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10 Out Of Style Kitchen Design Trends You’re About To See Everywhere Again Plus 8 That Should’ve Been Back Already

10 Out Of Style Kitchen Design Trends You’re About To See Everywhere Again Plus 8 That Should’ve Been Back Already

Just when you thought you’d seen the last of certain kitchen trends, they’re making a comeback – and in a big way. Design styles that were once dismissed as outdated are suddenly popping up in modern homes with a fresh twist. It turns out, what goes out often comes back in, especially when nostalgia meets smart updates.

From retro color palettes to vintage-inspired finishes, these revived trends are ready to reclaim their spot in the spotlight.

Plus, I’m calling out 6 more that designers say should’ve returned by now. Ready for a stylish blast from the past? Let’s dive in.

1. Wood Paneling

Wood Paneling
© The Panel Hub

What once screamed “outdated basement” is now the height of kitchen sophistication. Warm wood paneling has returned, shedding its dark, heavy appearance for lighter finishes and more thoughtful application.

Homeowners are installing vertical slat walls, tambour cabinet fronts, and textured wood details that add dimension without the claustrophobic feel of yesteryear’s versions. The natural material brings organic warmth to spaces that had become cold with minimalism.

Many designers are applying wood in unexpected places like range hoods or island wraps, creating focal points that feel both fresh and familiar.

2. Wallpaper Backsplashes

Wallpaper Backsplashes
© Driven by Decor

Gone are the days when wallpaper was banished from moisture-prone areas! Innovative, waterproof wallcoverings are making splashy comebacks as kitchen backsplashes, offering pattern and personality where tile once reigned supreme.

Today’s versions come with practical vinyl coatings or glass coverings that protect the paper from splashes while still showcasing bold florals, geometrics, or scenic prints. The installation is typically less labor-intensive than tile work, making it appealing for DIY enthusiasts.

For renters or the design-fickle, removable options provide the perfect temporary solution to bland kitchen walls.

3. Linoleum Flooring

Linoleum Flooring
© Fine Homebuilding

Before you wrinkle your nose, today’s linoleum is not what covered your grandmother’s kitchen! This sustainable material (made from linseed oil and natural materials) is experiencing a renaissance thanks to its eco-friendly composition and incredible durability.

Available in vibrant colors and patterns impossible to achieve with natural materials, modern linoleum offers designers endless creative possibilities. The soft, slightly yielding surface is also easier on your feet and dropped dishes than hard tile or stone.

As a bonus, it’s naturally antibacterial and biodegradable – perfect for environmentally conscious homeowners looking for retro charm.

4. Open Shelving

Open Shelving
© Martha Stewart

While hidden storage dominated recent trends, exposed shelving is making a triumphant return to kitchens everywhere. The desire for personalization and display space is overriding concerns about dust and clutter.

Floating wooden shelves, metal industrial brackets, and even glass platforms are replacing some upper cabinetry, creating airy spaces to showcase collected dishware and meaningful objects. Smart homeowners are balancing open and closed storage, using shelves for frequently used items that don’t have time to gather dust.

This revival speaks to our collective desire for kitchens that feel lived-in and personal rather than showroom-perfect.

5. Breakfast Nooks

Breakfast Nooks
© Country Living Magazine

Cozy, built-in dining spaces are making a heartwarming return after years of open-concept dominance. These intimate gathering spots create designated areas for casual meals without requiring formal dining rooms.

Unlike their boxy predecessors, modern breakfast nooks feature curved banquettes, plush upholstery, and statement lighting that elevates them from purely functional to genuinely inviting. Many incorporate clever storage beneath bench seating, adding practicality to their charm.

As families seek more meaningful connection during mealtimes, these semi-enclosed spaces provide the perfect setting for conversation without the distractions of the larger kitchen workflow.

6. Terrazzo Surfaces

Terrazzo Surfaces
© Heaven Gables

Once relegated to institutional buildings, terrazzo’s speckled appearance is now gracing the most stylish kitchens around. This composite material, made from chips of marble, quartz, or glass set in concrete or resin, offers infinite customization possibilities.

Modern applications go beyond flooring to include countertops, backsplashes, and even decorative accents. The playful, confetti-like appearance brings personality to minimalist kitchens without overwhelming the space.

Advancements in manufacturing have made terrazzo more accessible to homeowners, with pre-cast options and lookalike porcelain tiles offering budget-friendly alternatives to poured-in-place installations.

7. Patterned Floor Tiles

Patterned Floor Tiles
© Moroccan Mosaic & Tile House

Goodbye, plain white subway tile! Kitchens are once again embracing the personality and visual interest of boldly patterned floor tiles. Encaustic cement tiles, ceramic Moroccan patterns, and geometric arrangements are adding character to formerly neutral spaces.

Homeowners are using these statement floors as the starting point for their entire kitchen color scheme, pulling accent hues from the patterns. The patterns work particularly well in smaller spaces like pantries or breakfast nooks where they won’t overwhelm.

While authentic handmade tiles command premium prices, budget-friendly porcelain lookalikes have made this trend accessible across all price points.

8. Vintage Appliances

Vintage Appliances
© Friedmans Appliance

Sleek, built-in appliances are taking a backseat to statement vintage pieces with retro charm and modern functionality. Companies these days are producing refrigerators, ranges, and small appliances with nostalgic styling.

These conversation pieces feature rounded edges, chrome accents, and candy-colored finishes that harken back to the 1950s while housing cutting-edge technology inside. For authenticity seekers, there’s also a growing market for professionally restored and converted vintage appliances.

Beyond aesthetics, these distinctive pieces allow homeowners to express personality in kitchens that might otherwise feel cookie-cutter.

9. Butcher Block Islands

Butcher Block Islands
© Houzz

After years of stone-topped islands, warm wooden work surfaces are making a welcome return to kitchen centers. These practical surfaces invite casual cooking and gathering in a way cold marble never could.

Modern butcher blocks feature mixed wood species, interesting grain patterns, and food-safe finishes that develop character over time. Unlike their predecessors, today’s versions often incorporate metal details, waterfall edges, or contrasting materials for contemporary appeal.

Homeowners appreciate that minor scratches and marks add to the lived-in charm rather than requiring expensive repairs, making these islands perfect for families who actually use their kitchens.

10. Checkerboard Floors

Checkerboard Floors
© Houzz

The classic black and white checkerboard pattern is experiencing a major renaissance in kitchen flooring. This timeless design, which dates back centuries, provides graphic impact that works with virtually any kitchen style.

Modern interpretations play with scale (oversized or tiny checks), color combinations (sage and cream, navy and white), and materials (luxury vinyl, porcelain, or natural stone). The pattern’s balanced symmetry creates a sense of order while still delivering visual excitement.

Perhaps most importantly, the high-contrast pattern hides inevitable kitchen messes between cleanings, making it as practical as it is beautiful.

11. Scalloped Edges

Scalloped Edges
© brookeshenderson

Who would have thought your grandmother’s decorative trim would become high design? Scalloped edges are appearing on range hoods, cabinet trim, island overhangs, and even backsplash tiles, adding whimsical softness to kitchen architecture.

Unlike the fussy versions of decades past, modern scallops feature clean lines, subtle curves, and monochromatic applications that feel fresh rather than frilly. This gentle detail counterbalances the hard angles and straight lines that have dominated kitchen design.

The playful pattern works equally well in cottagecore aesthetics and surprisingly modern spaces, where it adds unexpected organic movement to minimalist designs.

12. Under-Cabinet Plate Racks

Under-Cabinet Plate Racks
© House & Garden

Practical storage meets display opportunity with the revival of plate racks mounted beneath upper cabinets. These charming features keep everyday dishes within easy reach while freeing up valuable cabinet space.

Unlike their chunky predecessors, contemporary versions feature slim profiles, mixed materials like wood and metal, and thoughtful design details that complement modern kitchens. Some clever installations include integrated lighting that highlights beautiful dishware as it dries.

Beyond functionality, these racks encourage the use and enjoyment of special dishes that might otherwise remain hidden away in cabinets.

13. Retro Range Hoods

Retro Range Hoods
© Lowe’s

Sleek, integrated hoods are giving way to statement ventilation pieces that recall mid-century charm. Curvy, colorful range hoods in copper, powder-coated steel, or even ceramic are becoming the jewelry of modern kitchens.

These functional sculptures often feature rounded edges, contrasting trim, and substantial proportions that command attention. Forward-thinking designers are treating these necessities as opportunities for artistic expression rather than elements to minimize or hide.

Despite their vintage inspiration, these hoods contain modern, powerful ventilation systems capable of handling today’s high-BTU cooking appliances while maintaining quieter operation than their predecessors.

14. Skirted Sink Cabinets

Skirted Sink Cabinets
© Apartment Therapy

Fabric skirts are replacing solid cabinet doors under sinks, bringing unexpected softness to utilitarian spaces. This charming detail recalls country kitchens of the past while offering practical benefits for modern homes.

The easy-access fabric panels make reaching plumbing fixtures simpler than opening cabinet doors, and they can be changed seasonally or washed when needed. Design-forward homeowners are selecting unexpected fabrics like vintage grain sacks, ticking stripes, or even leather straps for contemporary interpretations.

This small touch of textile softens kitchens that might otherwise feel cold with too many hard surfaces.

15. Colored Sinks

Colored Sinks
© Ruvati

White porcelain is stepping aside as colorful sinks make splashy statements in contemporary kitchens. From farmhouse apron fronts in cobalt blue to integrated solid surface sinks in dusty pink, these functional focal points add personality to neutral spaces.

Manufacturers are reviving vintage colors and introducing new hues in materials ranging from fireclay and cast iron to composite stone and even copper with patinated finishes. These colored basins pair beautifully with the brass and mixed-metal fixtures that continue to dominate kitchen hardware trends.

For commitment-phobes, colored sink accessories like custom-fit cutting boards and drain racks offer temporary color without permanent installation.

16. Formica Countertops

Formica Countertops
© The Seattle Times

Granite’s reign might finally be waning as affordable, versatile Formica stages an impressive comeback. Far from the dated patterns of decades past, today’s laminate countertops feature convincing stone and wood looks or bold, retro-inspired designs.

Improved manufacturing techniques have created more durable, realistic surfaces with modern edge profiles that eliminate the telltale brown line of old laminate. Budget-conscious renovators appreciate that these surfaces cost a fraction of natural stone while requiring minimal maintenance.

For those embracing maximalist or mid-century aesthetics, Formica’s vibrant color options and retro patterns provide playful alternatives to neutral surfaces.

17. Pastel-Colored Cabinets

Pastel-Colored Cabinets
© Living Chic Home Decor

Ever thought your kitchen could look like a candy store? Pastel-colored cabinets are making a sweet return. These soft hues bring a calm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for those who love a bit of whimsy in their culinary space. Imagine the gentle tones of pink and mint adorning your cabinets, paired with vintage-style hardware for that extra touch of nostalgia.

Pastels not only brighten up a kitchen but also provide a playful twist to the traditional neutral palette. They’re versatile enough to complement a variety of styles, from modern to retro-chic. Ready for a sweet transformation?

18. Brass Fixtures

Brass Fixtures
© Pink Peppermint Design

In the age of sleek, modern chrome, brass fixtures stand out with their timeless charm. Once considered old-fashioned, brass is back, bringing warmth and luxury to kitchens. Picture a gleaming brass faucet, catching the light just right, turning your sink area into a statement piece.

This metal’s rich, golden tone adds elegance without overwhelming. Whether paired with dark woods or classic white, brass complements a range of materials and colors.

Its resurgence is a nod to traditional craftsmanship, appealing to those who appreciate both style and substance. Is your kitchen ready for a touch of opulence?