The kitchen is my favorite part of any home, and I feel like looking at it can tell you a lot about a person. *Side note – do you all remember that show on MTV back in the day – I think it was called Room Raiders? Imagine that but with kitchens…I think I’m on to something.* Anyway, back to kitchen design trends. Kitchens serve as the decorative focal point of a home as well as a place to entertain, do homework, and, of course, cook a meal. So, making sure your kitchen looks its best is pretty important.
If you’ve been here before, you already know what I’m going to say – don’t feel like you have to make any changes to your space just to follow a trend. It’s your home, and you can decorate it however you want! But, if you have a kitchen remodel on your to-do list and want it to be on trend, here are the top kitchen design trends for 2025.
Designated Spaces
Creating practical and functional spaces seems to be a priority in 2025. In the kitchen, this means creating zones or designated spaces to simplify prep work and storage. One example is creating a bar area. This could be as simple as adding a decorative bar cart next to your kitchen cabinets or nearby space. On the bar cart, you could store margarita, wine, or beer glasses (or all of the above) along with the bottle of liquor you use to make your favorite adult drinks. You could also keep gadgets like a wine opener and cocktail shaker on the cart to free up some drawer space in the kitchen.
Another popular zone in the kitchen is the coffee bar. This space is designated to making your favorite morning treat and helps make your kitchen look more personalized. I like to display my favorite coffee mugs next to my espresso maker and keep some coffee stirrers, sugar, and cinnamon nearby.
Colorful Cabinets
The sad beige days are over. Designers and homeowners alike are adding color to their homes – and not just little splashes of color, we are talking bright, bold color all over the place. No, adding a pretty backsplash isn’t enough anymore, installing colorful cabinets is what the designers are doing.
The colorful cabinet trend is fun because it can work with any budget. You can have cabinets custom-made in just about any color. You can also paint the cabinets you already have – it takes time, but it will save money and resources. Colorful cabinets don’t have to be the stand-out feature either. Even if you go with a bold color, they can act as the base to design the rest of your kitchen around.
Open Shelving
Looks like we’re trying this kitchen design trend again. Open shelving in the kitchen was introduced a while back but kind of lost its luster. Some people complained that having open shelving in the kitchen led to gross, greasy dishes and glasses since a cabinet didn’t protect them. People also complained that they didn’t like keeping all their items perfectly organized, but I guess designers forgot that.
Personally, I like the look of open shelving in the kitchen. The lack of upper cabinets really does open up the space to make it look larger. Plus, it’s a fun way to display items that are otherwise only seen during mealtime. Since plates and servingware can be really cute and add a nice decorative touch to a space, it’s nice to show it off.
My advice with this kitchen design trend is to keep the open shelves away from the stove. If you have a kitchen with a window that has cabinets on either side, maybe rip out those cabinets and install shelves instead. Extend your backsplash all the way up, beyond the shelves, for a dramatic look.
Decorative Range Hoods
Home design trends in 2025 are all about creating spaces with personality, and investing in a decorative range hood is one way to add personality to your kitchen. A range hood is an item that you need anyway, they help clear smoke, grease, and odors from the air above the cooktop.
Decorative range hoods come in just about any style, color, price range, and size you can think of. However, with this kitchen design trend, the more unique the better. You want the range hood to be one of the kitchen’s focal points – the star of the show. If you’re into DIYing, check out this post from Southern Yankee DIY. She gives you step-by-step instructions on how she made the range hood in the photo, and it is stunning!
Sustainable Spaces
If you only follow one trend, let it be this one: creating beautiful spaces while prioritizing sustainable, eco-friendly materials. In the kitchen, it can look like you are shopping around for energy-saving appliances. According to Green America, more than a third of fridges in use in the US are more than 10 years old, costing the 70 million people who own them $4.4 billion a year in energy costs. Upgrading to an Energy Star refrigerator should be your priority if you need new appliances.
Another way to be sustainable – repurpose whatever you can. If your cabinets are still in good shape, try replacing the hardware to give them a new look instead of tearing them out and buying all new. Shop secondhand if you can – there’s a Habitat For Humanity store near me that sells doors, cabinets, sinks, and other items that can be used to remodel a kitchen. It’s hit or miss, but worth a shot since the prices are amazing. If you do remove items, make sure to donate them!
Unique and Personalized
Another indication that we are moving beyond minimalistic beige and white kitchens is the addition of unique trinkets in the kitchen. This could include family heirlooms like pitchers or cookie jars displayed on the counter. Or it could be a thrifted spice rack that is set out near a vintage oil painting. Ideally, these decorations would be meaningful to you and a reflection of your personality.
Garages
A garage? In the kitchen – that’s right! An old but new kitchen design trend that I really like is the appliance garage. Basically, all it is is an extra cabinet on top of the counter with a garage-like door for easy access. Inside, you can store small appliances like the microwave or toaster – things you need to use almost daily but don’t want to look at. The appliance garage eliminates clutter and makes your kitchen appear organized since everything is hidden away out of sight. They don’t take up any extra counter space since that space would be used anyway, it just hides it.
Show Me Your Kitchens
If you’ve updated your kitchen using any of these kitchen design trends, I want to see! Tag me in your pictures or send me a message. I love to see what real people are doing in their homes and compare it to what designers are doing – I’m a nerd and I think it’s a fun way to analyze trends.