Kitchens and bathrooms are two of the most important rooms in a home. So, it makes sense that we would want them to be functional and fashionable.
We talked with our kitchen and bathroom specialist at our Roseland location, Sue Sukolics, to find out about the upcoming trends in both spaces for 2022. She sees a lot of projects come through the doors.
“It can be difficult to know exactly what trends will be because we’re driven by what’s happening on the west coast, and sometimes it takes us a while to catch up,” she says. “Fortunately, I’ve been doing this for a while, so I know a thing or two!”
It used to be that when homes were built, the cabinets would be built the same throughout the entire house. But those days are gone, according to Sukolics. Now, every room has its own personality and design style.
Let’s take a look at the trends that we’re seeing so you can get some inspiration for your kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects in 2022.
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
The biggest trend for kitchens and bathrooms in 2022 will be to keep things simple and elegant. People want to spend less time thinking about day-to-day care of their home. Low maintenance materials and design have become a key part of how they’re designing and remodeling their homes.
“People are busy, and they don’t want to have to take time to do a lot of cleaning. They want things that are easy to take care of,” Sukolics says. “For example, people aren’t looking for a lot of molding detail on their cabinet doors because they want something easy to care for — nothing for gunk to get into.”
Sukolics says that simple shaker cabinets have been increasing in popularity, and she expects that to continue into 2022. Maple continues to be a popular choice for cabinets because painting is still the go-to method of adding life and color to a kitchen or bathroom. However, Sukolics says that stained woods are making a resurgence, and she expects them to be more prominent in 2022 remodel jobs.
“I’m seeing a lot of two-tone designs — where you have a base cabinet color and the wall cabinets are different, or the perimeter cabinets and the island are different from one another,” Sukolics says. “Mixing and matching colors is a simple way to add renewed life to a kitchen or bathroom. People are even playing with paint in one spot and stained wood in another.”
Keeping it simple extends to countertops, too. Sukolics says that while many people still buy granite countertops for their natural look and durability, the trend is leaning toward quartz.
“People like quartz countertops because they’re maintenance free, even if it’s a little more expensive than granite,” she says. “You just use it, wipe it off, and walk away. You don’t have to reseal it like you do with granite, plus it’s nonporous so it doesn’t stain.”
Stone countertops will be the thing to look for in bathrooms, too. Cultured marble — with big, thick edges and rectangular sinks makes a statement in your bathroom without breaking the bank. Sukolics says that adding a matte finish to cultured marble can give it a more natural stone look.
EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE
What’s the point in updating your countertops if you can’t even see them? Decluttering kitchens and bathrooms and hiding things away in their proper places will be a theme for 2022.
That means that upgrading and adding storage is going to be important to anyone considering remodeling. Storage options range from floor-to-ceiling cabinets to installing pull-outs and deep drawers.
“Open floating shelves are popular, but most people are usually only installing those in a little area — people want to hide things away in their cabinetry,” Sukolics says. “Storage is a big deal. People are wanting to clean off their counters and put things away — they don’t like a lot of clutter on their counters.”
Bathrooms are a little more challenging for adding storage because they’re generally one of the smaller rooms in your home.
“Bathrooms are really limited because you only have so much space. Usually, whatever was in will go out and anything new that comes in will be pretty much the same,” Sukolics says. “Free-standing furniture is a solution for people with limited space. But more people are wanting the flexibility of keeping their bathroom items hidden while maintaining a uniform style. I think they’ll be looking for custom-built cabinets to transform and maximize their bathrooms.”
STYLE AND FUNCTION
People don’t just want surfaces, storage, and hardware that is easy to maintain, they want it all to look good and serve a purpose.
Sukolics says that one of the biggest trends she sees for kitchen and bathroom hardware are undermount sinks.
“Undermount sinks look great, give you more counter space, and they make it much easier to clean off your countertop,” she says. “But people don’t realize undermount sinks require a countertop that’s made of a solid material such as granite or quartz.”
She says not to discount the potential popularity of laminate countertops because they’re still an excellent, attractive, budget-friendly choice for many people. But she’s seeing undermount sinks and stone countertops taking the edge for folks in 2022 in favor of cleaning and maintenance.
Traditional cabinet hardware choices like nickel or chrome faucets are looking at a downturn in 2022. Their more luxe cousins — gold and matte black — are taking their time in the light to shine.
“2020 was all about tightening the purse strings, 2021 was about easing back into it, and 2022 will be about enjoying some fancy style,” Sukolics says. “Next year will be about indulging ourselves a little more and really enjoying the spaces we live in.”
PLANNING AHEAD
It’s been a challenging year for remodeling because of supply chain issues and construction times. Sukolics suggests starting your planning now so you can get your materials and get on the books.
“Manufacturers are having a hard time hiring people and keeping people, and appliances and flooring can be four to six months,” she says. “It’s been a little bit crazy this past year, but we’ve dealt with it. All you can do is to have patience!”
Because of the housing boom and labor shortages, many contractors are several months or a year or more out on projects. Some contractors will be able to accommodate smaller jobs, like replacing a vanity and countertop, but others will require more lead time. Sukolics warns about choosing a fly-by-night contractor to rush a project.
“It’s always best to work with someone familiar — you know someone who’s worked with them, and they have good reviews,” she says. When you’re planning, if you’re looking for a contractor, just know that they’re pretty busy right now. Some of them are out till June, so you can’t be in a hurry.”
If you’ve been inspired and are ready to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, our team of cabinet and countertop specialists can help. Whether you need helping planning and designing or just need to buy materials, Big C Lumber has you covered. Contact us today to learn more.