If you're tackling a kitchen as part of your construction or renovation project but aren't sure where to start, here are 10 kitchen design ideas from Dezeen's lookbook archive, with tips on colour, materials and layout.
Since 2020, Dezeen has published more than 300 lookbooks that provide visual inspiration for all kinds of interiors, based on the stories we publish.
Below we've compiled a handy guide of 10 recent lookbooks that capture some of the key contemporary trends in kitchen design.
Read on for 10 ideas and tips for designing a kitchen that stands out.
Cover with wood
If you don't want your kitchen to look too bare, wood can help create a cosy, homely atmosphere.
Our lookbook for kitchens with wood paneling and cabinetry features examples using birch plywood, pale oak, reclaimed cypress and pine, each offering different levels of warmth.
Pictured is “Curve Appeal,” a 1920s home in London that was renovated by Nimtim Architects using a combination of timber and decorative arches.
See more wood kitchens ›
Make it pink
Although it's not everyone's favorite color, pink always adds personality to a functional space.
Dezeen's Pink Kitchen lookbook showcases different approaches to colour, from splashes of the rose-hued hue on every surface to subtle splashes of colour on tiles and cupboards.
Pictured here at House and the River in northern Lithuania, Vilnius-based studio After Party accented the monochrome cooking area with a salmon-colored kitchen island and matching terrazzo top.
See more pink kitchens ›
Create a breakfast nook
If you have the space, you can give your kitchen the appeal of a coffee shop by creating a casual nook for eating breakfast.
As our breakfast nook lookbook shows, a breakfast nook is typically located in a corner with a banquette, but depending on the layout and size of the room, the concept can be adapted to work in a variety of settings.
Pictured is Budge Over Dover in Sydney, designed by interior design studio YSG.
See more kitchens with breakfast nooks ›
Using metal
If a cozy feel isn’t your thing, metal is an alternative material that can give off a chic industrial vibe.
Shining stainless steel is a proven material, but our metal kitchen collection also includes units made from black iron and weathered recycled sheet metal.
For the project pictured, Berlin architecture studio Baumhauer chose to juxtapose the vaulted ceilings of a Swiss farmhouse with the clean, modern lines of an L-shaped steel kitchen with built-in appliances.
See more metal kitchens ›
Fits floor-to-ceiling cabinets
Often used to complement a minimalist aesthetic, floor-to-ceiling cabinets can be an effective way to maximize storage space and reduce kitchen clutter.
Our lookbook brings together eight elegant examples of kitchens of different sizes.
Pictured here, in a Dublin house extension designed by Scullion Architects, are tall oak-paneled cupboards that house appliances and a pantry.
See more kitchens with floor-to-ceiling cabinets ›
Includes an island surrounded by waterfalls
Kitchen islands have become a staple of modern interior architecture, and the most sophisticated examples tend to feature surfaces that flow seamlessly from the countertop to the floor.
Dezeen has selected eight kitchen islands whose waterfall edges create an impactful yet sophisticated focal point in a room.
Pictured above is the Botaniczna Apartment where Agnieszka Owsiany Studio created a kitchen island by hanging travertine over oak cupboards.
See more waterfall kitchen islands ›
Embrace contrast
Don't be afraid to combine contrasting materials to create a truly striking kitchen.
We've rounded up eight colorful kitchens that juxtapose rough with smooth, shiny with rough, and warm with cool.
Pictured are the pistachio green units and red marble surfaces in the kitchen of a Melbourne apartment designed by architect Murray Barker and artist Esther Stewart.
See more kitchens with beautiful contrasts of color and texture ›
Combining wood and stone
A less ambitious but no less effective material combination is the natural textures of wood and stone, which are both practical and pleasing.
Dezeen has created a lookbook showcasing the different ways you can combine wooden units with stone surfaces, from understated limestone to dramatic marble.
Above is a kitchen extension done by Architecture for London to an Edwardian house in Muswell Hill.
See more wood and stone kitchens ›
Laying tiles on the workbench
Tiles are a staple in many kitchens, particularly on splashbacks and floors, but some designers are going a step further and using them to add character to surfaces.
Our lookbook of kitchens with tiled worktops explores how this technique can create an eye-catching focal point or be more practical.
Pictured is a kitchen island covered in glossy oxblood-colored tiles in an East Village apartment designed by GRT Architects.
See more kitchens with tiled worktops ›
Add a touch of terracotta
Rust-toned terracotta is a great way to create a warm Mediterranean atmosphere and make your kitchen feel more inviting.
Our Kitchen with Terracotta Tile Lookbook brings together projects that use the ceramic material to create pleasingly textured floors and walls.
In São Paulo's Hygge Studio, designed by Melina Romano, terracotta floors combine with tan brick walls to soften the monochrome kitchen units.
See more kitchens with terracotta tiles ›
Dezeen's lookbook series brings you visual inspiration from our archives – for more inspiration, check out our previous lookbooks showcasing light-filled kitchens, kitchens with minimalist storage solutions and Scandinavian-style kitchens.
