The kitchen is a functional room, but it also needs to make the most of its design possibilities. These high-traffic rooms deserve more than boring cabinets and lackluster backsplashes.
While it's tempting to redecorate your space to match the latest trends, it's important to exercise some restraint. Design trends disappear faster than you can say “pink appliances,” and many designers are already starting to wean themselves from the hottest current trends in the kitchen.
By understanding what your kitchen design looks like inside (and outside), you can create a space you'll love for years to come. To help, we asked top designers to share the kitchen trends you should ditch now and what you should add in their place to create a functional yet beautiful space.
white kitchen
White kitchens have officially lost their sizzle, according to New Jersey-based designer Swati Gorha. “I think white kitchens look sterile and lack character,” she says. “There's a lot of room to customize the spaces you spend the most time in. The kitchen is often the heart of the home and should evoke happiness and joy.”
Aesthetically pleasing aside, all-white kitchens are notoriously difficult to maintain as every stain and spot is visible. Incorporate a shock of color to create a unique space that tolerates sauce spills and food bits. “If you're not ready to commit to having all your cabinets green, for example, introduce some color to your backsplash,” Guha says. “Adding handcrafted tiles or glass tiles to inject personality into the heart of the home is always a yes.”
farmhouse decorations
Once upon a time, farmhouse modern was the design style of the era. But with the growing popularity of cottagecore and coastal granny styles, country-chic kitchens are also due for a makeover. The good news is that remodeling a farmhouse kitchen doesn't require a complete makeover. For Bobby Berk, it's all about finding a balance between old and new.
“I recommend creating a space that incorporates classic and contemporary styles without looking dated,” he says. “Try creating an upscale version of this style by offsetting exposed brick with an eye-catching light, choosing a smooth wood finish, or swapping black metal for gold or silver.”
bright home appliances
A pop of color is a surefire way to add personality to your kitchen, but it needs to be done thoughtfully and purposefully so you don't regret your choice. According to Burke, the biggest culprit is bright, colorful home appliances.
For a timeless, budget-conscious option, Burke recommends sticking with neutral-toned appliances and trying a “two-tone color scheme.” “If you like to incorporate color and pattern into your space, try adding pops of color to your table linens, flatware, and kitchen towels, or adding pillows to your dining chairs,” he says.
granite countertops
With an endless collection of backsplashes, countertops, and hardware available, there are multiple trends to layer, and the wrong combinations can make your space feel dated. If you want to replace one element, replace the granite countertop. “This is an easy indicator of how old your kitchen is,” said Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning, founders of GordonDunning.
Instead, choose soapstone or marble countertops. “It will chip and develop a patina over time, which is perfectly fine with us and even preferable,” says the design duo. “We're thrilled that this kitchen will continue to tell stories of baking cookies with family and eating delicious meals with friends for years to come.”
If you don't like the idea of a hard-wearing countertop, Gordon and Dunning prefer quartz or a harder granite like Absolute Black. “We always offer a highly honed finish,” they say.
open shelf
Open shelving along one wall allows you to display your favorite collection of vintage Pyrex, milk glasses, antique cutting boards, and more. However, shelves are not the most practical option for the kitchen, as they need to be carefully maintained (and constantly dusted).
“Open shelving has been all the rage in recent years, but the trend is returning to traditional closed cabinets, so no one knows how many Yetis you own or how you stack your dishes. “No,” says Laura Bischoffberger, J's designer. .Banks Design. It gives a clean impression overall.
The shift toward visually uncluttered kitchens extends to appliances, says Bischoffberger's colleague Sharon Cleland, also of J. Banks Design. “Gone are the days when you could walk into a kitchen and see an exposed microwave over the stove,” says Cleland. “Hide those appliances behind beautiful cabinets and expose only the appliances you use most often.”
