8 Kitchen Appliance & Design Trends for 2022

Heading into 2022, after so much time spent at home and in the kitchen, we’re armed with some new cooking techniques and plans for a flavorful future. Whether you’re looking to enhance your space or expand your repertoire, these kitchen appliance and design trends will help bring new life to your kitchen and cooking routines. Read on for our top 2022 kitchen trends and kitchen appliance ideas that can help carry you wherever your culinary journeys take you.

1. Open, Integrated Kitchens

Open concept kitchens continue to be a dominant design trend. Spacious, airy kitchens that flow into other rooms give you more room to work while minimizing clutter that can stifle creativity. Built-in appliances are a natural fit for the open concept aesthetic because they integrate with your kitchen cabinetry, creating clean lines, unobstructed paths and a tidy feel. This appliance and kitchen style may be right for you if you’re looking for the following:

Adaptive spaces. Integrated kitchens with built-in appliances open up plenty of room for living, entertaining and exploring the craft of cooking. Our homes serve more purposes than ever before, and an open, integrated kitchen can help a kitchen nook transform into an office or a kitchen island into a study space.

A premium look. Because rooms in open concept homes tend to flow into each other, you can typically see the kitchen from several points in the house. Built-in appliances fit seamlessly into the kitchen, producing a premium, luxurious look.

2. Kitchen Islands with a Range or Cooktop

This layout helps create a kitchen that can keep up with busy, modern life. Islands help you utilize every inch of your kitchen efficiently and, in an open concept home, often form a divider between the kitchen and other rooms. A range or cooktop on the island centralizes your work space and allows you to see what’s happening in the rest of your home while you cook. Consider putting a range or cooktop on your island if:

You like to share in the making. With a cook surface on your island, you can engage with family and friends as you bake, stir and saute. With extra seating and plenty of space to prep around the range or cooktop, this layout lets you include plenty of people in the making.

You want more room to create. Islands create extra counter space in the center of the kitchen for rolling out dough, assembling your mise en place or displaying finished dishes.

Learn more about the benefits of a kitchen island with a range or cooktop.

3. APPLIANCE COLORS THAT ADD PERSONALITY

A kitchen that matches your style helps set the scene for culinary journeys all your own. The popularity of the all-white kitchen has been waning and instead we’re yearning for colors that inspire. Choose a bold, dark color to add contrast and mood or a soft neutral for a warm, inviting feel. 

For example, KitchenAid offers stand mixers in over 40 colors like Blue Velvet, Honey and Pistachio. A small appliance is a great way to add a pop of color to your kitchen palette. Pick an accent color like Aqua Sky and dot your kitchen with a stand mixer, blender and food chopper all in the same color, or curate your own collection of colors for a custom palette. In the spirit of personal touches, KitchenAid brand also offers the option to engrave select stand mixers which come in unique colors with multiple bowls and attachments.¹ Create your personalized Artisan^® Stand Mixer.

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4. Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel continues to be a classic that never goes out of style. If you’re adding color to your kitchen on the cabinets or walls, you may want to opt for this crisp, sleek and timeless finish on the appliances. You can count on stainless steel to complement any color and all wood tones. If you’re looking for a modern twist on this popular finish, black stainless steel by KitchenAid makes a bold addition to any kitchen.  

This durable finish is also exceptional at standing up to all the mess and chaos of creating. Some brands may offer some type of stainless steel with extra protection like the KitchenAid^® PrintShield™ Finish which resists fingerprints and smudges. The specialized coating for stainless steel is easy to clean with just water and a soft cloth, so you can spend more time cooking and less time cleaning up.

5. Natural Colors and Textures

An easy way to breathe fresh life into a kitchen is to add some natural elements. As we move away from the sterile, bright white kitchen, we’re bringing the hues and textures of nature indoors to create an inviting, comforting space. Elements like plants, natural woods and earthy colors add warmth, vitality and harmony to the kitchen. For example, invigorate your space with house plants, flowers or an herb garden that will also add flavor to your many masterpieces. If you’re starting an indoor herb garden, read an article on how to store fresh herbs in the fridge. KitchenAid also offers stand mixer bowls in natural colors and patterns like fired clay, sage leaf and white gardenia.

6. Smart Appliance Technology 

Smart cooking appliances are tools designed to expand your experience, better enabling you to enhance your process whenever inspiration strikes. Like most new technologies, expect smart kitchens to gain popularity as people discover how it can help them tap their full culinary potential. Performing with the same passion you do, KitchenAid^® connected appliances help connect you with endless possibility in the kitchen. Use the app to preheat, bake, save your own custom cooking instructions and so much more—even when you leave the kitchen.²

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7. Multi-Use Appliances 

Lately it feels like we have to do more in the kitchen while simultaneously keeping it cleaner and less cluttered. Multi-use appliances are a great way to keep your countertop in order and cut down on clutter. No appliance epitomizes this clutter-clearing simplicity more than the KitchenAid^® Stand Mixer, which has been a staple of innovation and versatility for over a century. KitchenAid offers premium styling on multi-use appliances so you can keep them on display and within easy reach. If you’re looking to get organized in 2022, read our article on kitchen organization for better mise en place.

8. Commercial-style appliances

Appliances with enhanced aesthetics and expanded cooking possibilities are in demand for those cooking more often at home. If you like to explore new cuisines and techniques, commercial-style ranges bring a professional look paired with cooking features to help you create a gourmet experience at home. For instance, KitchenAid^® commercial-style ranges deliver features like a built-in griddle, high-heat burners and convertible grates that let you cook with a wide variety of pots and pans tailored for cuisines from around the world. 

High-end design makes commercial-style appliances ready to be well-used and well-loved. You can feel and see the difference restaurant-inspired design makes, with design decisions that enable the best of both form and functionality. Learn more about pro-style and commercial-style ranges.