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No matter how comfortable the couch is or how big the dining table is, the kitchen is the undisputed heart of the home – family and friends are always attracted to drinks, conversation or cooking together. With more people working from home than ever and a renewed focus on customizing our spaces, homemakers everywhere want more from their kitchens. And rightly so!
So what’s next in kitchen design trends for 2024? To find out, we reached out to some of our favorite interior designers and pulled data from the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s annual Kitchen Trends Report (which surveyed a wide range of industry professionals, from contractors to architects). From innovative cooktops and storage systems to trendy countertop materials, here are 14 kitchen trends to watch out for in 2024.
1. Everything green
If you’ve been dying to emulate Dakota Johnson’s green kitchen but haven’t taken the plunge yet, you’re in luck—shades of green aren’t going anywhere. “Green continues to be strong in design in general, from walls to cabinets to tiles,” says Vicky Serany, co-founder of Southern Studio. “This year I’ve traveled to Spain, Portugal and Italy for design and tile shows and it’s featured in every collection as part of the color palette, which tells me it’s here to stay for a while.”
Rest in peace, all-white kitchens… they were impossible to keep clean, hard to personalize and just no longer inspiring! But the wood tones are back, baby. “I’m seeing a return of stained wood cabinets as opposed to painted cabinets,” says Shamika Lynch of Maximizing Tiny. “Whether it’s in the appliance garage, pantry, or all the cabinets, homeowners are tired of the maintenance that comes with painted cabinets. While often cheaper than ‘staining’ wooden cabinets, they also don’t patina, and we as a society are finding our way to prioritize sustainability.”
“Natural wood is essential in the kitchen to provide warmth,” adds Jeanne Chung, director of Cozy•Stylish•Chic. “Our clientele no longer want a sterile kitchen – they want a kitchen with a life that seems to be lived in.” White oak and walnut are at the top of the list for trendy woods, and we’re starting to use alder, as it colors beautifully, has a nice grain pattern, and works well in both modern and traditional settings. In addition, we installed wooden beams above and waterproof wooden floors. People are spending more time at home so they want their homes to feel intimate and comfortable.”
3. Sinks that work harder
Given that washing dishes takes almost the same amount of time as preparing a meal, the sinks could work a little harder than they already do. This is where workstation sinks come in. “Workstation sinks have separate stations for washing fruit and vegetables, cutting and chopping, as well as washing and drying dishes,” explains Eva Higby of Higby Design. “This creates more space to prepare fruits and vegetables in the sink, and I like that it reduces clutter and creates more work space.”
The last major innovation in cooktops happened in the early 1900s with the advent of electricity, so we’ve certainly needed a new method for some time. In addition, with the new environmental regulations regarding gas cooking, more people than ever want to invest in a long-term reliable cooktop. “Induction cooking is getting smarter and more elegant; hobs are easily integrated into the work surface for a cleaner surface,” says Higby. “I’ve even seen induction hobs that are hidden under the worktop so that when they’re off, you’d never know it was there. They heat up quickly and cool down quickly, so they are great for families with small children. They are also quite accurate, allowing for a range of temperatures from boiling to warming.”
5. Retractable devices
Who says the refrigerator has to be one huge appliance, and not several different focused drawers spread around the kitchen? Higby notes that refrigerator drawers are more modern than ever, as a place to hold water, seltzer, soda, and anything else the family might grab and go. “Dishwasher drawers are popping up, too,” she says. “Two-drawer dishwashers can replace a standard dishwasher, but many times they are added to standard dishwashers in areas such as beverage stations and home bars. They are ideal for smaller loads and quick washing.” These appliance drawers are also easy to integrate into cabinets with matching panels so they blend right into the backsplash.
6. Drawers instead of lower cabinets
If the upper cabinets are gone in favor of shelves, that means the lower cabinets have to pick up the slack. But they are often difficult to organize and hard to reach. Higby notes that they are being completely replaced by drawers, because “it’s a lot easier to open a drawer and pull out plates or pots and pans. When my clients discover how easy the lower drawers are, they want to put them in every bathroom too!” In addition, full-height tall cabinets are a great option for pantries, as well as storage space for appliances such as mixers, toasters and coffee makers.
7. Minimal backsplashes
More cooking at home means more kitchen cleaning, and Higby found that led to a more minimal approach when it came to wallpapers. “People hate cleaning grout lines and love the look of the countertop material continuing with the backsplash,” she says.” By continuing the worktop material onto the background, you create a clean and crisp feel and can show off that beautiful material!”
“While shaker-style cabinets have been a favorite for the past decade, we’re designing kitchens with multiple panel fronts,” says Higby. “I love the clean look of the drawers and doors. It supports the ‘less is more’ trend in kitchens. They are also easy to clean!”
9. Step away from the marble
Sure, your social media feeds have been full of intricately veined marble kitchens for a while now, but one thing people are realizing? Marble is a lot of work to maintain. It’s certainly beautiful and, with proper care, can last forever, but not everyone wants to put that much effort into their kitchen countertops. “Most of my clients are busy families and don’t have the patience for marble,” agrees Higby, recommending Quartzite instead. “It’s a natural stone like marble so it has beautiful and natural veins that come in many variations,” she says. “While marble is known for being soft, quartzite is hard and durable like granite. Quartzite is porous like any natural stone, but when sealed, it is good for heavy use. The quartzite is beautiful and the brushed or leather finish makes it easy to keep clean.”
Another worktop material found in the sun is sintered stone, such as Neolite or Dekton. “I definitely see the industry moving more into Dekton countertops,” Lynch points out, because “they’re much more durable, easier to clean, and come in a wide variety of options.” However, if you’re still into marble (we get it), Wahler notes that there are new products that act as a protective shield for marble that have the stone yard salesmen she works with getting excited.
You heard it here first: The microwave is off and the smart oven is in. “Rapid ovens, deep fryers and new light-based cooking are replacing microwaves because appliances have to be more than fast—they have to be smart,” Higby says. “Smart ovens are not only fast, they also improve the cooking experience. They often come with built-in recipes and even connect to your phone.” Higby is personally enthusiastic about the Bravo, which uses light-based cooking for more efficient cooking, and is connected to an app that guides you through recipes and lets you watch something cook from across the room.
11. More functional islands
It’s no surprise that people want their kitchen islands to do more than just provide extra prep space – they need to serve other functions as well. “If the kitchen is the heart of the house, the island is the heart of the kitchen,” says Higby, and because it’s so essential, she finds that clients prioritize it more than before. There has been an increase in the installation of sinks for workstations, the addition of smarter storage and an increase to accommodate more seating. Sarah Robertson, lead designer at Studio Dearborn, has seen the island move away from “all-in-a-row” island seating and instead toward wraparound seating, and Higby adds that she recently completed a 12-foot island with seating on either side . , which takes the place of a separate kitchen table.
12. Built-in and hidden kitchen tools
Can open concepts and floating shelves really disappear forever? Maybe not, but Olivia Wahler of Hearth Homes Interiors has definitely noticed the shift back toward indoor storage. “Garage appliances (our personal favorite) are on the rise,” she says. “As well as hidden drawers, integrated step stools, filling drawers, hidden pet food storage and feeding stations, and hidden storage! Our clients relied heavily on the idea of as much functional storage as possible, leaving no room for wasted space.”
13. Dedicated drink stations
Whether it’s an entertainment bar, a coffee and tea nook, or even a kid’s drink fridge, almost all the designers we spoke to mentioned the rise in demand for drink stations. “The pandemic seems to have changed the way people use their kitchens and created a new era of pets,” says Wahler. “Our clients don’t go out so much for co*cktails or coffee, but put emphasis on wanting to have a place to prepare and enjoy these things at home.” Elizabeth Valentina, CEO of Nar Design Group, agrees, adding, “Beverage centers are rising to the top of desired items to include in the kitchen, now including coffee and tea service, water dispensers, under-counter refrigeration and frozen smoothie storage , shakes and acai bowls.
Kitchens should not be excluded in the search for warm, pleasant lighting. Although daylight bulbs are often chosen for task lighting, you can still use other styles and lights. “Lighting is more important than ever in the kitchen, and many layers are used to achieve the best result,” says Seranay. Robertson adds that her firm likes to use “pendants above the island and lights over windows or on the sides of the range, and moving towards small recessed elements instead of recessed lighting. If we have a large open work space, we introduce a table lamp.” Moreover, says Valentina, “Lighting the interior of the cabinet creates an enhanced experience, allowing better engagement with the interior cavity of the cabinet or space.”
