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New year, new you, so they say. Well, I say that the current you is great, so don\u2019t buy it. Kitchens, on the other hand, may benefit from an update. So what\u2019s on the horizon for kitchen design trends, and what\u2019s getting left behind in the new year? To find out which kitchen trends we can safely part ways with\u00a0(and get a peek at what\u2019s coming next year), we checked in with some top interior designers and kitchen experts. Here\u2019s what they spilled.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Are you tired of trying to make your kitchen look like the seen-one-seen-them-all, picture-perfect kitchens online? You don\u2019t have to! \u201cInstead of feeling like we need the same perfect showcase kitchen we see on Instagram or a home renovation TV show, the zeitgeist is moving into an era of personal, idiosyncratic design,\u201d says Eva Jorgensen<\/a>, an artist, designer, author, and travel expert. \u201cWhen we create a kitchen that fits our own authentic needs, tastes, backgrounds, budgets, etc., the result ends up being so much more interesting and original.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Eva bucked then-current trends a few years ago when it was time to replace some damaged butcher block counters. She opted for stainless steel on a hunch because \u201cthe price was right and I had a feeling it could turn out looking great. And it did! The stainless steel gives a bit of a mid-century and industrial vibe, which creates a nice tension with the more country-feeling blue and white tiles and wooden open shelves.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The moral of the story: \u201cIf you choose something because you love it and it works for you, even if it comes in and out of style over the years, you\u2019ll keep loving it because it\u2019s so true to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Rotem Eylor, CEO of Republic Floor<\/a>, seconded this idea of you being you in your kitchen. \u201cThe desire for kitchens with more personality will lead to more maximalist designs,\u201d he says. \u201cSo kitchen layouts will start to lean away from simple looks and more towards looks with personalized expressions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ashley Stark, co-founder of Ashley Stark Home<\/a> and creative director of STARK<\/a>, agreed. \u201cColorful kitchens had a moment in 2023, but I love a neutral kitchen space with subtle variations of creams and grays. Benjamin Moore\u2019s \u2018Decorator\u2019s White\u2019<\/a> is one of my favorite hues for kitchens. It adds both brightness and calm to a space, allowing for other fixtures, appliances, and d\u00e9cor to make a statement.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Not everyone believes white is a timeless selection for kitchens<\/a>. \u201cWhite kitchens are losing their popularity in households,\u201d Rotem says. \u201cHomeowners are now seeking livelier color palettes to show more personality within living spaces.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe biggest trend leaving is the all-encompassing white kitchen,\u201d McGarity says. \u201cColor is coming back in a strong way. Clients are either choosing cabinets that are a rich dark wood tone again (think: walnut or mahogany, but not cherry wood tones of the \u201890s and early 2000s), or they\u2019re painting walls a saturated color to contrast with lighter cabinetry. A lot of wood cabinets have been painted over in the last few years so homeowners will be finding ways to reinvent this look again by painting the walls<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Is it even a kitchen without a honking big island light or other massive fixture? Maybe not for long! \u201cOver the last year, we found that many designers and homeowners with low kitchen ceilings have opted for either sprawling, multi-arm semi-flush mounts to provide the ambiance of a chandelier or<\/em> petite, decorative spotlights for more task-oriented lighting,\u201d says Sarah Speck, director of product strategy for Hudson Valley Lighting Group<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Looking ahead, she says, designers will find new and exciting ways to use mini flush mounts in kitchens. \u201cGone are the days of trying to make your ugly recessed lighting recede into the background. Today, people are celebrating their petite ceiling and wall-mounted lighting by sourcing those with simple yet attractive designs in beautiful finishes and placing them in artful, yet practical, arrangements.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Honestly, choosing fixtures is so overwhelming I just skipped out entirely on cabinet hardware in my new kitchen. Luckily, McGarity provides some guidance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHardware is also pivoting,\u201d she says. \u201cOver the last few decades we\u2019ve seen brass become dated and stainless or chrome surge. And now brass is on-trend again. Other finishes such as champagne gold will fall out of favor in 2024. There is a lot more freedom to mix metals. It\u2019s very common to see multiple metal finishes in a kitchen now. This will continue.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Pantries are essential in a kitchen, no? Well, maybe actually just \u2026 no. \u201cIn 2024, I anticipate people moving away from a large kitchen pantry,\u201d says interior designer Hilary Matt<\/a> of Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove<\/a>. In its place? She says people are opting for a secondary back kitchen, built-out butler\u2019s pantry, or wet bar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhile a simple kitchen pantry was once a popular trend, people are looking to create larger spaces that better serve their lifestyle needs,\u201d Matt says. \u201cThese back rooms will be fully functional with everything from additional refrigeration and warming drawers to built-in coffee systems, wine storage, and dishwashers. Not only do these spaces add greater convenience when it comes to storage and preparation, but they also provide a great opportunity to have a bit more fun when it comes to design decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n File this one under TBD, as not everyone is convinced. \u201cIn luxury homes there is a big movement to have one kitchen for show and an additional kitchen for prep and making messes,\u201d says Laura B. McGarity, certified interior designer and design manager at ID&A<\/a>. \u201cThis leads to a very spread-out work area. The same can be said for a pantry that is large enough to park a car. While seemingly desirable, this wreaks havoc on efficiency if you actually cook<\/em> in your kitchen. I predict this trend will fade away after clients experience how the space functions.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n2. High-Contrast Kitchens<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Other Things on Their Way Out in 2024<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n