black finish is shown here, are expanding their products to include more options in the durable finish.

Find matte black hardware

3. More color in kitchens. White will always be a classic palette for kitchens, as the annual Houzz kitchen trends study continues to show. But its increased popularity means there’s going to be some all-white-kitchen fatigue as homeowners look for ways to personalize their space. So while white kitchens aren’t even close to going away, expect to see a rise in color for the kitchen, especially other neutrals like gray and blue. Plus, warm wood tones are becoming a popular replacement for painted cabinets, leading to sophisticated, rich palettes.

3 Modern Kitchens That Rock Warm Wood Cabinets

4. Antibacterial materials. Imagine a countertop that helps take care of that salmonella bacteria for you after preparing chicken for dinner. That’s the idea behind several materials presented at the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings (CERSAIE) in Italy back in September.

The new K-Life technology incorporated into Porcelanosa’s Krion solid surface not only is antibacterial but also eliminates chemicals that come into contact with it, as well as purifies the surrounding air.

How does it accomplish this? Through a process called photocatalysis, which uses a semiconductor in the surface to enhance a reaction to light, killing bacteria and breaking up pollutants.

IdeaGroup’s Disenia also showcased a similar product at CERSAIE. Its new shower gaskets have an antibacterial treatment.

5. Dining tables in the kitchen. Not everyone is in favor of a big island, especially for eating family meals. Who wants to face the same direction all the time, as in a diner? Many homes, especially those with smaller kitchens, are reconsidering a traditional dining table in place of an island.

Browse dining tables

This dining table features a quartz top that can be used like an island countertop as needed.

8. Concrete accents. Concrete has always been a popular material choice, but don’t be surprised to see it in more unexpected ways, such as in furniture, decorative accessories, wallcoverings, countertops and tile. “My clients are expressing a desire to use materials in unusual ways,” says designer and Houzz Contributor Jennifer Ott. “Concrete is as popular as ever, but it’s showing up in unexpected places such as in furniture, decorative accessories and even as concrete-look wallcoverings.”

Designer Yanic Simard agrees. “The humble material and its comforting cool tones mixed with light linen and pearl grays add relaxed air to any space,” he says.

And the concrete look is carrying over into other materials as well. The stoneware tiles shown here (Beton Chic from Ricchetti’s Manifattura del Duca range) mimic the texture of concrete and come in a variety of colors.

9. Bold-colored sofas. A daring sofa color tackles two common design challenges: adding color and creating a focal point. If you feel like your living room is lacking in either of these areas, consider taking your sofa color up a notch. Blue, pink and green are all great places to start.

See more daring sofa colors

10. Casual and calm modern bedrooms. You can’t decorate your way to a good night’s sleep. In other words, if you’re looking for a calm, relaxing bedroom — ideal for a restful night — you don’t want the space dripping with ornate decor, busy patterns or eye-opening color. Instead, a pared down, verging-on-minimalist look that incorporates soothing neutrals, soft fabrics and simple, functional pieces is the direction homeowners are heading.

See the 20 Most Popular Bedrooms of 2017

11. Defining kitchens in open floor plans. Every time a bell rings, an interior wall gets knocked down. OK, maybe not that frequently but it seems like the open floor plan has dominated homes in recent years, and not all homeowners love it. And some are going the other way, seeking some sort of delineation of space, such as in the photo shown here. A half wall of cabinetry creates a semi-closed space between the kitchen and living room.

See more semi-open kitchens

Other homeowners are embracing a material palette to offset a kitchen area from an open living space, as shown here.

12. Millwork feature walls and detailing. Shiplap, millwork panels and reclaimed wood boards have been around for a while now. But with affordable big box store options and the relative ease with which the average homeowner is able to DIY these materials as accents, expect to see this trend to continue for some time, especially as bedroom feature walls.

13. Hidden range hoods. A statement range hood can make an ideal focal point in a kitchen. But in more compact spaces, the last thing you may want is another bulky appliance. Instead, consider hiding a hood behind some elegant cabinetry, as was done in this Australian kitchen. Coupled with under-cabinet outlets, the hidden appliance allows the small amount of backsplash to appear large, streamlined and elegant.

See more on hidden range hoods

14. Mixing metals, texture and sheen. “People are mixing metallic elements and are paying more and more attention to sheen and texture,” Ott says. Think shiny brass mixed with matte black steel, or a honed countertop with matte tile backsplash.

15. Countertop details. Sure, it’s important to focus on choosing the right countertop material for your needs, but don’t stop there. There are a bevy of options to ratchet up the look and function of your countertop. Here, cut grooves in butcher block create a drainage for wet dishes and other scenarios.

Pros and cons of popular countertop materials

And here, a chiseled edge completely changes the look and feel of this kitchen.

16. Trough or bucket sinks. These deep, wide and durable sinks are great for hardworking laundry rooms and busy kids bathrooms. And their rise dovetails nicely with the expected continued prevalence of a quieted-down modern farmhouse style.

15 Modern-Rustic Farmhouses Celebrate Simple Pleasures

17. Fish-scale pattern backsplash. If you’ve grown bored of subway tile but still want something simple and classic, check out a scalloped or fish-scale pattern. The look offers more movement, and a bit more interest, than rectangular tile but is still versatile enough to work with almost any kitchen style.

See more photos of fish-scale tile in design

18. Rich colors. Warm grays with rich, earthy shades will edge out cooler neutrals for a more sumptuous look. “I’m seeing a move toward warm grays and rich, earthy shades of camel, rust, tobacco and brown-blacks,” Ott says.

Simard says rich colors like red — especially for sofas — can add a sense of passion, while something like a burnt yellow offers some interesting, unexpected flavor.

19. Vintage lighting. Pros are reporting more interest in vintage-style fixtures, such as aged copper pendant lights. “There’s a huge focus on lighting right now, especially vintage pieces, which is also considered to be a great art solution,” Simard says.

Browse copper pendant lights

21. Florals make a comeback. This popular print is getting a revival and a bit of an update, say Ott and Simard. Forget low-energy patterns, and think botanical references in high-contrast colors and oversize blooms. “I’m seeing florals making a comeback,” but not the traditional variety, Ott says. “These are bold, graphic floral prints in high-contrast colors such as black and white or teal and gold.”

22. Fewer white or stainless-steel sinks. White and stainless steel sinks have had their day, says designer Ott. Expect more concrete, stone, copper and granite composite sinks in darker hues of gray, bronze or black.

Your turn: What’s big on your design list this year? Have you spotted the next big trend of 2018? Give us your predictions in the Comments!

See last year’s design predictions
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