Kitchen design continues to trend towards creating spaces that are more customized and personal, with increased functionality tailored to the people actually using them.
Today’s homeowners expect a lot from their kitchens. Space to accommodate cooking, of course, but also room for gathering, dining, working, doing homework, entertaining guests, making drinks, and more. And, just as more is expected of our kitchens, they are expected to be free of clutter, despite all the uses they fulfill.
The architectural details and construction materials in kitchen design today tend to be warmer, calmer, and more individualized than in just the past few years. The once popular stark white, almost industrial kitchens are now making way for kitchens that are cozier and more bespoke.
What kitchen trends are out?
Frosted or Shaded Light Fixtures
Once popular frosted or heavily shaded light fixtures now come off as visual clutter. Designers are leaning now towards fixtures that are open and sculptural, bringing more light into the space and making a statement without cluttering it.
Another approach to lighting includes multiple sources of illumination. Overhead lighting is often inefficient and unflattering, but also feels very basic and standard issue. It’s not entirely out, though. In addition to this main lighting piece, designers are layering in other sources such as:
- Sculptural pendants
- Sconces
- Picture lights
- Under-cabinet lighting
- Task lighting
- Accent lights
Frosted and shaded light fixtures feel builder-grade rather than custom and do little to boost the overall aesthetic appeal of the space.
Granite Countertops
Granite countertops once were synonymous with “high-end,” but now they are less desirable. Preferences for countertops have definitely shifted to other alternatives.
While granite is rapidly becoming reminiscent of early 2000s home design, it isn’t to say that all such countertops look dated. Highly patterned or high-contrast varieties can compete with cabinetry, backsplashes, and other finishes. Instead, designers are creating a quieter effect with counters made of quartz, wood, or marble, which are visually softer and offer a more natural and cohesive look.
Traditional Wood-Grain Cabinets
The popularity of orange or heavily grained wood cabinets in the late 1990s and early 2000s was visually heavy and definitely traditional. The look is a little dated now, and more homeowners are choosing more consistent cabinet profiles, sometimes painted for a cleaner, visually cohesive space. The most popular colors for painted cabinetry are warm whites, taupes, creams, and soft greens.
Interested in refreshing your kitchen’s look without having to do an entire overhaul? Check out Ellen’s go-to cabinet painting guy, Axel!
This before-and-after of Axel’s work shows just how much of a difference painting old cabinets can make!
What kitchen trends are in?
Built-In Banquettes
Kitchen islands have been opportunities to provide seating, but more designers are beginning to incorporate built-in banquettes to turn the kitchen into a true gathering place.
These cozy spaces create a more tailored and comfortable dining space in the kitchen without feeling boring or generic. These built-ins are practical, helping maximize kitchen space while providing a spot that invites conversation and brings a new level of flexibility and practicality to casual dining and entertaining.
Built-in banquettes offer a practical way to add cozy, conversation-friendly seating to the kitchen.
Concealed Organization
One of the most on-trend design elements today is customized, concealed organization and storage. Everything in its place and a place for everything means that clutter stays out of sight, allowing the kitchen to be highly functional and practical without looking cluttered and in disarray. Workflow is efficient in spaces that, as a whole, feel more intentional and chic.
Popular concealed organization options include:
- Appliance garages
- Hidden coffee stations
- Pull-out pantry drawers
- Integrated trash and recycling receptacles
- Secondary prep areas
- Custom drawer organizers
- Tall pantry cabinets
When everything has its place, the kitchen feels more high-end and efficient.
Multiple Work Zones
Traditional kitchen design generally operates around the notion of a workflow triangle that connects a single cook to the main work areas – refrigerator, sink, and range/cook top. Designers became committed to this arrangement at a time when a kitchen generally only had one cook – Mom.
Modern kitchen design embraces functionality by acknowledging that more people are using the space for more activities. Work zones in kitchens today include one for cooking, of course, but others for beverages, food prep, homework or work from home, as well as family dinners and entertaining guests. Fortunately, kitchens don’t necessarily have to be larger to make room for all these activities. Thoughtful design can accommodate them instead.
Statement Islands
The space, functionality, and popularity of kitchen islands mean that they aren’t going away anytime soon, but designers are showcasing them a little differently.
Rather than a single rectangular block, designers have reconceived them as more furniture-inspired centerpieces. They add character by creating contrast within the kitchen space, and popular designs feature furniture-style legs, natural wood, and more sculptural shapes. In keeping with the overall design sense in the new kitchen, they provide dining, food prep, working, and storage.
No particular cabinet style or color palette can singularly define what kitchens in 2027 are going to look like. The defining characteristics of today’s kitchen trends are thoughtful spaces that are ultra-functional, warm, inviting, and truly customized to the home and the family living there.
