Use Low or no-VOC and Natural Finishes 

Low- or no-VOC wall and ceiling paints are a given. Jeneva Aaron, founder of and blogger at thehousewire.com, is a fan of milk paint. “Homeowners have used milk paint for millennia,” she says. “Some of the earliest cave paintings have traces of milk in the pigment. Almost all houses in colonial America were painted with it. It’s come back as it’s a safe and organic alternative to latex or oil-based paints. Companies like The Real Milk Paint Co., are making unbelievable paints in gorgeous colors without using toxic materials. Their paint buckets even come with loose pigment so that you can mix your colors.”

Choosing the perfect colors to match your tastes and stand that test of time can seem difficult, but it doesn't have to be. The 2020 kitchen trend is to not have just one color, but several complimentary colors. White and light gray are neutral colors that can easily take center stage in any kitchen. They are complemented well with lighter shades of charcoal, black, blue, red, yellow, and green. Natural light will also help to brighten your kitchen and bring the colors alive.

Smart Home Appliances Are in for 2020

In an article in Kitchen & Bath Design News, Bill Darcy, CEO of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, said, “By 2020, it’s estimated that 63 million households in North America will have ‘smart home’ systems. That’s nearly 50 percent of all homes.” He’s referring to smart kitchen technologies, including appliances that can learn and meet homeowner preferences and habits.

Kate Bailey, director of showrooms for Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, added, “Within the next few years, smart home appliances may be a feature that most consumers expect. In 2020, we’ll be looking at the connected kitchen as a whole—not just [single] appliances with wifi capability.” Meaning that homeowners can control, like the rest of the home—from lighting to heating and cooling, automated shades, to security systems—their kitchen appliances from a tablet or smartphone app.  

That technology already includes refrigerators with wifi and touch screens, microwave ovens operated by voice control, instant pots with wifi, coffee makers that work with an Alexa app or Amazon Echo, and kitchen scales connected to apps. Smart technology intends to make the kitchen more efficient. To use less electricity, however, you can always get back to basics with human-powered or solar-powered kitchen appliances.