'Butler's pantries, island benches and stone': 10 kitchen trends we'll see in 2021

In many ways, 2020 has changed the way we approach kitchen design. We’re using our kitchens for entertaining, family time, studying and working from home like never before, meaning they need to be especially functional.

Meanwhile, designers say there’s still plenty of space for boldness and playfulness going into 2021.

Large centrepiece kitchens 

With people excited to get back into entertaining in their homes, open-plan living isn’t going anywhere.

“If anything, it’s getting bigger,” says interior stylist Aimee Tarulli, of Archer Interiors in Melbourne.

“People are wanting more space and more free space areas so that we can move around, we can host parties, we can have a big group of people in our kitchen.”

There’s also a growing tendency to “hero the kitchen and make it the centrepiece of the home”, according to Prash Iyer, principal architect at Thomas Archer.

Warm and neutral tones

We’re finally saying goodbye to black, all-white or monochrome kitchens.

While people have long associated warmer tones with 1990s kitchen decor, we’re starting to see a move away from stark colour palettes and towards earthy tones like “greige” – a combination of grey and beige. We’ll also continue to see a variety of woods used creatively in the kitchen area.

Large island benches with chunky benchtops

In keeping with the entertaining trend is the emergence of feature island benches, which are also becoming bigger than ever. Some are being designed with tables attached for a casual dining and entertaining experience, or for the purpose of working from home.

Matt James, interior designer at Melbourne’s M.J. Harris Group, says that it’s also becoming fashionable to use a thicker benchtop. 

“Thin has been pretty popular recently but I think oversized benchtops could come in as well, to give the space a little bit more of a luxe feel – a more sophisticated finish.”

Butler’s pantries and integrated appliances

The experts agree that a butler’s pantry is a fantastic way to keep the kitchen looking sleek, spacious and uncluttered.

“We’re seeing the butler’s pantry become the space where all the dishes are done, the sinks are in there, the dishwashers,” says Tarulli.

“Often a second oven and cooktop is even going in the butler’s pantry. So, it’s really allowing the main kitchen to be that entertaining space.”

Extra appliances can also be hidden in the butler’s pantry, if not behind clever cabinetry in the main kitchen area.

Functionality  

“People realised [this year] some of the faults or the functional issues within the home because they were spending so much more time in it than usual – they couldn’t travel; they couldn’t go out for dinner,” says Jade Bury, director at Sydney’s Harper Lane Design.

“So I think capitalising on the space you have and being able to really live in and enjoy that space has become more important for people.”

To this end, we’re also seeing more study nooks and working-from-home areas being integrated into kitchen design.

Stone benchtops

Iyer says using stone in your benchtops is the “best way to bring wow factor into the space”. For 2021, he recommends natural stones with bolder veining such as Aresbecato, Calacatta Orro, Superwhite and Portsea Grey, or coloured stones such as Ice Green and Calacatta Viola, as well as porcelain.

For those working to a more constrained budget, Bury suggests using Caesarstone or quantum quartz.

Curved lines and organic shapes

As well as curved island benches and fluting in stone, we’re seeing more organic shapes in tiling. Handmade tiles – for example, Japanese styles – are gaining popularity, while subway tiles are done and dusted.

“Curves are obviously big this year,” says James. “I think that will continue.”

Outdoor kitchens and pavilion entertaining

“We’re now seeing the demand for really the pimped-up outdoor kitchen,” says Tarulli. “Everyone wants the bar fridge out there, they want a sink out there, they want integrated seating out there, a rangehood.”

Bury says her clients are wanting “pavilion entertaining” areas, which are a completely separate structure to the house that might be a pool house or kabana set-up complete with a lawn, kitchen, TV room, dining area and even a fire pit.

Mixed textures

The experts say 2021 kitchens will feature a mixture of textures – as well as stone benchtops and organic tiling, there’ll be plenty of wood and linear joinery work.

These includes features that show attention to detail such as V-groove panelling, panelling on rangehoods, cedar battens under island benches and engineered oak, according to Iyer.

Bold choices

Neutral tones in cabinetry are being offset by bold choices and creativity in tapware, finishes and benchtops. Gone are the days of simple kitchens with all-white colour schemes, basic cabinetry and a square island bench.

“It’s all about colour and texture now,” says Tarulli. “An all-white kitchen, while fresh and minimal, is a missed opportunity to have a bit of fun.”