Looking to update your kitchen? Consider 2024 kitchen trends like adding color and maximizing functionality.
Astrid Tempra
Visually, the kitchen is expected to be warm with an earthy color palette and heavy use of wood tones, as well as integrated appliances and other European-style elements. On the other hand, you'll want your kitchen cabinets, layout, and appliances to have features that better support your lifestyle.
ryan bent
1. Beverage Center
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association's (NKBA) 2024 Kitchen Trends Report, dedicated beverage centers will revolutionize your kitchen. More than half of survey respondents want a dedicated area with dedicated storage and appliances to better store their drinks, from coffee to wine and beer to juice boxes and fresh smoothies.
Beverage centers may include equipment such as espresso machines, ice makers, under-counter beverage refrigerators and refrigerator drawers, said Jeanne Chung, lead designer at Cozy Stylish Chic. These drink-specific features are accessible from outside the kitchen layout. “The beverage/breakfast center is typically located away from the main preparation area and near the breakfast table or seating area,” she says Chung. She said: “Customers have also asked for a drawer or box of grab-and-go snacks to be installed nearby.”
2. Functions for a healthy life
Wellness has been a prominent theme in home design since 2020, as evidenced by the proliferation of spa-like baths and outdoor living areas. Now, the NKBA 2024 Trends Report points out that more designers and homeowners will be thinking about how the kitchen functions as a place for healthy living. With nutrition and healthy eating in mind, kitchen designs will incorporate more flexible refrigeration, including columns, drawers, and convertible configurations. Technology will also play a big role, including refrigerators equipped with food inventory technology (some with menus and shopping recommendations) and emergency power sources to prevent spoilage. Cooking appliances are also expected to include frying and steaming options.
3. Integrated cabinet lighting
“In line with the health and wellness movement, there is more emphasis on making the kitchen as functional as possible to improve daily life,” says Nar Bustamante of Nar Design Group. Cabinets with built-in lighting are one example that will be hot next year. The cabinets have “layers of integrated lighting throughout the inside and outside of the cabinets for a more moody atmosphere with the option to improve task visibility.”
Bustamante said lights will be installed behind cabinet doors and inside drawers, under upper cabinets and in some toe kicks, and even behind cabinets. “These different applications that combine mood and task lighting offer functionality and flexibility of use. Mood lighting is no longer about practicality, it's about expression,” says Bustamante.
4. Earth colors
“Trends are moving away from the harsh, sharp-feeling neutral monochrome palettes and stark contrasts seen in ultra-modern interiors,” says Bustamante. “There's a desire for color and an overall softer feel for interiors.” It's development.
Bustamante is starting to incorporate “earth tones reminiscent of desert landscapes” into her kitchen. “Various terracotta tones and soft sage greens seem to be the preferred color choices,” Bustamante said, noting, for example, that furniture maker Nobilia is incorporating these hues into its 2024 products. . Bustamante recommends incorporating curves and grooves to enhance the soft feel. rustic palette.
5. European style influence
According to Nureed Saeed of Nu Interiors, European-style kitchen design will have a big impact in 2024, especially when it comes to cabinetry and storage. “Integrated appliances hidden inside cabinets, appliance garages that provide maximum access to coffee stations and other small appliances, and easy storage are all trends in kitchen design.” Said says.
Key features include clean lines, great functionality, and a furniture-like appearance. “Beyond aesthetics, the functionality of European kitchen design is also reaching customers living in smaller homes and spaces,” said Said, noting that the movement toward more sustainable living has led to downsizing and therefore He points out that this leads to more thoughtful design. “The idea is to achieve maximum form and function in a small space,” says Said.
6. Wood instead of white
All-white kitchens are slowly being phased out, and NKBA says you can look to wood to add warmth and texture to your kitchen in 2024. In fact, the NKBA designer predicts that his second most popular color in the next kitchen will be wood. For three years, it outperformed white and followed closely behind the top color green.
Designers add wood and wood-like materials through architectural accents such as cabinetry, flooring, and wood beams. “White oak and walnut have been at the top of the list of trending wood species. We're also starting to use alder, which stains well, has beautiful grain patterns, and is suitable for both modern and traditional settings.” he Chung says. “It's a neutral color and doesn't feel as heavy or aged as other woods.”