2016 Kitchen Trends: Farmhouse Sinks, Pocket Doors and More

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Updated on September 3rd, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Farmhouse sink
Image via iStock

This year, kitchen design is going back to basics–with some head-turning touches. In its annual survey of members, the National Kitchen and Bath Association found that clean lines, neutral colors, wood and clever storage will continue trending in 2016.

Rounding out the trends this year are countertop mashups, pocket doors, outdoor kitchens and docking stations. At their annual design show in Las Vegas, NKBA members also reported some surprising requests from their customers (details below).

What does all this stuff cost? A lot. Nearly half of kitchens cost between $20,000 and $49,999, and the average price is rising. On the high end, 35 percent of kitchens cost between $50,000 and $99,999 last year, up from 25 percent in 2013. Only eight percent of build-outs cost less than $20,000, down from 16 percent in 2013, according to NKBA.

What’s In

  • Industrial and mid-century modern
  • Chrome
  • Neutrals
  • Glass cabinet doors
  • Farmhouse sinks
  • Wood, real or faux
  • LED lighting
  • Pocket doors
  • Coffee and wet bars
  • Pet eating stations and cat nooks.
  • Mix-and-match countertops
Pocket doors
Image via Matrix Kitchens

What’s Out

  • Country and Tuscan
  • Bronze and terracotta
  • Green and red.
  • Trash compactors
  • Appliance garages
  • Non-refrigerated wine storage
  • Double-bowled sinks.
  • Pull-out faucets
wine rack
Image via Dean Wissing/Flickr

Want more detail? Here it is. 

Storage

There’s never enough, and customers still want more. Trash and recycling pull-outs are almost universal. Tall cabinets and roll-out pantries are popular. More kitchens will get deep drawers for pots and pans in 2016. Docking and charging stations are in demand. One client asked his designer for built-in bike storage.

Greige

LED kitchen lighting

Cutting-edge designers are still wild about neutrals. At least 60 percent of survey respondents said grays, whites and beiges will continue to be the most popular color schemes in 2016. Blues will make an appearance. Kitchen islands are breaking out with bright hues and snazzy countertops. Designers are mixing up surfaces and cabinet colors.

Laminate

What? Yes, laminate is having a rebirth, more than doubling in popularity between 2010 and 2015, when it accounted for 43 percent of countertops. Granite isn’t over yet, but 31 percent of NKBA members will use less of it in 2016.

Cooking

Kitchens are offices, mommy command centers and living spaces. Who actually cooks? One designer installed his-and-hers microwaves for a couple who wanted to heat up their takeout at the same time. People still love gas cooktops, but microwaves are becoming more central. They’re installed instead of free standing and drawers are the new thing.

Dishwashing

Nearly a fourth of survey respondents are installing dual dishwashers. The popularity of drawer-type dishwashers is showing signs of “fatigue”, the NKBA reported.

Which of these 2016 kitchen trends are you most into? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter @Redfin.

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Lorraine Woellert

Lorraine is enjoying her first real job after a career in journalism. She’s based in Washington, D.C., where she writes about housing and the economy. Before joining Redfin, Lorraine was at Bloomberg News reporting on politics, financial mayhem, housing and the economy. Her dream home is a top-floor loft with a pool, friendly neighbors and a terrace for throwing parties. Everyone’s invited. Redfin is a full-service real estate brokerage that uses modern technology to make clients smarter and faster. For more information about working with a Redfin real estate agent to buy or sell a home, visit our “Why Redfin?,” page.

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