Kitchen trends: key design ideas and coveted colors set to be big this year

Whether you're planning on renovating, remodeling, or simply reconfiguring your existing space, these are the need-to-know kitchen trends to inspire your design journey.

We demand a lot from our kitchens, because now more than ever, they are the most functional space within our homes – providing a place to cook, eat, work, rest, and entertain. All the latest kitchen trends cater to providing the best design solutions to maximize the key demands of this versatile space.

We speak to leading kitchen designers to find out the latest must-haves for the heart of our homes, from welcoming homely accessories creating a lived-in look to sophisticated metallic touches and calming color palettes inspired by the latest interior paint color trends – there's something to delight every home on next year's kitchen design wishlist.

Here are the predicted kitchen designs and ideas set to be hugely popular with homeowners this year...

BY TAMARA KELLY