The Kitchen Trends Designers Are Moving Away From

Kitchen cycles are long — most people live with a kitchen for 15 years — which makes trend-following unusually expensive here. We asked twelve designers what they are steering clients away from this year, and what they're specifying in its place.

Cold grey everything

The 2016–2022 grey handleless kitchen has aged fast. Warmer neutrals, stained timber and off-white lacquers photograph less dramatically but live better in rooms that don't get northern light all day.

Islands with no landing space

An island that carries a hob, a sink and a breakfast bar has nowhere to put a hot pan. Designers are protecting 90 cm of clear worktop next to every heat source.

Full-wall open shelving

Open shelving survives in short runs near the coffee station. Across an entire wall it becomes a dusting job, and it forces every object you own into public view.

Integrated everything

Panel-ready appliances still make sense for fridges. For dishwashers and ovens, designers increasingly prefer serviceable freestanding units — cheaper to replace when a control board fails in year seven.