It’s the end of the decade and a good time to look back at the kitchen remodeling trends that have made it all the way into 2010 and seem to be here to stay. There are several of them, but in this article we’ll be taking a look at the top 5. While they all differ in focus, they all seem to stem from a general shift in the way that people perceive the kitchen as a living space in their homes. Whereas the kitchen used to be a more specialized room, reserved only for preparing food and drinks, in modern homes, the kitchen is a multi-faceted family room where people and their families are spending more time relaxing and simply hanging out. So without further ado, here are the top 5 trends in kitchen design and remodeling for 2010.

The Open Floor Plan

As our lives get busier and more hectic, we want to be able to connect with our family more easily whenever we get the chance, even while we’re doing small kitchen tasks. The open floor plan has thus become very popular in recent years and seems to be here to stay. An open floor plan makes it easy for people to move in and out of the kitchen from various rooms in the house. Open floor kitchens make a house feel more connected, making communication and interaction easier. The loft-like feel of open floor kitchens gives them more decorative appeal. Rather than being treated as utilitarian spaces, open floor kitchens call for more attention to detail and design.

Kitchen as Family Room

Adding extra sitting room to your kitchen has become another big trend in the past few years. Large islands that serve as tables or bars, along with extra stools or chairs means that people are spending more time hanging out in their kitchens and interacting. This puts some added emphasis on the furniture and cabinetry that decorates the kitchen.

Kitchen Within a Kitchen

Again, because the kitchen is now being used for more than just food preparation, another trend that has become popular in kitchen remodeling and design is the addition of extra prep areas. These are like miniature kitchens where you’ll have a sink, cutting board and microwave all close together. Some kitchens will have a smaller sink in the island that serves as a food prep zone, and then a larger sink in one of the back walls for more involved and messy cleaning purposes. Another option is to use a small butler’s pantry off the main kitchen area as a food prep zone. The pantry option has the added benefit of letting you keep dirty dishes out of the way and out of view while you’re entertaining guests and preparing food.

Green Kitchens

Over the past decade, environmental awareness has risen amongst homeowners and home designers alike, and the trend has affected kitchen design in a big way. The move towards eco-friendly kitchen remodeling and design projects can be seen in all of the small fixtures and design decisions that go into putting together a kitchen. The use of energy-efficient appliances, flooring and cabinetry made from eco-friendly or recycled materials, as well as energy-efficient faucets and fixtures is here to stay and likely to continue growing. Energy saving lighting options like the use of LED and CFL fixtures is a huge trend in interior design as a whole and this includes kitchens, as well. One of the green kitchen trends is that energy-efficient appliances and fixtures often surpass traditional appliances and fixtures in both quality and economy. Furthermore, as the trend towards green living grows, the selection of styles and colors available for green fixtures and appliances is growing too. So no matter what kind of design aesthetic you’re going for, it’s likely that you’ll find a green option for it.

Personalized Eclecticism

Finally, there’s the trend towards more unique, personalized and eclectically designed kitchens. In 2010, personal expression and creativity is definitely in. The Internet has played a role in promoting this trend in a big way, as homeowners have all the tools they need to come up with unique interior design techniques that work at their fingertips. Looks that reflect the ethnic or cultural background/heritage of the homeowner are becoming more and more fashionable.