12 Stylish Kitchen Design Trends & Ideas

Black is back, tile is getting stacked, and metals are mingling in the stylish kitchen trends set to take off this year. Here’s a look at 12 hot kitchen features that really stand out.

1. Black stainless steel appliances

After years of silver boxes reigning supreme, black stainless steel appliances have arrived and taken over — and the more matte the finish, the better. Sleek and sexy, black stainless steel resists smudges and fingerprints better than silver stainless steel, and you only need warm water to keep clean.

The one caveat: Each manufacturer offers its own take on black stainless steel, making it difficult to mix and match brands.

2. Matte black cabinetry

Speaking of matte black, chic black matte cabinetry has replaced the matte white shaker styles of recent years. For years, black was shunned for being too harsh, but thanks to the wave of farmhouse-meets-industrial design (here’s looking at you, Joanna Gaines), black is back as the ultimate neutral that goes with pretty much everything.

3. Stacked tile patterns

When it comes to single tile backsplashes, the herringbone and offset, stair-step patterns of recent years are giving way to the sleek look of stacked tile.

4. Smarty pants refrigerators

Alexa-friendly refrigerators from Samsung and LG Electronics respond to voice commands that activate the icemaker, the air filter, and help you monitor the temperature inside your refrigerators. Bosch’s NoFrost fridges feature their proprietary VitaFresh System that keeps food fresh up to three times longer than other appliances. Modern refrigerators are smarter than ever, and make the best use of space in the kitchen.

5. Mixed metals

An elegant black matte faucet + sophisticated brassy gold drawer pulls = a match made in designer heaven. Metallics come in warm shades (brass, copper, gold), cool shades (stainless steel, chrome, nickel), and neutral shades (cast iron and black). In a kitchen with mostly warm metallics, accent with cool tones. In a kitchen with mostly wool tones, add in warmer touches. Mix the neutrals in anywhere you want.

6. Two-tone kitchens

There are two ways to make a two-tone kitchen. One is to play with paint color and choose a statement piece, like an island, to showcase a bold color. Another option is to stain half the cabinets so they maintain the look of wood (usually it’s the lower or upper cabinets only), and paint the other half. Wood mixed with white is especially popular right now, in part because the all-white look is on its way out, making room for this more playful, two-tone approach.

7. Industrial countertops

Concrete counters are no longer reserved for quintessentially modern designs, thanks in part to the Metropolitan Collection, recently unveiled by Caesarstone featuring seven industrial-looking countertops. At first glance some even look like marble or granite.

8. High-Tech Everything

From WiFi-enabled coffee makers, that will have you channeling your inner barista, to wine fridges complete with restaurant-grade single pour systems from Vinotemp, these high-tech extras have never been more innovative.

9. Countertops that extend to backsplashes

Seamless extensions between stone countertops and backsplashes are becoming more popular, showing the growing fatigue of the stair-step subway tile trend. Having one continuous flow of stone from the countertops up to the backsplash, and in some cases, to the ceiling, creates a polished, upscale look.

10. Open shelving

Whether you’re looking to save money or to make your kitchen appear larger, open shelving continues to be popular. Homeowners take another cue from Joanna Gaines’ playbook and rely on open shelving to show off their perfectly stacked plates and bowls. Wood, metal, and glass are all en vogue, depending on the style of your kitchen, but one cool trick is to create a continuous shelf along the perimeter of your kitchen, as seen at the “Island Granite” booth at KBIS this year. It’s a chic but casual look best left to the tidiest among us.

11. Freestanding, footed islands

The more your island looks like a piece of furniture, the better, according to recent kitchen trends. In many trendy kitchens, islands are furniture pieces, refashioned as islands, with the countertop changed to align with the rest of your kitchen. Adding a stone countertop allows you to create greater surface area for prep work as well as space for counter stools, turning the island into a makeshift dining table, too. It’s perfect for kitchens that lack seating.

12. Statement hoods

Statement making ventilation systems that seamlessly blend into your kitchen had a coming out party last year. Now they’re a bonafide trend and in many cases they look like works of art. The spectacular two-tone hoods designed by HGTV star Allison Victoria for “Best Range Hoods” unveiled at KBIS this year. The generally hefty price tag of statement hoods ensures this is one trend that’s likely to stick around for a while.