Current Kitchen Cabinet Trends Stealing the Show
When you pause to admire a beautiful kitchen, where do your eyes go first? The sparkling countertops? The shiny appliances? The geometric tile floor? You can be honest—your attention probably isn’t captured by the cabinets.
They take up the most space, yet kitchen cabinets seem to go largely unnoticed when you’re appreciating a well-designed kitchen. If you’re looking to breathe some fresh life into your space while on a budget, or are planning your next big renovation project, don’t overlook them! Especially not when these current kitchen cabinet trends are sure to impress your guests and turn the kitchen into your favourite room in the house (if it’s not already).
Image via Rachel Claire from Pexels
Neutral no more
Trade in your bright whites and soft greys for bold and bright, or dark and dramatic. Current cabinet trends are asking homeowners to take a bit of a risk with colour. Bright cabinetry in varying shades of primary colours are sure to provide some cheer and turn your space into a fun, creative place to gather and enjoy good food. But if you’re going for a modern, sleek feel, then black or dark blue kitchen cabinets are the best choice. Blue is fast becoming the new neutral and, when paired with gold hardware, provides a clean, sophisticated look. The two-tone or colour blocking kitchen cabinet trend is perfect if you can’t decide between the two aforementioned looks. Pairing a bright or lighter colour on the top cabinets with a darker grey, black or blue on the bottom adds a dynamic element to the kitchen and keeps the eye roving.
Image via Houzlook from Pexels
Understated shapes
Clean and simple are two words you could use to describe the current trend in cabinet shapes. Flat front, a European style of cabinet, provides a uniform, unbroken silhouette throughout the kitchen or, if you want, just a tad more detail. The shaker style—or square paneled cabinet—still provides a simple canvas to try out your bright colours or your neutral blue. If you’re really looking to shake things up, you could try no cabinets at all. Open shelving along the top might require a more aesthetic display of your plates and glasses, but they can turn your kitchen from a place of food prep and dirty dishes into an art gallery with plenty of breathing space.
Welcoming back wood
Driven by Scandinavian design and the resurgence of vintage, wood made a comeback in 2021 for kitchen cabinets. Whether it’s reclaimed, alternative wood types like bamboo (which people love for its sustainability and low environmental impact) or warm-toned oak, natural finishes and light colours are taking over.
Image via Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels
Different is good
As vintage and eclectic interior design become more popular, mixing and matching hardware in the kitchen is one of the top trends. Choosing a different metal or finish from the rest of your appliances will provide a bit of shine to your cabinets, break up monotony, and make your kitchen uniquely yours.
Image via ready made from Pexels
Make these kitchen cabinet trends your own
You can jump on these kitchen trends without investing too much time or money. The quickest and least-involved way would be replacing your hardware with fresh knobs and handles in a metal that’s entirely different from the rest of your appliances. If you’re willing to put in a bit more time and effort but still stay within a tight budget, try painting either your upper or lower cabinets to add the two-tone flair that’s so popular this year. Or, if you really want to switch things up, try removing a few doors from your upper cabinets for a partially open shelf look or add some removable wallpaper to the backs of the cabinets to make your upper cabinets pop. Finally, for a low-effort but striking effect, add under-cabinet lighting using LED strips for additional shine and functionality. We don’t often think of our cabinets when looking at design trends, but they’re a great way to add personality and uniqueness to your space!
