The 9 Kitchen Trends Designers Are Most Excited About for 2024 (2024)

Several designers mentioned the importance of broadening our kitchen storage options, whether it's creating more purposeful, customizable drawers and cabinets or opting for larger scullery-type pantry spaces—a carryover trend we just can't get enough of.

"I think there is going to be a resurgence of kitchens with furniture in the new year," says Blair Moore of New York City- and Rhode Island-based Moore House Design. "Instead of wall-to-wall or perimeter cabinetry, I think we will see more floating center islands, vintage hutches, and cabinets used for kitchen storage and less streamlined, built-in cabinetry. And I am totally here for this!"

Here, Chauncey Boothby employed bistro shelves and a generous island to create plenty storage space for a young family without using traditional perimeter cabinetry in a Larchmont, New York home.

Both Roger Higgins of R. Higgins Interiors in Nashville and Chicago-based designers Tom Riker and James Dolenc of James Thomas Interiors mentioned an emphasis on tile usage beyond a basic backsplash. Higgins says that he believes the new year will bring patterned tile that offers both color and greater visual interest in the kitchen.

"Color is certainly back in kitchens, and we love a fully tiled kitchen harkening back to a scullery," Riker and Dolenc say. "Zellige tile is popular at the moment and can add bold color and a dramatic feel to a kitchen."

Here, designer David Kleinberg takes a glazed tile from wall to wall, even adorning the vent hood for a sleek, seamless look in this Connecticut lake house.

"Exciting pops of color add a sense of vibrancy and life to a space," says Atlanta-based designer Melanie Millner of The Design Atelier. "As we head into 2024, contrasting colors combined with neutral tones will likely be an emerging trend in kitchen design."

Many of the designers we polled noted penchants for saturated hues on kitchen cabinets, a nod to the burgeoning British-inspired interiors moment we're having stateside. New York-based designer Sara Story says she's currently "enchanted by the allure of yellow." She believes it's a perfect color for chic cabinetry, as it evokes cheerfulness and joy—perfect for the heart of your home. Story recommends pairing it with a cool blue quartzite for a bit of contrasting vibrancy.

Here, San-Francisco based designer and hotelier Jay Jeffers utilizes Benjamin Moore's Witching Hour to create a statement cook space that still feels timeless. Jeffers says that leaning into deep blues, greens, rich browns, and jewel tones will create a cozy, welcoming kitchen instead of a cold and sterile utilitarian space.

Bringing the outdoors in has been a common thread in kitchen design for the last few years, but designers are taking it to new heights (quite literally). Cathy Purple Cherry of Purple Cherry Architects believes there will be more elimination of upper kitchen cabinetry to maximize window size and allow more natural light into our cook spaces. Additionally, several designers noted a shift towards more layered lighting in the kitchen instead of one or two harsh overhead fixtures for a more ambient space.

Nicole Gibbons, founder of Clare, says that she's seeing a growing trend towards green paint colors across the board, from rich, forest-y tones to gray-ish hues. However, aesthetic isn't the sole reason for leaning into the natural world for inspiration.

"Air quality remains top of mind in homes, so we’re seeing a lot of moving glass panels, giant sliding doors, and window systems requested," says Andrew Pharis of Colorado-based Vertical Arts Architecture.

Here, Amanda Lindroth leans into an abundance of natural fibers, employs a botanical wallpaper, and brings in plenty of natural light for a refreshing, energizing kitchen in a Bahamian home.

The NKBA's 2024 Kitchen Trends Report noted that there is growing interest in dedicated beverage areas, plus more beverage-centric storage space in fridges and pantries. Whether you have an intense morning coffee ritual that requires several gadgets (or just one show-stopping espresso machine), are dreaming of an at-home smoothie bar, or you're saving space for a swoon-worthy kitchen bar setup, there's never been a better time to take the leap and make your cook space more suited to your lifestyle.

Considering multiple designers shared that they're noticing a rise in thoughtfully blending the kitchen's design with the home's architecture—and expanding it into larger spaces—creating a dedicated bar space may be just the thing to best utilize your square footage for entertaining.

"Warmth is always 'in,' but the combination of pattern, texture, and saturated hues feels incredibly inviting," says Higgins. "There have been great strides made with solid surfaces and porcelain material used for countertops and, because of this, I think we’ll be seeing more creative use of those materials in 2024."

Daniel Kahan, principal at Smith and Moore Architects, Inc. in West Palm Beach, says he is seeing more integration of stone and metal detailing into kitchen cabinetry itself, rather than as a trim or top. He expects to see more demand for this trend, along with hardware integration and the overall integration of kitchen into larger spaces of the home.

Pharis and several other of our expert design sources also noted increased demand for more sustainable materials, particularly responsibly sourced wood in more natural finishes. Brian Sawyer of Sawyer|Berson in New York says that he's noticing a return to cabinetry that exhibits the natural grain as opposed to heavy lacquers and glossy paints.

Here, Richard Keith Langham makes bold yet brilliant use of a blend of woods, from the bark bar panels to the maple island topper, to create a one-of-a-kind cookspace that blends swimmingly with the rural landscape in a Mississippi hunting lodge.

Pharis says that satin nickel is regaining favor over brass for finishes, but he expects to see a rise in the use of mixed metals to make use of elements clients already love with new additions.

So don't be afraid to mix gold, silver and brass—as you can see in this kitchen by Jason Arnold, they all play well together and add a sense of vintage-feeling warmth.