When it comes to selling a property, the kitchen is often what seals the deal. Unless your home quite obviously needs work throughout, or you're selling it 'unmodernised', buyers will be looking for an attractive, well-designed space not just for preparing food in, but for living, entertaining and working in.

Whatever you spend on a new kitchen, you will get back when you come to sell. If your budget doesn't extend to a bespoke kitchen, it's quite acceptable to buy an off-the-shelf kitchen, but use a skilled fitter who can fill in the gaps if the kitchen isn't a perfect fit.

The good news is that kitchen trends tend to stick around which means that what you put in today, you won’t be itching to rip out tomorrow. Sleek, clean lines are more popular than ever, while high gloss white cabinets continue to dominate, currently making up 50 per cent of all kitchen sales at leading trade kitchen suppliers Howdens.

B&Q's Santini Gloss Anthracite Slab kitchen and, top, Magnet's Leighton Grey kitchen

Hot on the heels of glossy white, however, comes grey. ‘Tones of grey are a huge kitchen trend for 2015/2016,’ says B&Q Interior Design Manager Cat Dennison. ‘From soft cashmere to rich anthracite. Softer greys add warmth and light to your space, while darker tones create depth.’

Deep drawers rather than cabinets for storing crockery and pans, handle-free cabinets, glass splashblacks and metro wall tiles are all strong. Large sinks are also popular. Says Cat: ‘The sink is used less and less for washing plates and cutlery as dishwasher penetration grows at a rapid rate. This means the sink is increasingly used for big pans, pots, baking trays and chopping boards along with food preparation. A big bowl sink allows these larger items to fit easily rather than having to wash awkwardly.’

Maximise work space with an over-the-sink chopping board

The majority of today’s buyers want open-plan kitchen-diners big enough for a family-sized table. If there’s room, think about adding a sofa to make the point that this is the hub of the house; a space where family and friends spend time together. Bi-fold doors across the width of the kitchen opening onto outside space look sharp and stylish and are a great way to flood a darker kitchen with natural light.

Even if your kitchen is small, it can still be desirable. Stick to neutral colours and clean lines. They’re not only on trend, but will make your kitchen appear larger. Other tips for maximising space include using the full height of the room, fixing hanging rails to unused wall space, removing clutter and increasing work space with an over-the-sink chopping board. If your kitchen is slightly larger, think about a free-standing butcher’s block table or a small island, incorporating either a sink or a hob and more storage space. And if you can’t squeeze in a small table, consider a wall-mounted fold-down breakfast bar.

Ikea's METOD kitchen with BODBYN grey doors

But what if you can’t even decide on general style – traditional or modern? Country or shaker? Then you’ll be glad to hear that one of the biggest trends at the moment is the ‘transitional kitchen’ which mixes up styles and materials, allowing you to design your kitchen in a way that works for you. Says Hayley Simmonds, Head of Product at Magnet: ‘Showcasing your personality will continue to be a core component in kitchen design for 2016.’

However, it’s probably best not to take this too literally, especially if you plan to sell your home – keep the palette neutral and add colour and personality with photos and objets which can be removed. Hayley suggests displaying them in glass-fronted cabinets or drawers.

Ikea recognised this trend for mixing and matching last year when it introduced METOD, a system that allows customers to mix and match an increased range of styles. Says Ikea: ‘With METOD the days of trading off between form and function are over. Now you can choose exactly the functions you need and still get the look you want and conversely, you can take your design dreams all the way without making your kitchen less practical.’

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