Spoiler: The combination island is taking off.

By Kate McGregor | January 2, 2025

The kitchen above was designed by Chauncey Boothby.
Kitchen renovations are one of the most popular ways to refresh your living space—after all, it makes sense to start where you probably spend the most time at home. If a kitchen upgrade is on your list for 2025 but you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to help with a list of the 20 kitchen trends you’ll soon see everywhere.

For some people, the word trend conjures up the here-now-gone-tomorrow design choices they want to steer clear of. Instead, think of this as a vibe check. Are you looking for your kitchen to be cozier and better suited for hosting? Or perhaps you’re in need of a new kitchen cabinet paint color or an idea for pantry storage? There’s a trend for that. To make sure we share the most up-to-date predictions, we picked the brains of a handful of industry experts, kitchen manufacturers, and interior designers. From bold hues to fluted textures, here’s what they say will be the top 20 kitchen design trends for 2025.

Looking for more trend forecasts?

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• The 12 Trends Interior Designers Are Officially Ditching Next Year

Outdoor Integration

Spaces that straddle the line between inside and out are very in demand, according to the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and its 2025 Trends Outlook report. It found that “designs are increasingly blending indoor and outdoor spaces to foster social engagement and a connection to nature.” Advanced materials that are beautiful and durable give you more design possibilities than ever. This outdoor kitchen by designer Lindye Galloway is an example of how elevated and modern yours could be.

2

Dining Nooks

Stacey Colbey, senior designer at kitchen brand Harvey Jones, has noticed an uptick in requests for cozy dining nooks. Why? “Separating the dining area from the kitchen can be an effective way to create a peaceful, comfortable seating nook for family dinners and busy breakfast times,” she says. “This can help reduce noise and clutter from kitchen food prep while often being a more efficient use of space than a full dining room.” she says. She recommends banquette seating with colorful cushions, as seen in this North Carolina home designed by Winsome Interior Design.

3

Plaster Range Hoods

“Plaster hoods are less of a trend and more of a classic in my book!” says interior designer Nicole Arruda. “I think we’re steering away from the metal and going for a more organic look.” In addition to the material, she’s also seeing the rise of warm whites in general, as seen in this kitchen designed by Lindsey Black. “It’s a great alternative to stark white and can warm up the space perfectly. Classics are classics for a reason!”

4

Sculleries and Dirty Kitchens

“Over the past several years, there has been an uptick in what some designers begrudgingly call a ‘dirty kitchen’ and more lovingly refer to as the back kitchen,” says House Beautiful Director of Special Projects Carisha Swanson, referring to what’s essentially “a working kitchen behind the primary space that functions as another cooking, prep, and cleanup area.”

Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn has also seen spaces like this one, which is in the same Memphis kitchen by Lindsey Black that we referenced above, on more client wish lists. People have grown tired of an open floor plan that leaves their daily mess on display.

5

Floating the Countertop Up the Wall

Extending the quartzite or marble on your countertops to serve as a backsplash has gained traction. See the “countersplash” in this kitchen by Sam Sacks Design. “This design choice can be a little more expensive, but in the long run it extends the life of your kitchen because it’s timeless and has a clean look,” Megan Gorelick of Megan Gorelick Interiors says.

6

Colorful Cabinets

Emily Arthur, chief creative officer of the cabinet company Isla Porter, has been noticing that clients are taking more risks with their choice of cabinet colors, with “rich red and yellows being the most popular this year.” This example is from a kitchen designed by Samantha Stathis Lynch of Samantha Ware Interior Design.

“There is something comforting and optimistic about a yellow kitchen that feels timeless,” she says. “An icy blue mixed with a dark red burgundy is also finding its way into both modern and traditional kitchens, which is a great playful palette that feels fresh again.”

7

Dining Furniture with Storage

“We’re all looking for ways to maximize the space we have, and sneaky storage can be a real lifesaver, whether you’re looking for a spot to stash throws and games in a living space or for soft seating that doubles as a toy chest in the playroom,” says Rob Natale, the chief of design at furniture brand Sixpenny. The brand has seen a major uptick in asks for functional dining furniture, such as its Monti Storage Banquette. A piece like this can seat more guests than traditional chairs and stow extra table linens and serveware.

8

Communal Seating

Instead of bar-style seating, try a kitchen island arrangement that encourages more interaction. “Conversational islands are definitely back versus looking at the cook doing all the work or feeding you island-side,” says Swanson. This kitchen island with seating on three sides designed by Chauncey Boothby is perfect for chatting.

9

Combination Islands

According to designer Anastasia Casey of IDCO Studio, there’s another island trend on the rise this year. “We’ll see way more combination islands in the kitchen,” she says. “This means that 50 to 60 percent of the island will have closed storage below, while the remaining 40 to 50 percent will have simple furniture-style legs with large top drawers and open space below for counter-height stools to tuck under.” That’s how she designed the island in this British-inspired kitchen to function.

10

Ornate Lighting

“I feel like people are starting to lose the desire for an understated kitchen, and the larger-than-life trend is back,” says designer Laura Williams of ATX Interior Design, who designed this kitchen. “For instance, light fixtures that are oversized and a statement piece will be the look of the year.”