Close
Designing for the Heart of the Home
Kitchen design has long been an area of ample creative opportunities, and current kitchen trends are offering up plenty of inspiration. We’ve consulted some of the foremost trend experts in home interiors to give you a comprehensive look at what’s cooking in kitchen trends for 2023.
The Rise of Kitchen Customization
For contemporary kitchens, customization is leading the conversation. This is true especially with millennial homebuyers, says Lauren West, Director of Global Color and Design, Industrial Wood Coatings, at Sherwin-Williams. This demographic values self-expression and personalization of their spaces, especially the parts of the home that see the most use.
Open formats; an inspired mix of materials like metal, glass, and concrete; and smooth, matte finishes are gaining prevalence, West says, all of these details giving the distinct impression of clean, clearly European-inspired looks, many of which were showcased at this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS).
Kitchens have become an excellent place to get creative with color, and color selection has gotten twice as nice with the rising popularity of two-tone or “tuxedo” cabinets: a monotony-busting trend that pairs light-toned cabinets with contrasting, darker ones.
Kitchen islands are a place to incorporate trending color, like Rocky River SW 6215 (218-C6), demonstrated beautifully by this dual-island design by Ayça Stiffel at By Design Interiors. Photos by French Blue Photography.
“Gone are the days of homeowners being fearful of incorporating various tints and shades of color into their spaces,” gushes designer Danee Bohn. “They are now choosing to make an impact by selecting rich, earthy hues and deep moody tones, like Rock Bottom SW 7062 (278-C2).”
Marine Hues on the Menu
Colorful kitchens are making a comeback, with the most popular shades skewing toward subtle marine hues this year. Elevated and timeless blues and greens, especially in two-toned cabinetry or balanced with rich natural wood tones, are being used to provide a pop of contemporary color against neutral backdrops, or in all-over applications to create a more cocooning effect.
“Blue is still being chosen by clients because it’s a way to use a color that works as a neutral,” says Janelle Helms of Karr Bick Design when asked about her recent project using Gale Force SW 7605 (279-C3). Any easy-to-use blue is not only calming and familiar-feeling, but it’s also an enduring favorite.
At Dura Supreme, the deep blue of Gale Force SW 7605 (279-C3) continues to be a top choice for cabinetry, utilized here by designer Janelle Helms at Karr Bick Design. Photos by Lisa Mitchell of Photographie by Li.
“At Dura Supreme Cabinetry, we look for long-term classic colors that will stand the test of time and add lasting value to an investment,” shares trend forecaster and VP of Marketing Karen Wistrom. Dark blues, she ascertains, are just that type of color, persisting in fashion and interior palettes year after year. “Gale Force has been the longest-lasting and most popular in our Curated Color Collection for the past six years, and its popularity is still soaring.”
A New Taste in Neutrals
Neutrals have gradually been trending warmer, and although classic white kitchens will continue to have their place in 2023, these soulful whites are getting more nuanced, stepping a few degrees away from stark.
Trend stories are being illustrated by neutrals that balance subtlety with star power, like the blushing beige of our Color of the Year for 2023, Redend Point 9081 (195-C4). “I think white will always be a classic,” says Katie Sneed of K. Sneed Design, “but a lot of clients recently have been leaning toward other neutrals and especially warmer tones.” She considers Perfect Greige SW 6073 (242-C3) a perfect, timeless balance of warm and cool.
The classic “all-white” kitchen receives a thoroughly modern update in impeccably balanced warmer neutrals like Perfect Greige SW 6073 (242-C3), used here by kitchen-and-bath-design expert Katie Sneed. Photos by Allison Elefante Photography.
Megan Pisano also loves a delicate neutral, like the soft gray tint of Olympus White SW 6253 (234-C1). “Even though it says ‘white’ in the name, it shows a soft gray. It’s super versatile and gives a subtle hint of color.” And her go-to white for wainscoting and trim? Extra White SW 7006 (257-C1). “It’s not paper white and it’s not off-white. It’s the perfect in-between color that gives the space a glow.”
Designer Megan Pisano’s choice of classic Olympus White SW 6253 (234-C1) and Naval SW 6244 (253-C6) proves the dark blue and white are a truly timeless combination. Photo by Meghan Balcom Photography.
Storage, Cabinetry & Countertops
While blues and greens ground and new neutrals glow, cabinetry and countertops continue to shine with trends toward all-over natural wood, from warm ambers to richer, darker browns. Shaker styles lead the market, followed closely by contemporary and transitional influences.
Catherine Leavitt and Leah Owens of Friday & Co Design employ a European design influence through ceiling-height cabinets, the brightness of all-over White Flour SW 7102 (267-C2), and wood accents with warm-toned stain. Photos by Candace Palfreeman Photography.
Lauren West remarks on the versatility and design opportunities possible with the evolution of kitchen islands: “It’s no longer just an extension of counter space,” she says. “It’s being transformed into the house charging station, a space for hidden small appliances, and the perfect gathering spot for entertaining.”
Functionality in kitchen design continues to be especially innovative, with hidden storage spaces, hardly-there hardware (or no hardware at all), and other minimalist elements on the upswing. This aligns nicely with kitchens where space is at a premium, and where toe-kick drawers, cabinet-concealed refrigerators and pantries, and appliance garages can help clear limited counter space.
Maximizing space while minimizing the appearance of household appliances and extra storage is a trend defining modern minimalist kitchens, like this space designed by Danee Bohn of Studio M Kitchen & Bath. Cabinet color: Rock Bottom SW 7062 (278-C2).
In countertop trends, statement marble looks are still holding strong, but we may see a shift in countertop tone soon. “Dark countertops are coming back,” says Eric Crosby, Marketing Manager Specialist at Sherwin-Williams. “Soapstone will be the preferred material, and also granite.”
For more information about our top-rated cabinet, door, and trim enamel, click here. And connect with your Designer or Architectural Account Executive to talk color samples and strategies for your upcoming kitchen projects.
