Whether you're planning on renovating, remodeling, or simply reconfiguring your existing space, these are the need-to-know kitchen trends to inspire your design journey.

We demand a lot from our kitchens, because now more than ever, they are the most functional space within our homes – providing a place to cook, eat, work, rest, and entertain. All the latest kitchen trends cater to providing the best design solutions to maximize the key demands of this versatile space.

We speak to leading kitchen designers to find out the latest must-haves for the heart of our homes, from welcoming homely accessories creating a lived-in look to sophisticated metallic touches and calming color palettes inspired by the latest interior paint color trends – there's something to delight every home on next year's kitchen design wishlist.

Here are the predicted kitchen designs and ideas set to be hugely popular with homeowners this year...

BY TAMARA KELLY

Kitchen islands are one of the interior design features that can help sell your house, considered a worthwhile investment for any kitchen - so they are always on trend. But for 2023 kitchen islands are evolving to become even more of a point of focus, as they become more socially focused.

Kitchen island design next year will be tailored to incorporate more seating, to ensure the space is completely inclusive, whether cooking, entertaining or just relaxing with the family.

 "Whatever its size or style, the kitchen island, as its name suggests, is a centralized feature," explains luxury kitchen designer Tom Howley. "It’s in a handy position that allows you to utilize every inch of space. By centralizing cooking or preparation areas, it makes the kitchen much more sociable, allowing the chef to talk to others as they get dinner ready instead of standing with their back to family and friends."

Our desire to welcome nature into our homes is undoubtedly one of the biggest interior design trends of recent years. It's therefore, unsurprising that one of the key kitchen trends in 2023 is that of welcoming natural timber tones. 

“We are seeing such a demand for timber in the kitchen, especially oak options," explains Melissa Klink, creative director at Harvey Jones. "Creating interesting color stories for the kitchen using a play on the material instead of paint selection." 

"Pulling out the blues, greens, and pinks from within marbles, granites, and other worktop surfaces is a perfect way to balance out the warmth from the wood whilst it still gives a dynamic impact without needing to paint with color.” Choosing a neutral wall color would suffice to let the timber tones of cabinetry and butcher's block take center stage. 

From handles to splashback ideas and more, metallic finishings are going to be the most sought-after material of 2023. “We’re noticing a shift with consumers looking to incorporate mixed metals into their kitchen designs," explains Alex Main, director of The Main Company. 

"Metals in similar tones offer a cohesive style, such as copper and gold which pair perfectly due to their warm undertones, or cooler metals like nickel and chrome which sit well against lighter colors and modern kitchen designs. Using too much of the same metal can look one-dimensional, so ensure the finish you choose suits its placement in the kitchen.”

"Shiny chrome is proving to be less popular, with some designs favoring matte black to be somewhat more unassuming," says the interior designer at Optiplan Kitchens, Andy Briggs. "However, more muted choices of metal are taking off in popularity in kitchens in 2023. Materials such as pewter, copper, and brushed brass create a much more natural effect."

"Choosing a more toned-down option for your ‘kitchen jewelry’ can really switch up the aesthetic of your kitchen and give much more character than ever before." Similar to that of metallics updating key bathroom trends in 2023 too.

"We anticipate that gold, copper, and brass are set to be favored in 2023, adding small, sophisticated touches that make a huge overall difference," remarks Jo Winston. "Consider brass cabinet handles, copper taps, and gold-toned accessories such as kettles and storage to incorporate these understated additions into your space effortlessly."

Incidentally changing hardware to more luxe materials is a great way to make your kitchen look more expensive on a budget.

Considered materials are all important for organized kitchen countertops of the future. “Natural stone is a timeless choice for many homeowners, with Ceasarstone quartz and marble worktops remaining firm favorites in 2023," reveals Alex.

"Renowned for its quality finish and incredible versatility, natural stone works across both traditional and modern kitchens alike. From countertops to splashbacks, there is a huge array of options out there to suit any style of kitchen.”

“Marble is still in high demand, we suspect this trend will stay for a while," says Melissa. "It feels so timeless and classic in its finished appearance. Stunningly beautiful and full of character and charm, you can make such an impactful statement applying marble in the right way, or even as a hidden moment within a pantry larder or breakfast dresser.”

In alignment with the desire for natural materials, the trend for dedicated Japandi-style kitchens is set to go stratospheric in 2023. With Japandi living room, Japandi bedroom, and Japandi bathroom designs becoming increasingly popular over the last 12 months it's no surprise that this calming scheme has made its way to the hub of every home – the kitchen.

A fusion of understated Japanese aesthetics with the comfort of Scandinavian style, the Japandi kitchen trend is ideal for creating a serene and timeless feel in any kitchen.  

“Incorporating organic textures and earthy tones into the kitchen is a wonderful way of creating a cozy and calming environment in the home," says Mor Krisher, head of design at Caesarstone. "Bringing a touch of the outside in through raw materials and nature-inspired designs promises to instantly uplift a kitchen and connect us to our surroundings.

"Choosing a worktop that incorporates these earthy tones and textures will instantly create a cozy environment that links you with the natural world. A neutral surface will also give you flexibility when choosing accessories if you’re someone who likes to update your kitchen with the seasons.” 

An abundance of house plants is key to mastering the Japandi style, in any room. "Now is the perfect time to lean on your old friends, the house plants," says Camilla Clarke, creative director at Albion Nord. "Shake things up by re-locating them so rooms in your home gain a new lease of life. Plants increase levels of oxygen and nice smelling flowers, of which both can help boost your mood and productivity levels."

Wine cellars no longer mean an underground cavernous space filled with dusty bottles of vintage wines, in fact, the modern-day cellar is anything but. Homeowners are seeking more inclusive ways to dedicate space to storing their fine wines for entertaining friends at home.

“The wine cellar has long been a point of conversation for discerning collectors – a showpiece of the home to be shared with friends and other connoisseurs alike,” says Fisher & Paykel’s market product manager, Jo Jackson. “The best wine storage turns your collection into a beautiful design feature in its own right. Modern wine cabinets are thoughtfully engineered to ensure that your wine is perfectly cared for.”

Jo shares key considerations when installing a wine cabinet, saying: "Modern kitchens are also often designed as very light, open spaces with skylights or bi-fold doors and hard stone floors with under-floor heating. These kitchens are stunning and become the centerpiece of people’s homes but they do add a level of complexity when you’re looking to install a wine cabinet, as both the light and heat can affect the storage of wine."

 "UV light can create hydrogen sulfide compounds in wine, which affect the tannins and the color of wine, but if you source a good appliance with UV tempered glass and dimmed LED lighting you can protect against this."

Kitchens are reclaiming the lived-in, homely look. Because as the busiest and most functional space in the house, a level of show home perfection is hard to live up to at all times. That's not to say we no longer want beautifully organized kitchens, it just means there's room for a little more reality and comfort to be visible to make homes feel cozy and lived in.

“As we reflect on the past few years, comfort is now more than ever at the forefront of people’s minds," says Alex. "As a result, kitchens are evolving to include nostalgic detailing and homely touches. We’ve seen a rise in requests for bookcases displaying personal possessions and traditional large farmhouse sinks with quality sink skirts, which give kitchens so much personality and warmth.”

"For 2023 there's a noticeable shift away from the sparkling show home style that we have seen in recent years," says Andy. "Coming out of a few years of staying at home more, homeowners are acknowledging the practicality and functionality of their kitchens and aren’t afraid to have them reflect that in their presentation."

"The kitchen functions as the heart of the home and it should be built accordingly. The kitchen should accommodate the whole family with enough comfortable and cozy seating to congregate and relax. Many homeowners are also considering pets and their needs, building in feeding and water stations for furry friends – ensuring the heart of the home is perfect for all members of the family."

“Incorporating additional pieces beyond the main furniture of the space is a fun way to add personality to a kitchen," suggests Melissa. "Antiques, family heirlooms, and unique vintage items are all becoming really popular to intermix with the standard cabinetry pieces."

Another design element proving popular, due to the amount we entertain at home, is warming drawers. "Eating and entertaining at home is a macro trend that strengthened throughout the pandemic," explains Jo Jackson, "but this is a 10-15-year old movement that is continuing and our increased time in the home has only sped it up as people were more comfortable in smaller groupings.

"Cost increases are also flowing through to restaurants, which will put some people off eating out as much as they used to and instead drive their investments to the home." For all these reasons, kitchen designers are seeing increases in design details that add to the ease of entertaining at home, such as warming drawers where food is kept to the optimum temperature while you busily prep and serve elsewhere.

A warming drawer can be used in a number of ways, from a dedicated space to help bread dough rise perfectly, keep dishes and mugs warm until serving, and some can even be used as a slow cooker or to preserve food to create a healthy winter snack.

The modern home is smarter than ever, as technology evolves to aid our everyday lives more and more. The kitchen is no exception to this, from smart lighting to the latest cooking gadgets, kitchen design in 2023 ensures technology is seamlessly integrated.

"Every aspect of our lives is being impacted and made easier in some way by new smart technologies and advances, and your kitchen shouldn’t be left behind," says Andy. "Simple additions such as LED lighting to accent display shelves can be helpful at creating an eye-catching feature or can have a more practical use of lighting up the dark corners of a cupboard when installed with a sensor on the cupboard door."

"The wine lovers of the house might focus their technology elsewhere, investing in temperature-controlled wine fridges, for example, to keep your evening tipple at optimum drinking temperature." How you choose to use it is a matter of personal preference, but incorporating tech can improve all kitchens great and small.

The trend for well-organized pantries is going nowhere for 2023; it's the kitchen feature that almost every household desires.

“Walk-in and hidden pantries are a big trend for us at the moment," explains Melissa. "We are cleaning down the cabinetry on the wall and opting for storage that is tucked away around the corner. Plus, that wow moment, when you open what looks like a cupboard door to expose a whole secret room behind just never, gets old. A crowd-pleaser for sure!”

As we all strive to make more sustainable living choices, it's unsurprising to see that reflected in how and where we invest in our homes. “Using sustainable materials in the home, especially cork, will continue to be popular as homeowners are thinking now, more than ever, about how to be environmentally responsible with their design," says James Scully, founder of natural flooring retailer Recork. 

"Focusing on the process of how things are made and swapping mass-produced ‘fast’ manufacturing means championing green materials is now at the forefront.”

 “A consideration to work with sustainably conscious brands is also becoming more prevalent," says Melissa. "It means a lot to us that we do everything we can to care for our planet and we see this same value in our clients. Ensuring we craft kitchens that allow you to refurbish them over time instead of contributing to landfill is of great importance to our brand.”

 “Our favorite trend right now is the continued movement towards making more environmentally conscious choices," says Mor Krisher. "We’ve seen growing interest in our Lifetime Warranty and sustainability credentials, which is unsurprising when consumers continue to choose products that are made with quality and longevity in mind."

"Consumers want to know that the choices they are making will be a wise investment and are therefore choosing products that are manufactured with durability and quality in mind so they can have peace of mind that their countertops will look beautiful for years to come.” 

Textures are key in design right now, tantalizingly tactile surfaces and materials are dominating our homes as we crave a sense of comfort. And yet our kitchens are often composed of straight lines and flat colors. All that is set to change for 2023 in kitchen design as we look to satisfy our subconscious desires to explore through touch.

"The right use of texture can create the most spectacular kitchens and living spaces. And with the latest innovations in marble and wood effects, textured surfaces can be achieved at a far more affordable cost," says Wayne Dance, at InHouse Inspired Room Design. "Layering textures and tones creates dynamic spaces. Marry together the right combinations and you'll find yourself enjoying a huge dose of satisfaction every day."

The kitchen is no longer seen as a setting for mere spotlights and task lighting, increasingly we're seeing statement chandeliers and pendants adding stylish finishing touches to a kitchen in the same way as they would in a stylish living room trend or dining room. 

"Customers are increasingly beginning to consider lighting as a part of their overall kitchen design," says Dawn Filkins, head of creative at Smile Kitchens.

"We’ve seen many requests for statement pieces such as chandeliers or pendant lighting fixtures, offering a brilliant way to bring the homeowner’s personality and style into a space in a unique way. With the rise in broken plan living, lighting also offers an effective way to break up different zones of the home as the lighting changes between areas."

Adding statement lighting is also a great way to make a home feel more expensive on a budget, especially in a kitchen where the presence of a chandelier might be unexpected and therefore more striking. 

Contemporary kitchen designs often run the risk of feeling too clinical, and as a result, are not always suited to a more lived-in home. But fear not because Bob Bakes and Paul Kropp, co-founders, of luxury kitchen designers Bakes & Kropp have developed a 'softer' approach to the modern aesthetic. 

"As a studio, we have seen a continually growing demand for modern kitchen design," Bob explains. "There is, however, a gap in the market for a tempered design that offsets the cold, impersonal feeling that deters homeowners from taking the plunge. In response, we’ve refined what we are dubbing 'soft modern' kitchen design – an approach that layers warm elements to soften that feeling."

"This has evolved directly from client needs and continues to grow in popularity as certain homeowners look for sharper designs. In our soft modern kitchens, contrast is key. We might choose to use a very high-gloss finish for the cabinetry and offset it with a matte wood finish for open shelving or accent panels."

Kitchens of 2023 no longer feel restrictive, where surfaces have to match throughout to be considered a cohesive space. In fact, sometimes a different colored countertop can do wonders to make a cramped kitchen layout feel more open. And a row of contrasting cabinets might just be the best small kitchen color idea to create an illusion of extra space.

"Mixing materials is an easily achievable trend and it’s a style that appeals to those who favor a more eclectic look," says Josie Medved, design expert at kitchen manufacturer Symphony Group. "Choosing contrasting materials and colors for cabinets, worksurfaces, flooring, wall tiles, and splashback ideas creates a laid-back, relaxed feel that’s ideal for open-plan kitchens.

"It’s also ideal for those on a budget, who prefer to add to their interior design as they go rather than buying everything all at once. The end result is less of a matchy-matchy vibe and more of a casual feel, ideal for 2023."