Move Over Tuscan: 10 Kitchen Trends for 2024
Kitchens are no longer just functional spaces for preparing food—they’re the heart of the home, where style meets utility and personal tastes can be expressed through design. Every year sees new kitchen trends emerge, and 2024's kitchen trends reflect a blend of modern practicality, colorful character, and timeless elegance. From appliance garages that streamline storage to the resurgence of classic checkerboard floors, these trends are set to transform the kitchen into a space that's as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional.
Whether you’re planning a kitchen remodel or a minor refresh, discover details of the top 2024 kitchen trends and showcase them in your kitchen to create a space that's not only on-trend but also uniquely yours.
1. Appliance Garages
Photo: sherwin-williams.com
Sick of cluttered countertops? Appliance garages provide a sleek and organized way to conceal your most-used small kitchen appliances like toasters, blenders, and coffee makers when they’re not in use. These built-in storage spaces blend seamlessly into a kitchen’s layout and allow you to declutter your countertops for a more streamlined, minimalistic look.
Reya Duenas of Reya Duenas Design in Santa Ana, California, says, “When designing a kitchen, I take inventory of all the highly used, moderately used, and rarely used appliances and then hide them accordingly.” Appliance garages can be customized to fit any kitchen style, from classic to contemporary, making them a versatile option that can suit a variety of aesthetic preferences.
2. Warm Neutrals
Design: Legacy CDM Inc., Craig Hampton, Brooke Wagner Design. Photo: ? Mellon Studio
Recent kitchen trends have included lots of stark whites and cool greys, but warmer neutrals are making a comeback in 2024. This color palette includes beige, taupe, and cream, all of which bring a sense of cozy comfort to a kitchen. These colors create a welcoming atmosphere and act as a backdrop for a wide variety of other design elements. This trend reflects a broader interior design movement towards more natural colors that convey a sense of warmth.
3. Blues and Greens
Photo: behr.com
When redesigning a kitchen, it’s tempting to choose neutral colors that offer longevity, but for some, this monochromatic look can lack visual interest. Blue and green are both known for being calming colors that create a serene environment in any space, and both saw an increase in use by homeowners in the 2024 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report.
Todd Howard Ezrin, interior designer with TOBE Design Group, points out that both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams chose shades of blue for their 2024 colors of the year. Ezrin says, “While white kitchens stand the test of time, there’s been a shift to dramatic painted cabinets, giving a kitchen more personality and depth.” From deep navys to soft sages, these colors add interest and character to any kitchen, even acting as neutral backgrounds for patterns. They can be used for wall paint and cabinetry or incorporated through backsplashes and smaller decor items.
4. Solid Slab Backsplash
Photo: wilsonart.com
For a sleek, modern look, consider choosing a solid slab backsplash in the same material as your countertops for your 2024 kitchen redesign. By opting for the same material for these two major kitchen elements, you’ll create the illusion of a continuous surface that makes for a cohesive look. Whether you go with quartz or granite, the uninterrupted lines will look completely seamless.
5. Dual-Fuel Ranges
Photo: Faith Towers ? Houzz
High-performance appliances are trending this year, and one unique option that’s set to become increasingly popular is the dual-fuel range. Dual-fuel ranges combine the best of both worlds for cooking and baking enthusiasts, featuring a gas cooktop and a traditional electric oven. The gas cooktop offers more precise heat control, while the electric oven provides even baking.
6. Flat-Front Cabinets
Photo: wilsonart.com
Beveled or shaker-style has been a popular style of cabinets for years, but 2024 is seeing a resurgence of flat-front cabinetry. The 2024 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report shows that 22% of renovating homeowners opt for flat panel cabinet doors. Unlike shaker-style cabinet faces, which provide a time-honored farmhouse look, flat-front cabinets are characterized by their clean lines and smooth surfaces. Because of this, they’re also easier to clean and offer flexibility in terms of hardware choices.
7. Checkerboard Floors
Photo: istockphoto.com
Checkerboard flooring is a vintage decorating idea that has made a dramatic comeback, adding a classic yet playful element to any kitchen design. This flooring style, which typically features alternating black and white tiles, adds a bold visual impact to any space. This trend allows you to incorporate a vintage or retro influence into your kitchen, no matter the style. While checkerboard flooring has traditionally been black and white, feel free to get creative by opting for a lower-contrast color palette or opting for bolder hues.
8. Smart Appliances
Photo: istockphoto.com
Smart appliances have been rising in popularity for years, allowing you to control your large and small appliances with a few taps on your smartphone or tablet. The 2024 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report shows that 44% of homeowners are opting for appliances with high-tech capabilities, a 5-point increase from the previous year's report. Ezrin says, “Connectivity has expanded into kitchens with smart appliances that can alert you when you're out of milk, a door is left open, a service issue occurs, or cooking is complete,” adding, “These safety features provide peace of mind when you're gone for hours at a time or traveling.” The next generation of high-tech kitchen appliances is changing the functionality of home kitchens.
9. Integrated Lighting
Photo: minwax.com
Lighting plays a major role in setting the atmosphere in a space, and the kitchen is no exception. This year, many designers are opting to seamlessly integrate lighting into the kitchen’s design. Elizabeth Lord, Principal Designer at Elizabeth P. Lord Residential Design, says, “Under-cabinet lights, in-cabinet lighting, perfectly placed task lighting, and aesthetically pleasing accent lighting all need to be considered when designing a kitchen.” She explains that when paired with smart bulbs, “they can all work together in a smart home capacity to create schemes based on the time of day.”
10. Colorful Appliances
Photo: lowes.com
Stainless steel appliances may have ruled supreme for years, but Duenas thinks colorful appliances are set to make a splash in 2024, saying, “Long gone are the days of the classic white-on-white kitchens.” Lord agrees, adding, “Clients are taking more risks and personalizing their spaces when designing their kitchens”. While appliances outside of the standard white, black, and stainless steel have previously been hard to come by, many brands are now releasing unique and colorful options that often look like retro appliances as well.
