This article was originally published on Jan. 30th, 2025 on Kitchen & Bath Design News.
BETHLEHEM, PA — The focus for kitchen design over the next three years will be on sustainability and wellness, the use of calming earth tones, and the importance of lighting. Other key trends will include an emphasis on personalized design, clutter reduction, multifunctional appliances and biophilic design.
Those are the key conclusions of the latest in a series of annual reports by the National Kitchen & Bath Association into current and emerging trends in residential kitchens. The 2025 Kitchen Trends Report, according to the NKBA, was based on a nationwide survey of 500+ designers, manufacturers, remodelers, architects and other industry principals.
“It’s clear that unique and personal design is crucial in today’s kitchens,” said the NKBA, noting that 92% of survey respondents agree that the kitchen is a reflection of a homeowner’s personality – and that decorative hardware, statement lighting and pops of color in artwork are ways to showcase personality through kitchen design.
Among the report’s key findings are:
- Blast from the Past: Past trends are making a comeback, with 52% of survey respondents saying the bright colors and earth tones of the 1970s will be popular in 2025, and 47% saying that the muted mid-century modern aesthetic of the 1950s will see a resurgence.
- Preference for Personality: As part of a broader trend that focuses on personalized design, 71% of respondents said they preferred colorful kitchens that showcase personality as opposed to only 29% of respondents who prefer a clean and classic white kitchen. Statement colors will primarily be incorporated into backsplashes, islands, cabinets, wallpapers and wall paints.
- Color is King: White and gray kitchens are still off-trend, with homeowners preferring light, natural colors instead. Green is the most popular color for the second year, with 76% of respondents selecting it as the top shade for 2025. Other prominent colors are blue (63%) and brown (56%).
- Mix-and-Match: Stemming from the personalized design trend is a move toward blending colors and finishes, with 67% of respondents agreeing that mix-and-match backsplashes add a unique touch to the kitchen and 84% of respondents agreeing that lighting fixtures will increasingly feature differing materials.
- Statement Cabinets: Of those surveyed, 52% of respondents agree that cabinets will be a primary place for incorporating statement colors into the kitchen. Additionally, white oak kitchen cabinets are the clear favorite with 59% of respondents listing them as the preferred color for 2025.
- Focus on Healthy Living: The kitchen is becoming an epicenter for wellness, with 74% of respondents agreeing that ovens with steam cooking/air frying technology will be popular to support healthier cooking methods. Fifty-three percent of respondents state that kitchens will become increasingly connected to the outdoors and become focused on healthy living in the next three years.
- Biophilic Design on the Rise: 72% of survey respondents reported that homeowners want a kitchen with a greater connection to the outdoors. 67% of respondents agree that large windows will be a popular way to bring more light into kitchens. 64% say that sustainable food sources are increasingly popular in the kitchen.
- Seamless Design and Clutter Reduction: Open pantries and shelves are out, as homeowners increasingly desire clutter-free kitchens with concealed elements, such as hidden doors, panel-ready fronts for appliances, and walk-in pantries. Of those surveyed, 87% said homeowners want pantries that are concealed behind cabinet doors or panels to maintain a seamless kitchen design, while 66% said walk-in pantries and butler’s pantries will be popular in the next three years.
- Multifunctionality will be a prominent kitchen trend in 2025, with 91% of survey respondents agreeing that appliances with more than one function are popular with homeowners. In addition, 52% of respondents agree that adding a second kitchen island to increase functionality is gaining popularity, while 83% of respondents agree that sinks with food prep and serving areas are becoming popular.
- Focus on Lighting: According to 74% of survey respondents, homeowners are using lighting to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Respondents report that natural light and lighting quality are top considerations in kitchen design, with 88% agreeing that lighting is widely used to create different moods within the kitchen, such as brightness while drinking coffee in the morning or a darker atmosphere for a cocktail party.