As we near the start of 2025, it is time to look back at last year and what this new year will bring, and most particularly for design. Last year saw some mixed trends occurring from the subtlest of finishes to a red shock of bold surprise to the quirky phenomenon of « fridgescaping. » But what does the kitchen of 2025 have in store for us? While it’s not possible to predict every turn and bend, we can certainly look at some of the top trends that designers see influencing kitchen design in the coming year.
The kitchen, historically the heart of the house, will continue to be an important space for customization, from custom storage configurations to the choice of dramatic floor tiles and unconventional paint colors. But a trend that is gaining serious traction is the « dirty kitchen, » or a separate, hidden room where all that messy prep work and clean-up can occur. Also referred to as a scullery or butler’s pantry, it is an intentional response to increasing pressure for the kitchen to both cook and act as a space for social interaction. As interior designer Brett Sugerman of Modulnova Miami explains, this space is intended to be « reserved for the messy work of food preparation and cleanup that is hidden from view of the ‘heart of the home.' »
In fact, according to Zillow’s home trends data, properties with a secondary kitchen have increased by 8 percent from last year, and the trend is going to widen even further in 2025. For Clea Shearer, co-founder of The Home Edit, the secondary kitchens allow much-desired flexibility while having the primary kitchen as a germ-free zone for gathering and also allowing space for the practical demands of cooking and cleaning.
But don’t assume these kitchens are « dirty » in the literal sense. And they actually create the potential for play with design in ways a main kitchen cannot. Designer Mark D. Sikes, for instance, advises furnishing them with playful, bright details such as painted millwork and patterned wallpaper. His tip? « Trim the butler’s pantry, not the kitchen. » This brings on a more lively design philosophy that embraces the double-sided nature of the space—functional and pretty.
Another movement gaining steam is the use of natural materials, which will continue to be leading-edge in kitchen design. Designers are leaning toward using natural stone, with emphasis on its rich textures and the unique patina it gets over time. Bria Hammel, founder of Bria Hammel Interiors, notes that natural stone countertops bring a sense of warmth and personality into kitchens. Hillary Cohen of HCO Interiors also cites the growing trend toward fabric shades on lighting fixtures. These fabrics, which provide a sense of texture and warmth, are a welcome respite from the glass globes that dominated the lighting space in recent years. As Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos of Williams Papadopoulos Design point out, there is a great desire for warmth and comfort in the kitchen, and therefore fabric-shaded sconces, pendants, and lamps are the perfect selection to provide a cozy, inviting environment.
In the years to come, we can also expect more romantic features to make their presence felt in kitchen designs. As TK Wismer, creative director and lead designer at Style Studio by Café, puts it, kitchens will see more organic shapes, nature-inspired patterns, and ornate designs contributing to a romantic, intimate setting. This is reflected in the uses of wallpapers that are warm and inviting, such as the floral pattern used by Hendricks Churchill in a New York city apartment kitchen. Wismer also cites the increasing popularity of brasher, more organic motifs that transform kitchens into personality-driven rooms. The trend inspires designers to be bolder and more personalized in their kitchen design, whether through the application of floral wallpapers or more brush-stroke-inspired backsplash tiles.
Discussion of backsplashes, painterly tiles are causing a ripple as another way of introducing personality into kitchen spaces. Others, like Valentin Goux of Rinck, are opting for hand-painted tiles that tell a personal story. Goux collaborated with his wife to create tiles for his Paris apartment that have stylized chili peppers and customized details, like their names in Arabic. Pierre Yovanovitch has also embraced the trend by incorporating hand-painted tiles with depictions of birds and foliage in his designs. Designer Hendricks even proposes using illustrated tiles by renowned artists like William De Morgan and William Morris, scattering them randomly into modern kitchen designs. Such a fresh trend for traditional tiles introduces novelty, interest, and playfulness into the space.
With all the shift away from the ubiquitous all-white kitchen, there comes a growing preference to add color and texture in kitchen design. One of these trends is the traditional children’s book Strega Nona, which has ignited a new generation of kitchens filled with warm, earthy colors and rural charm. This trend is reminiscent of a nostalgic, rural look that is characterized by terra-cotta tones, jewel tones, mismatched pots, and suspended herbs. Tara Lenney of Tara Lenney Design asserts that natural colors will be the norm for kitchen color schemes in 2025, with greens, blues, and even bold red tones as the centerpieces. For those who want to embrace this natural aesthetic, Lenney predicts that « greens and blues will be forever favorites, » while bolder homeowners can incorporate rust or red tones to create a more dramatic, dynamic area.
While some trends in kitchen design include building quiet, simple spaces, others are reaching for the open, lived-in look. Instead of sequestering all things in the drawers and cupboards, architects are taking a cue from design’s current tendency to show rather than hide the kitchen essentials. As Autumn Oser and Andre Golsorkhi of Haldon House explain, making kitchen tools and ingredients visible simplifies the setup and produces the sense of an inviting warmth. The trend extends beyond open shelving to include visible pots, stacked mugs, and open plate racks, contributing to a more casual, welcoming environment. Fashion designer Peter Som goes one step further by opening himself up to Sub-Zero’s Glass Door Refrigeration, where he gets to showcase fresh greenery, flowers, and herbs in his kitchen. This is all part of the overall « fridgescaping » trend, with people also decorating their fridges to help their kitchen look neater.
Finally, 2025 will bring dramatic stone options into the spotlight. Katibelle Sharkey, the creative director of BAS Stone, sees that next year will see more demand for stone with extensive veining and strong colors. Particularly, densely patterned stones like oxblood burgundy with gold and green veining will take their place in the spotlight. Truffle marble, with its textured gray veining, is presently a trendy product for countertops and is being increasingly used by designers in more mono-chromatic environments to add depth and visual intrigue.
