Kitchen design trends, like our lifestyles lately, have been evolving. With more people spending time at home and kitchens being used for more than just cooking, premium-looking spaces that can be used for both life and work are what homebuyers really want.

What makes a kitchen feel premium?

A professional and polished aesthetic

Homebuyers are attracted to kitchens that look like they could belong to a professional chef. The look should include clean lines, lots of workspace, and organized storage solutions. Appliances can complement this by blending in with cabinet and wall designs, resulting in a flowing, cohesive appearance.

One trend today is not only matching appliance exteriors to the cabinetry but tucking them away inside. With kitchens increasingly serving as offices and classrooms, hidden appliances allow people working from home to quickly create a clean background for video calls and conferences.

A connected, high-capacity refrigerator

An important feature of modern kitchens is connectedness. Appliances that are tied to a central hub or can be controlled with a smartphone app are a convenience that more people are leaning into. It's an easy premium feel without the hefty price tag, featuring a setup that lets homebuyers start meal prep from the comfort of their couch or while on the way home from work.

In particular, as people are at home more, they're finding themselves storing more food. Whether it's for stocking up on perishables for at-home meals or saving money by buying in bulk, having a high-capacity refrigerator is increasingly desirable. And if it's also Wi-Fi-connected, which allows you to:

• Control your smart home: See who's at the front door with Ring, monitor multiple rooms with Arlo, use voice control with Alexa, adjust your Nest thermostat, get appliance notifications and more – all on your Family Hub.™
• Entertain in your kitchen: Enjoy streaming your favorite music apps, watching your favorite shows from your compatible Samsung smart TV or Galaxy phone, and accessing all your favorite sites like Facebook and YouTube – all on your Family Hub.™
• Stay connected: Easily stay connected with your family. Share pictures, videos or drawings, leave handwritten notes, and sync calendars – all on your Family Hub.™
• Meal plan like a pro: See inside your fridge from anywhere, search recipes based on what you have on hand, plan weekly meals, send cooking instructions to your Samsung smart oven – all on your Family Hub.™*
  
  *SmartThings App available on Android and iOS devices. Wi-Fi connection and Samsung account required.

Appliances that blend in

Homebuyers really want to see smooth, clean lines in their kitchens. Built-in appliances can help achieve this since they often coordinate or match exactly with each other and can be integrated with cabinetry and other design features. In particular for the hidden-appliance trend, built-ins work well at the build stage, when it's easier to factor in how they'll work with cabinets rather than trying to retrofit something later.

What complements appliances to create a high-value feel?

Abundant lighting

A premium feel is more about the overall space than big price tags, so accentuate practical, timeless, and affordable appliances with strategic lighting. Trends today are about big and bold statement fixtures. Pendant lights bring the light source closer to the surface while also acting as a signature design element. Modern metal or wire finishes are the choices of the day while ornate glass and plastic fixtures are out.

Under- and in-cabinet lighting also boosts a kitchen's appearance. Consider task-specific illumination around surfaces like those around cooktops and storage areas like pantries. It helps homeowners prep food safely and find what they need easily.

Clean, clever storage

A kitchen can never have enough storage, and smaller kitchens are a particular challenge. Kitchens that sell homes feature clever storage solutions that use all the space — including in, around, and above the appliances — allowing countertops to be kept clear for cooking and meal preparation. Whether it's by creating vertical storage over the refrigerator or opting for a wall oven, what homebuyers really want is a thoughtful, well-planned kitchen.

How else can builders impress homebuyers while keeping costs low?

Go bold with color

Today's kitchens are about striking but earthy color schemes like dark blue, green, or pink. Using these along with statement lighting fixtures and sleek stainless or dark-hued appliances will modernize the look of the kitchen and give it a professional appeal.

Tap into technology

Homebuyers are looking to use technology more and more when it comes to controlling the fixtures in their home. Make it easy for them by providing smart appliances that can integrate seamlessly. And high-tech furnishings don't have to bust budgets, especially if you consider appliances — like many in Samsung's collections — are designed with efficiencies that appeal to homebuyers' interests in saving energy and money down the road for not much extra purchase cost.

Centralize a charging station

The kitchen is a great place to stage an electronic charging hub. Many homeowners use their phones and tablets while cooking, and streaming videos or pulling up recipes on the internet can drain gadgets.

These tips all come together with the purpose of helping builders provide homebuyers with ready-to-live-in spaces that look premium but still allow them to make a profit. Connected, smart, yet affordable appliances that provide a professional look are the key to building kitchens that sell homes. Accenting strategically chosen appliances with lighting, storage, design, and coordinated tech is an inexpensive way to upsell customers and provide the amenities they are looking for.