Kitchen color trends can shift quickly, and what was popular yesterday might feel outdated today. As we move into 2025, design experts have pointed out several kitchen colors that are no longer in style, along with a few that have fallen out of favor over the years.
If you’re feeling like your kitchen could use a refresh, it might be time to consider updating the colors.
Taking a closer look at what’s currently trending could help bring a more modern feel to your space without going overboard. It’s all about finding the right balance for your home.
1. Cool Grays
Remember when cool gray kitchens were absolutely everywhere? Those days are gone. Homeowners now turn up their noses at these once-popular tones, finding them too clinical and unwelcoming.
Warmer neutrals like creamy whites and earthy beiges have taken center stage instead. These cozier alternatives add depth and warmth that cool grays simply can’t deliver, making kitchens feel more like the heart of the home.
2. Navy Blue
Though navy blue remains a classic in many design circles, its popularity in kitchens has taken a nosedive. What once seemed sophisticated now feels a bit heavy and overwhelming in many spaces.
Softer, more organic tones like sage green have sailed into favor. There’s something about these gentler colors that creates a more inviting atmosphere, allowing family and friends to feel truly comfortable while gathered around the kitchen island.
3. Bright White
If your kitchen blinds visitors with its stark brightness, you’re behind the times. All-white kitchens, once the darling of design magazines, now read as cold and uninspiring.
Homeowners crave warmth and personality. Warmer whites and creamy off-whites have stepped into the spotlight, offering a welcoming glow rather than a clinical glare.
These softer alternatives still provide that clean look many desire but with added dimension that makes the space feel lived-in rather than laboratory-like.
4. Pastels
Those sweet pastel kitchens that once seemed so charming now look stuck in a time warp. Pale peach, mint green, and light lavender have lost their appeal as homeowners seek more substance in their spaces.
Bolder, richer hues have pushed pastels aside. Colors with depth and character create kitchens that feel grounded and purposeful rather than wispy and insubstantial.
Even people who love lighter colors are choosing options with more saturation and presence.
5. Light Wood Tones
Those blonde wood cabinets that seemed so fresh and Scandinavian a few years back? They’re now on the chopping block.
Light wood finishes often read as trendy rather than timeless, making kitchens look dated surprisingly quickly. Richer, warmer wood tones like oak and walnut have taken their place.
These deeper finishes bring natural warmth and character to kitchens, creating spaces that feel both current and classic.
6. Flat Black Cabinets
Once upon a time, flat black cabinets seemed like the height of modern kitchen design. Now they just look harsh and unwelcoming, sucking all the light and life from your cooking space.
For those still drawn to darker options, black-stained white oak with natural texture offers a more sophisticated alternative.
The grain pattern adds visual interest while traditional shaker styles bring timeless appeal that won’t date your kitchen in a year or two.
7. Matte Black Hardware
Those matte black drawer pulls and cabinet handles that seemed so edgy and modern? They’re showing their age.
The stark contrast they create often feels harsh rather than harmonious in today’s kitchen designs. Warmer finishes like nickel and graphite have pushed black hardware aside.
There’s a softness to these alternatives that makes the entire kitchen feel more approachable and less like a showroom. Even small hardware changes can dramatically update your kitchen’s overall feel.
8. Polished Finishes
High-gloss, super shiny kitchen finishes have fallen from grace. What once seemed luxurious now looks dated and high-maintenance, showing every fingerprint and smudge.
Satin, brushed, and matte options have taken center stage instead. These understated finishes bring a subtle elegance that works with various design styles, from modern to traditional.
Plus, they’re far more forgiving when it comes to everyday kitchen messes and don’t require constant polishing to look good.
9. Modern Farmhouse
Sometimes too much of a good thing ruins it for everyone. The modern farmhouse look, with its shiplap walls, barn doors, and weathered finishes, has become so overdone that designers now avoid it like week-old leftovers.
Homeowners seek more personal, less formulaic approaches to kitchen design. The cookie-cutter farmhouse aesthetic, which once seemed charming and homey, now reads as unoriginal and predictable.
Fresh takes on traditional and transitional styles offer more staying power.
10. Overly Minimalist Designs
All-white or all-black minimalist kitchens now seem cold and uninviting, like cooking in an art gallery rather than a home. The stark, clinical feel that once seemed forward-thinking now feels empty and soulless.
Today’s homeowners crave kitchens with personality and warmth. Layered textures, thoughtful details, and touches of color create spaces that feel lived-in and loved.
Even modern kitchens now incorporate elements that add character and coziness to balance clean lines.
11. Open Shelving
Those Instagram-worthy open shelves filled with perfectly arranged dishes? They’ve lost their appeal as homeowners face the reality of dust, grease, and constant styling.
Practical closed cabinets are making a comeback, sometimes with glass doors for a similar airy feel without the maintenance headache.
Many homeowners now opt for a balanced approach with just a few open shelves for display and closed storage for everything else. Function has finally trumped form in this area of kitchen design.
12. Dark Cabinetry
Dark, gloomy cabinet colors have faded into the background as homeowners seek more uplifting kitchen environments.
Black and very dark brown cabinets often make spaces feel smaller and more oppressive, no matter how trendy they once seemed. Rich, earthy tones have stepped into the spotlight instead.
These warmer alternatives add character without draining all the light from your cooking space. Even in smaller kitchens, these middle-range colors create depth without darkness.
13. Hyperminimalist Designs
Those kitchens where everything disappears into sleek panels? They’re disappearing themselves.
Hyperminimalist designs with hidden appliances and handleless cabinets now feel cold and impersonal rather than sophisticated. Even as minimalism remains popular, warmth and authenticity have become essential ingredients.
Texture, natural materials, and thoughtful details create spaces that feel intentional rather than sterile. The new approach balances clean lines with touches that make a kitchen feel like home.
14. Busy Backsplashes
Wild, patterned backsplashes that scream for attention have been shown the door. These busy designs often overwhelm the eye and quickly feel dated as trends evolve.
Simpler, more timeless options like classic subway tiles or neutral colors have taken their place. There’s wisdom in choosing a backdrop that allows other elements to shine instead of competing for attention.
Many homeowners now save their bold design choices for elements that are easier to change.
15. Matchy-Matchy Metals
Matching all your kitchen metals used to be the rule, but now it feels as exciting as wearing identical socks with every outfit.
When every pull, faucet, and light fixture sports the same finish, the result looks flat and uninspired. Mixing metals creates depth and interest.
The layered, collected look of different finishes feels more authentic and custom, as if your kitchen evolved over time rather than arriving all at once from a catalog.
16. Honey-Tone Cabinets
Those honey oak cabinets from the 90s? They’ve been out of style for ages, but some homes still cling to them like outdated hairstyles.
Their yellowish tone often clashes with contemporary color schemes and makes kitchens look stuck in a time warp. More modern wood finishes offer richer color and cleaner lines.
Even when homeowners want to keep wood cabinets, they typically choose options with less orange undertones and more sophisticated grain patterns.
17. Matching Appliance
Once upon a time, having all your appliances match in color and brand was the height of kitchen sophistication.
Now this approach seems unnecessarily restrictive and often leads to compromises in function for the sake of appearance. Smart homeowners choose each appliance based on its features and performance.
Mixed finishes can actually create more visual interest, especially when thoughtfully coordinated with other kitchen elements. Function finally trumps forced uniformity in modern kitchens.
18. Plastic Fantastic
Plastic materials and finishes that mimic other substances have lost their appeal as environmental concerns grow. These once-budget-friendly options now seem wasteful and inauthentic compared to genuine materials.
Natural and sustainable alternatives have gained favor instead. Wood, stone, metal, and other timeless materials might cost more initially but offer greater longevity and timeless appeal.
Many homeowners now prefer fewer, better things over disposable options that need frequent replacement.
19. Popcorn Ceilings
While popcorn ceilings have been considered outdated for decades, some kitchens still sport this textured nightmare.
Beyond looking dated, these bumpy surfaces collect grease, dust, and cooking residue in a kitchen environment. Smooth ceilings create a cleaner, more modern look.
Many homeowners now choose to add interest overhead with statement lighting or even wood planks rather than relying on texture. The removal process might be messy, but the results transform the entire kitchen.