Interior designers share 5 kitchen trends that’ll be huge this season and 4 that will be out

Aleksandra Nova, the founder and principal designer of Aleksandra Nova Design, told Insider that open kitchen shelving will replace wall cabinets this season.

“I try to avoid wall cabinets and replace them with shelving to add more flexibility to decorating the kitchen,” Nova said.

Homeowners can add cookbooks, art pieces, and decorative objects to shelves to create a cozier feeling.

Light and natural colors are trending.

Heather Mastrangeli, the principal designer of Innovatus Design, said light and natural colors would take over kitchens this spring.

“People are looking for a haven from the turmoil of what the last few years have been, and as they update their homes, earthy naturals are making their way front and center,” she told Insider.

According to the designer, cream and taupe cabinets paired with natural wood will be a top trend.

Separate coffee stations are popular look.

Debbe Daley, an award-winning interior designer, told Insider that individual coffee stations would continue to take priority in kitchens.

“A separate area for coffee makers and espresso machines won’t be going away any time soon,” the designer said. “These areas will have lower cabinets for storing coffee and tea.”

Under-cabinet ice makers are rising in popularity.

Some homeowners have begun replacing freezers with under-cabinet ice makers in recent years, a trend Daley thinks will continue to soar.

The ice-maker units come panel-ready so they easily blend in with the kitchen cabinet finish and style.

Smart technology is having a major moment.

Devin Shaffer, the lead interior designer at Decorilla, told Insider that homeowners would continue installing smart appliances and connected home ecosystems in their kitchens.

“For example, a smart refrigerator can notify you when you’re running low on groceries and suggest recipes based on available ingredients, while a smart oven preheats to the correct temperature for your selected dish,” Shaffer said.

On the other hand, pairing blue cabinets with white ones is out.

Two-toned kitchens have trended for years, but according to Mastrangeli, the blue-and-white cabinet pairing is out.

“This trend gained much traction in the last couple of years, but its bold nature directly juxtaposes what people crave in their homes — tranquility and cleanliness,” she said.

Instead, she predicts that all-blue or all-white cabinets will become more popular.

Small pendant lighting over kitchen islands is fading out.

According to Daley, small pendant lighting over kitchen islands had its moment and is being replaced by statement pieces.

“Larger pendant light fixtures that make a big impact on the island will be seen more as lighting makes a statement in the space,” Daley told Insider.

Cool-toned white and gray kitchens are falling out of favor.

White and gray neutral tones were once popular in minimalistic kitchens, but Andrea Liston-Jones, director of design at Liston Design Build, said these color choices are becoming less popular.

“Embrace pops of color this spring that still feel natural and soft to transform your kitchen into a fresh and inviting space ready to welcome a new season,” she said.

The industrial look is a trend of the past.

According to Shaffer, industrial-style kitchens with bare, exposed brick or concrete walls are out this season.

“The industrial look has had its moment, but we’ll shift toward softer, more organic styles this spring,” Shaffer said. “The cold, hard materials of the industrial trend will give way to natural elements like reclaimed wood, rattan, and handcrafted ceramics for a cozier atmosphere.

Instead, kitchens will feature more clay and porcelain pieces so artisans have their moment outside of basic decor.

This article was written by Alyssa Towns Swantkoski from Business Insider and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive Content Marketplace. Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected].