Looking Back: 2017’s Hottest Kitchen Trends

Updated on: September 5, 2022

We rang in the New Year last week and brought another year to a close. 2017 was certainly...a year. While the general consensus is that the year could have been better on a lot of fronts, it was a great year for kitchen design! Sure, the old classics are here to stay. There aren’t many people tiring of the white kitchen trend, for instance. But the year also brought some new and exciting things to the table.

So before we really say goodbye to 2017, let’s wrap up the last year by looking back at some of its hottest trends in kitchen design.

1. Bye bye granite, hello quartz!

Let’s be clear, granite isn’t being completely phased out of kitchens, but it has been slowly declining in popularity. So what’s taking its place? Quartz counters continued to be one of the most popular choices in 2017, and it’s no surprise why. This manufactured material isn’t porous so it resists stains, and its hard surface is great for food prep. Plus it’s a beautiful addition to any kitchen!

2. Two tones, double the fun

If you follow us on Instagram you’ll know that we have a major obsession with two-toned kitchens. A very popular design choice in 2017, two-toned kitchens add depth and interest to a kitchen. The most popular option has been to paint or stain the island a darker tone than the other cabinets, but people are also mixing materials like countertops, metal, and wood to create beautiful accents.

3. Navy! Navy! Navy!

Trendy pops of color were very in, and navy cabinets emerged as a fun alternative to gray and white this year. We love how sleek and trendy navy cabinets look, and we’re not the only ones! This was a very popular paint color this year. We’ve already gushed about how much we love navy cabinets, so we won’t say much more other than we’re excited to see how this trend develops in 2018.

4. Smart Appliances

Black stainless steel appliances were trending in 2017. Traditional stainless steel certainly isn’t going anywhere, but this sleek trend in appliances offered a nice alternative.

It’s not enough for appliances to look nice either, they also have to be tech savvy. Smart homes are becoming more common as people invest in digital assistants like Amazon Echo or Google Home, smart thermostats, and more. This trend extends to kitchen appliances, which can connect to wifi and smartphones to control temperatures, look up recipes and more. Smart refrigerators in particular took entertaining to the next level with screens to watch TV or play music. For everyday use, you can use it to leave digital sticky notes or grocery lists.

Trends to Watch in 2018

So that was 2017 kitchen trends in a nutshell. Now it's time to move on to 2018.

We’ve got our eye on Ultra Violet, the Pantone® Color of the Year. It will be interesting to see how this bold color makes its way into people’s homes. Designers also predict that 2018 could see a rise in darker kitchens as people strive for sophistication and drama. And of course, smart appliances should continue to enter more homes. All in all, we're excited to see what the year has in store!

If you don’t want to leave these 2017 trends behind or want help designing the most up-to-date kitchen for 2018, our highly skilled designers can help you wherever you are in the renovation process.