2023 Kitchen Design Trends
According to the 2023 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, homeowners are still investing in kitchen remodeling. Cost-effective, sustainable choices, custom or semi-custom cabinets, and integrated and high-tech appliance purchases are all on the rise. If you are ready to remodel your kitchen, read on for some timely and timeless design advice to help you choose the perfect kitchen cabinets, appliances, and materials.
Kitchen Cabinet Door Styles
– Modern Classics
Classic Shaker Style cabinet door styles have been around for over 200 years and will always be a timeless choice, but we are seeing our clients choose modifications that modernize them. Like the kitchen in our highlight photo, Slimmer rails and stiles exemplify this trend. White, Shaker-style kitchen cabinets will always be a timeless choice.
Slightly more clients opt for another classic but modern choice-flat-panel, European-style cabinet doors. These cabinet doors are available in an exciting variety of styles and textures, including matte and glossy finishes, are easy to clean and maintain, and will give your kitchen a visually crisp look.
On the other end of the spectrum, a growing number of clients are also opting for more traditional details, including cabinet doors with bevel or arch details or glass inserts. This article in Domino magazine has an excellent overview of some of the current kitchen cabinet doors that interior designers are using.
Kitchen Cabinet Color Choices
– Natural Selection
White, black, grey, and cream kitchen cabinets are classic choices, but we are also seeing a new trend in kitchen design toward a more natural palette. Soft sage or olive green, soothing ocean blues, and the occasional pop of berry are showing up in some of our favorite kitchen designs this year.
Wood cabinetry is also increasingly popular. These wood kitchen cabinets are not the lurid orange oak of the 1970s. Instead, rich, nuanced cherry or visually sophisticated rift-cut white oak take star billing or act as textured focal points in a lower cabinet or island installation. Warmer, darker stains on natural wood are a good finish for high-traffic areas like an island. Check out our overview of Natural Wood for Kitchen Cabinets for fresh ideas.
Integrated and High-Tech
Kitchen Appliances
Hidden appliances, also known as integrated appliances, are popular in kitchen design because they offer a visually seamless look. The appliances are either built into the cabinetry or covered with cabinet panels that match the surrounding cabinetry like our example from Sub Zero in the photo. Integrated appliances give the kitchen a more cohesive look and feel, as the appliances blend in with the rest of the cabinetry. Also, hidden appliances can help save space because they take up less room than freestanding appliances. In addition, built-in appliances like mid-level microwaves can be more convenient, as they are at a more comfortable height for use and are easier to clean. Finally, hidden appliances can add value to a home, as many buyers see them as a luxury feature.
Also worth noting from the Houzz study, “The share of homeowners choosing appliances with high-tech features increased 4 points to 39% in 2023 compared with the previous year. Top tech features in appliances include Wi-Fi capability (25%) and the ability to control products with smartphones and tablets (24%).” Homeowners are looking for classics with modern capabilities.
Unified Looks in Countertop and Backsplashes
Matching kitchen countertops and backsplashes are a trend we’ll see more of over the next year. The last time we saw this trend was in the 70s and 80’s when tile countertops were wrapped up to include the backsplash. Of course, no one wants to clean all that grout, so the modern version of this trend is usually marble, quartz, or quartzite with minimal seams creating a cohesive and clean look. You can make a visual impact by choosing materials with visual movement. Our example is from one of our countertop and flooring partners, Bedrosian’s Tile and Stone.
(Kitchen) Island Life
According to Houzz survey participants, nearly two out of five kitchen islands are more than 7 feet long. Homeowners are using all that extra space for cooking and baking and working from home—20 percent report they now work from their kitchen island. In addition, the area below the counter is being used for extra storage, with 78 percent adding cabinets with closed doors. This photo shows a recent project that included a long double-sided central island with living room storage on one side and kitchen prep on the other.
Visit the 2023 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show with Us!
2023 Kitchen Design Trends Wrap-Up
Want to explore these trends and find more? Visit our showroom for a free consultation with one of our friendly and knowledgeable kitchen design experts. You will find over 250 kitchen cabinet door styles, designer boards from our countertop and flooring partners, specialty storage options like docking drawers and pull-out spice racks, and the latest in stylish kitchen hardware. You can also contact us to set up an appointment.