Simu Liu's kitchen takes advantage of the unpainted cabinetry trend

Unpainted kitchen cabinets are perhaps the unsung hero of current kitchen trends. Anything other than plain unpainted cabinetry can be used as a base for decoration or the ultimate minimalist space, giving you the freedom to get creative in your kitchen.

Simu Liu, also known as (a) Kenying barbie Shang-Chi from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is jumping on board with this trend, posting a photo of his simple, modern kitchen on his Instagram page.

Experts say unpainted cabinets, especially those constructed from wood materials, are an ideal way to bring a sense of the outside into your home. And even though it's still March, it's shaping up to be his most influential kitchen trends of 2024.

“Mother Nature and its natural beauty are a priority in our homes,” says Grazzie Wilson, creative director at Ca' Pietra. “From color palettes to materials, there's good reason why we can't get enough of it. We associate the outside with nature, happiness, and health, so we want to bring that into our kitchens.” Of course.”

The white woman with a brown bob smiling on the sofa is Grazie of Capietra

Gratsey Wilson

Grazzie Wilson is the Head of Creative at Ca'Pietra, a UK-based luxury stone and tile brand.

A staple of trends from Japandi to Organic Modern, natural materials can certainly be used for more than just cabinets. It's no surprise that more and more celebrities are opting for this pared-back look (Zendaya and Chrissy Teigen have followed suit), which means Simu Liu is in good company.

“From warm colors to rich textures, we're leaving kitchen cabinets unpainted and switching to wood worktops,” explains Wilson. “We are also considering using it for flooring, but it can be very expensive to maintain, especially in the kitchen where it is used frequently.”

Country style kitchen diner in a 17th century barn in Dorset

An unpainted kitchen that resembles Simu Liu's space.

(Image credit: Future/Jonathan Bond)

For this reason, rather than choosing natural flooring, there are alternative options. Consider faux wood tiles. It's low-maintenance, gives off a natural look, and blends in with your kitchen cabinets for a cohesive look.

“Wood-effect porcelain tiles are a great alternative to bring the trend into your home, but they also have the added practical benefit of being low-maintenance, durable and easy to clean.”