Riding a wave of more interest in natural looks and warm colors, wood and wood looks are making a strong comeback in kitchen cabinet design trends. In some sectors, the trend is seen as so strong it might dethrone the omnipresent white kitchen that has dominated in recent years.

Major studies from the National Kitchen and Bath Association and others as well as anecdotal data garnered from interviews with designers, manufacturers, and custom builders, all point to a resurgence in the demand for wood cabinetry and cabinetry that effectively mimics the look and texture of wood.

Other trends of note include transitional, timeless, and contemporary looks as the dominating designs, warmer colors, increasingly complex and varied lighting schemes, elevated use of islands with integrated appliances and sinks, as well as more focus on practical storage solutions and heightened emphasis on sustainability.

Wood is back
A few years ago, there was a sea change when painted finishes overtook wood looks and stains, but the tide that went out then has come back in. Many reports rank wood ahead of white as the look of choice.

Note that we have to say “look,” because it’s not all real wood. Designers say people want to get a more natural feel in their kitchens, but that can mean using the new textured laminate products that adroitly mimic the look and feel of real wood. That texture is important, whether the piece is simulated or real wood. 

Of the top surface treatments listed by NKBA members, wood grain topped the list. Painted surfaces came next, but that was followed by natural high-texture wood, and wood patterns or fluted finishes. And don’t expect a return to dark wood looks. Lighter wood tones are at the top of the charts, and dark wood looks — think of the recently popular espresso colors — have sunk to the bottom of the cup.

Design leaders
The top four leading design styles cited by members of the NKBA were Transitional/Timeless, Contemporary/Modern, Organic/Natural, and Mid-Century/Scandinavian. Note the overlaps between transitional and organic styles, as well as contemporary and mid-century styles. Eclectic and Mediterranean styles, once very popular, are now way down on the list.

Designers suggest the driving forces behind today’s kitchen designs include a desire for more connection to the outdoors and natural world. That means larger windows, more glass, and warmer colors. That even extends to plumbing as gold tones and blacks usurp the chrome and stainless finishes of the past.

The most dominant trend the NKBA found in surveying its members is that homeowners don’t want a kitchen like everyone else has. They want something “uniquely personal and just for them.” That suggests that the door is wide open for the custom shop that can pair design savvy with construction versatility. 

That versatility also comes with a desire to boost practical usability of the space. NKBA says 78% of its survey respondents have the top goal of improving usability of the kitchen.

Warmer colors
For years, we have endured a monochromal dominance, whether it be white or gray. Then, after suffering through 50 shades of gray plus lots of white in the last few years, some more vibrant colors like blue started to show up in the kitchen. NKBA members say the top color for 2024 will be green, followed closely by wood. Next are white, blue, gray, and brown to round out the top six color choices.

Remember that there has also been a growing trend to combine colors in the kitchen or to add bursts of color to offset more muted wood tones or monochrome paint schemes. Maybe that light wood tone kitchen will have a blue island or a bank of green cabinets to break up the wood.

Clean lines
Desire for cleaner lines in the kitchen runs high. Modern European or flat panel doors are the top item, followed by similar unadorned Shaker-style doors. The increasing use of frameless, Euro-style, or “full-access” cabinet construction over traditional face-frame construction is another reflection of the “clean lines” trend in kitchens for 2024.

Raised panel and partial overlay doors have been relegated to the bottom of the list. Inset doors and recessed panels are somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Regardless of the shape of the door, the dominant color strategy is for medium or light tones.

Let there be light
The days of lighting a kitchen with just a few hanging lights or some puck lighting are long gone. Lighting has become a sophisticated, multi-level affair with combinations of different types and kinds of lighting systems, often integrated with advanced controls, including connection to mobile devices and motion sensors.

Designers say for 2024 they will increasingly use multiple layers of lighting. That includes ambient lighting, decorative statement lighting, and special nighttime lighting. New electronic control systems allow fine adjustments of color temperature as well as brightness and intensity. Think not just lighting a workspace but also using lighting to set the stage for the kitchen as the showpiece of the home.

Under-cabinet lights are the top lighting add-on feature, but right behind them is interior cabinet lighting. For room lighting in the kitchen, pendant lights and recessed lights are popular.

Reflecting the trend for warmer colors, gold, brass, copper, and black have taken the lead two spots for lighting fixture colors and finishes. Silver, nickel, and stainless have dropped to third place. 

Islands as centerpieces
Kitchen islands are big, quite literally. More and more the kitchen has become the social center of the home, and the island is the heart of the kitchen. Rather than just a big block in the middle of the kitchen, islands are taking on more duties, becoming more functional, and playing more roles. 

Today’s kitchen islands feature more built-in appliances such as beverage centers and wine refrigerators. Some of the important kitchen functions that previously have been relegated to the perimeter of the kitchen layout, are moving to center stage in the island. Look for more sinks and cooktops in the island.

With the growing popularity of eat-in kitchens, the island becomes a self-contained unit that features prep, cooking, serving, and seating all in one place, followed by cleanup with the sink and dishwasher afterwards.

Storage that works
Demand for better and more efficient kitchen storage has never been higher. Pantries are big, in more ways than one. Walk-in and butler pantries are popular, sometimes accessed with a door disguised as another cabinet door. Hiding the pantry as a trend also shows up in the decline of open-shelf pantries.

Much like the kitchen island trends, pantries aren’t just about storage, they are also workspaces. Pantries are the new home for the coffee center and a dedicated domain for any number of small appliances. Forget about appliances on the counter or tucked into an appliance garage. Move them to the pantry!

Demand for better storage extends to every part of the kitchen. Homeowners want more drawer dividers and dedicated, customized storage options for all of their cabinets. Some 80% want more usability throughout their kitchen cabinets. Things like more drawers and charging stations are also high on the shopping list. 

Some might consider more storage a tall order quite literally, as in a request for taller cabinets. That includes floor-to-ceiling units for maximum storage.

Eco-conscious kitchens
Whether or not green will be the dominant kitchen color of the year (as some have predicted), green sensibilities will certainly be strong.

From a purely practical and pragmatic environmental perspectives, the trend for additional practical storage dovetails with environmental concerns in making the integration of recycling storage containers one of the most common storage options in today’s kitchens.

Other environmentally conscious trends in the kitchen include selection of sustainable materials, longer lasting products, and energy efficient appliances and lighting.

For remodeling projects, be aware of the increasing trend to donate old cabinets for reuse rather than just carting them to a dump or transfer center for disposal.

Some 42% of NKBA members say it is extremely or very important that their product recommendations take sustainability into account.