Following the Trends

What’s new and what’s hot? Those are questions that almost every cabinet shop customer eventually asks, even when they walk in with preconceived plans and design preferences. People don’t like to miss trends, even though most of the time they won’t follow the herd. But they still want to know where it’s headed.

At the very least, discerning customers and designers will pick some aspects of trending concepts and tweak their own designs to incorporate those.

Either way, woodshop owners need to know what’s coming for myriad reasons. A surge in style can cause a change in inventory, such as a switch from foil to natural wood or new looks in decorative hardware. Online and perhaps physical showrooms need to be changed, so customers don’t feel that the shop’s offerings are dated. Technology keeps moving along, and integrating the latest automated drawer openers or charging stations or LED lighting options is essential to many buyers.

Sheila Kim at The Spruce (thespruce.com) says that skinnier Shaker doors are popular, where the stiles and rails have been narrowed down to lighten the look. The idea is that this streamlining retains the warmth of wood but gives the kitchen a more contemporary feel. She quotes various designers as saying that they’re noticing a yearning for nostalgia combined with convenience, and that this may also translate into minimalistic decorate pulls and knobs with vintage themes.

Kim also notes that color is making a comeback, although white still retains its strong appeal. The trend here seems to be warmer, richer tones, she says, such as “yellows, dark teals, and reds”. And when it comes to species, perennially favored white oak and walnut are still leading the charge.

As every cabinetmaker knows, there has been a huge move toward open shelving rather than wall units over the past few years, and this allows designers to do something interesting with the walls behind the shelves. Kim quotes designer Laura Brophy as noting that homeowners want to display beautiful kitchenware while supporting the open and airy atmosphere in a room that has fewer cabinets. And cookware manufacturers are playing into this theme by offering more appealing wares, so cabinet shops can offer clients ways to display them. Hooks, floating shelves and shadowboxes are potential options.

Amanda Lauren at Forbes (forbes.com) predicts that white kitchens will look increasingly dated as 2024 progresses, and that the emerging trends include lots of color and textures. The designers whom she consults see a decline in farmhouse themes, including sliding barn-style doors, and a rise in the cottage look. That includes vertical wood paneling, and perhaps a return to wallpaper. The ubiquitous matte black hardware will be replaced by pulls and knobs that blend in more with the casework colors, rather than offering a dramatic highlight. One realtor, David Harris, is quoted by Forbes as saying that this will “allow the cabinetry to be the star of the show.”

Quincy Bulin of Southern Living (southernliving.com) reports that more traditional hardware and sleek modern doors can combine to create a mixed palette to change the feeling of a room. And she notes that designated storage seems to be on the rise: specific spots to organize and feature possessions, rather than just hiding everything behind a cabinet door. That ‘everything in its place’ notion plays into the rise in popularity of butlers’ pantries in kitchens over the past two or three years. It also coincides with the movement toward open walls and shelving, which of necessity requires more organized use of the remaining base cabinets. Bulin also sees dark hues replacing white.

Few prognosticators have been closer to the mark over the past few decades than Martha Stewart, and Madelaine Buiano writes on Stewart’s website (marthastewart.com) that open kitchens are becoming popular again, where the cook can communicate with guests or family in the adjacent dining space. The article refers to several trends noticed by Houzz (houzz.com) in its 2024 kitchen trends study, including changing floorplans/layouts, and even modifying ceiling heights. WiFi connected appliances that can be controlled using an app are hot, as are modifications that address the needs of an aging demographic. Those include pullouts in bases, better task lighting, nonslip flooring and rounded countertops. Buiano also notes that larger islands are in, and she echoes other comments about color with this insight: wood tones are popular for bases, and colors such as blue and green are increasingly popular on islands and peripheral cabinets. The article also mentions that kitchen accessory organization and specific storage is hot for items such as cookie sheets, spices, cutlery and utensils.

Veranda (veranda.com) is part of the Hearst Digital Media division, and a January article by Lauren Wicks describes trends that kitchen designers are most excited about this year. They include “midnight blues, or blacks which mix well with dramatic raw marbling, leaning into sensual and moody spaces balanced with metallic shine.” That’s one more vote for the emergence of colors rather than white, and Wicks sees the second trend on her list as “creating more purposeful, customizable drawers and cabinets or opting for larger scullery-type pantry spaces”.

These two recurring themes seem to set the stage for the coming year. And where Forbes forsees vertical paneling, Veranda echoes that by showing us vertically fluted panels on a rounded kitchen island. According to Wicks, tile is making a comeback too, and its patterns and colors can add visual drama, especially in backsplashes.

Several design sources also note that recessed lights and under-cabinet LEDS are still gaining popularity, and their temperature (daylight, white, etc.) can play a role in color choices.

Each year the major coatings manufacturers release their choices for the colors of the year, and these have proven to be a fairly accurate guide to national consumer trends. Regionally, and in some age demographics, there will always be some variance. But even though the colors of the year refer to interior wall décor, they’re also a good rule of thumb for the tones and the color families that kitchen customers are choosing for casework. Once published, the trends are driven by online communities such as Pinterest and Facebook.

Most years, there’s a common thread among these annual choices. For 2024, there’s a little bit of a surprise, with many going for soft pastels but a substantial number of the major players choosing dark and sometimes very dark tones. However, the theme does seem to be that the colors approaching blackness are being used more as accents, and are offset by much lighter colors or blond, natural wood tones. While some of the descriptions below are at least as colorful as the paints themselves, reading through them does impart a sense of where the industry is going – or perhaps more importantly, where customers are taking cabinetmakers.

The Sherwin-Williams Co. (sherwin-williams.com) is the largest paint company in the world and this year it chose Upward, which is described as “a breezy, blissful blue – the color found when we slow down, take a breath, and allow the mind to clear.”

That azure theme is popular across the board. For example, Minwax (minwax.com) went in a similar direction, naming Bay Blue as its 2024 choice. The company says that “by combining the natural and virtual worlds, Bay Blue comforts us while acknowledging the rapid technological changes we’ve experienced for a modern take on luxury. This relaxing mix of blue and green expands our connection to water and wellness, moving beyond the growth-focused greens of recent years for a wholly immersive color experience.”

Blue Nova is the winner for Benjamin Moore & Co. (benjaminmoore.com), where “depth and intrigue are balanced by an undercurrent of reassurance. This alluring mid-tone features an enchanting duality, capturing the spotlight with endlessly classic appeal.”

C2 Paint’s selection is called Thermal (No. 752), which the New York manufacturer (c2paint.com) describes as “a fluid, refreshing blue that’s both invigorating and calming.” According to Philippa Radon, interior designer and C2 Paint color specialist, it “reminds us of a vast blue sky and the infinite array of blue hues nature offers to help restore and redefine our mood. This bespoke pale yet punchy blue is poised for adventure and brimming with hope, evoking feelings of loyalty, trust, and confidence. Its contradictory nature has the dual ability to uplift us and provide a sense of calm and tranquility.”

Valspar (valspar.com) is also favoring that cooler end of the spectrum with Renew Blue, which is “a nourishing, green-influenced blue that creates a sense of peace wherever you place it.”

Bluebird from Krylon (krylon.com) may be the most intense of the blues. It is described as “a bold reimagination of pastel blue that harmonizes modern minimalism and vintage furnishings with nature’s beauty. This bold, yet pale-hued pastel creates a connection with blue spaces like those found in nature, harkening to feelings of floating in soothing ocean waves.”

Pantone (pantone.com), on the other hand, moved away from cool blue to a warmer part of the prism. The Pantone Color Institute provides customized color standards, brand identity and product color consulting, and trend forecasting for over ten million designers and producers worldwide. Its color of the year is Peach Fuzz, “a new Pantone color that captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others.” This pink is as warm as the blues are cool, and both colors will probably enjoy extensive popularity. It will be interesting to see which direction homeowners take.

Diamond Vogel (diamondvogel.com) offers a shade of Pantone’s Peach Fuzz called November Leaf (No. 1016) described as “a heartfelt peach hue bringing a feeling of kindness and tenderness, communicating a message of caring and sharing, community and collaboration.”

AkzoNobel (akzonobel.com) went with Sweet Embrace, which the company says is “a hug for your home. Its calming mood is inspired by soft feathers and subtle evening clouds.” It is based on company research that shows people want “welcoming, calming surroundings where they can feel they fit in and belong.” AkzoNobel adds that “the delicate shade changes tone with the light, filling every space with warmth. It’s a subtle, sophisticated stand-alone hue that also adds life and personality to other shades.”

Glidden (glidden.com) says that its 2024 color of the year, Limitless, is a fresh, warm hue that is “anything but yellow. Limitless contains both the power of a primary color and the essence of a neutral to support both cool and warm tones. It even has the power to stand on its own.”

At the other end of the color spectrum, Axalta (axalta.com) named an automotive color of the year for 2024, and that was a shade of black called Starry Night. Behr (behr.com) took that dark theme to another level, naming Black Pepper (PPU18-01) as its choice. Both Axalta and Behr’s choices are in line with Veranda’s prediction (above) that midnight blues and blacks are trending this year in kitchens. Behr describes the color as “a versatile soft black” that pairs well with gold metallic spray paint, or with several light pastels.

Dutch Boy (dutchboy.com) wasn’t quite so dark in its choice, going with a color named Ironside that the company says is a deep, comforting green. Ironside is described as the perfect backdrop for showcasing furniture, art, and accessories.

The 2024 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study asked 3,437 homeowners on its website about recent and planned kitchen renovation projects. The report is published on Houzz.com and the big takeaways are that white, natural wood and green are the current favorites for casework colors; more and longer islands are being built; most people replace all of their appliances rather than some; there is heightened interest in features such as touch-screen displays, smart-home connectivity, and built-in apps and cameras that are mounted in the kitchen; almost every remodel now includes new backsplashes and the favorites are tile and quartz; and more homeowners are planning for aging.

That last point has been popping up regularly over the last few years as the U.S. demographics change. Fewer young people are owning their spaces and investing in them, while older people are beginning to decline the norms of a lifetime and make kitchens that are not standard heights and depths. Hardware manufacturers are taking note, offering easier access to cabinets that includes lateral hinging (as in garage-door style opening), and base pullouts that let shorter people stand on small platforms to reach farther.

Base cabinet pull-outs (rather than shelves) are still gaining popularity, but the most notable trends are smart storage, integrated appliances, touch opening/closing and touch-free technology, and anything that adds convenience. Stained Shaker doors are still wildly popular, but as noted the stiles and rails are getting thinner. Glass in uppers in seeing a bit of a revival, but not clear glass. Ribbed glass and metal grilles are surging as a way to add accents and interrupt linear visuals. Two-tone designs with dark paint or wood on the bases and light or white uppers are popular, and bleached, washed or blond wood looks are sneaking back into both cabinetry and laminate flooring. Quartz continues to gain momentum as the countertop material of choice, and granite is slowly receding as a favorite.

One notable aspect that leaps out of the research is that sustainability and responsible design are still important but seem to be dropping down the list of trending priorities. Whether that’s just because those noble goals have now become more mainstream and no longer need a spotlight, or homeowners have moved on to a different vision, only time will tell. As clients increasingly shelve their walls and order fewer upper cabinets, the space in bases gains a premium status. Perhaps they just don’t see as much need any more for large, built-in recycling bins.  

This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue.