Your kitchen is the hub of your home and is deserving of a great design.

While the majority of people tend to avoid extreme design trends when renovating, it is possible to craft a kitchen that is not only great looking and functional but will enhance the resale value of your home.

In 2016, a number of kitchen design trends are emerging that are both affordable and practical for homeowners.

David Walker, head of Kitchen Connection’s design team, advised that quality finishes, innovative storage solutions, tactile surfaces, zone planning and beautiful task lighting are worthy design trends for this year.

“There are some great design trends emerging for 2016 that will be affordable for homeowners and are practical enough to incorporate into their homes:

Zone planning is very on trend and will allow your kitchen to be designed around your lifestyle needs. This type of planning will allow the features that you need for your lifestyle to be highlighted in your design. From dining spaces and extra storage, to gourmet appliances for entertaining, zoning is a really clever way of ensuring your kitchen becomes a multipurpose space.

Quality finishes will never go out of style and are the quickest way to add value to your home. Many of the cabinet and bench top finishes available at the moment have great wow factor. There is also a range of unique products and accessories such as black sinks and tapware on the market.

Innovative storage is not only clever but a great resale point. Storage solutions such as the Blum draw system allow you to enjoy 100% visibility of your drawers and content and offer 55% more storage than a standard shelf.

The increasing popularity of tactile surfaces is a design trend that we are really enjoying at the moment. From timber stools to pattern or wood grain look bench tops and even tiled splashbacks – there are many ways to add texture and layering into your kitchen design.

Task lighting is a necessary element of every kitchen but with the range of designer pendants and lighting features now on the market, this is one area where you can get a bit creative and introduce different surfaces to your design without dating your kitchen.”

David does advise all kitchen renovators to first get a handle on their renovation budget before exploring finishes and design features.

“It’s important that you complete your kitchen renovation in line with the value of your property and what you can realistically afford.

You’ll need to find a balance between what you plan to spend and the value your new kitchen will add to your home. To avoid overcapitalising on your renovation, aim to spend between 4-6% of your property value or consult with a property professional before your commence your redesign.”

And if in doubt, seek out a design consultation with a professional to ensure you explore all options.

“Quality kitchen suppliers will invite you to speak with a design specialist to explore your options and ensure your kitchen is designed with all of your lifestyle and practical needs in mind. So seek out their advice and research your options before committing to your renovation”, explains David.

For more information on how to add value to your home with a kitchen renovation, visit kitchenconnection.com.au