A kitchen redesign can completely transform the heart of your home. With innovative layouts, state-of-the-art appliances, and fresh finishes, a kitchen remodel breathes new life into your cooking and entertaining spaces. When done right, a kitchen renovation not only improves functionality but also adds major value to your home. This guide covers key considerations, popular trends, and expert advice to help you re-imagine your kitchen into a modern masterpiece.
Key Planning Considerations for a Modern Kitchen Re-Design
Redesigning your kitchen requires careful planning and decision making to create a functional, aesthetically pleasing space within your time and budget constraints. Keep the following key considerations in mind when planning your modern kitchen overhaul.
Establish Your Budget
Kitchen remodels range dramatically in price. Budget at least $20,000 for minor updates or equipment upgrades. Full-scale remodels involving layout changes, new cabinetry, countertops, flooring and appliances often run $50,000 to $100,000 or more. Create a budget to guide your design decisions.
Define Your Priorities
Determine your must-haves versus nice-to-haves. Key functions like storage, workflow, dining space and entertainment features should take priority. Cosmetic changes like backsplashes and hardware can add style without breaking the bank.
Consider Layout Changes
Evaluate your existing kitchen layout to identify problem areas and opportunities for improvement. Opening walls, removing soffits and reconfiguring cabinetry can improve work triangles, natural light and sightlines.
Update Lighting
Proper lighting transforms a kitchen from drab to dramatic. Layer overhead ceiling fixtures, decorative pendants, under-cabinet lighting and accent lighting for optimal illumination.
Select Flooring Wisely
Today’s luxury vinyl plank, engineered hardwoods, porcelain and ceramic tile stand up to heavy usage while adding style. Water-resistant flooring is crucial for wet areas near sinks, dishwashers and refrigerators.
Don’t Neglect Ventilation
Proper ventilation is essential for healthy indoor air quality. Evaluate adding range hoods, exterior ventilation, or updating existing fans to remove smells, grease, moisture and gases.
Future-Proof with Smart Features
Smart kitchens with app-controlled appliances, voice assistants, temperature sensors and more offer next-level convenience. Built-in USB charging ports, develop charging drawers and smart lighting future-proof your kitchen.
Top Trends for Modern Kitchen Design
Integrating a few on-trend features can give your redesigned kitchen a stylish, contemporary edge without breaking the bank. Consider these popular trends:
Two-Toned Kitchen Cabinets
Mixing cabinet colors, styles and finishes breaks up monotonous cabinets. Try offsetting neutral painted uppers with dark stained lowers or natural wood accent doors.
Matte Black Hardware & Fixtures
Replacing shiny brass and nickel knobs and pulls with matte black creates a sophisticated, modern look. Don’t stop at hardware – faucets, sinks, lighting and range hoods in black finishes add cohesive style.
Quartz & Quartzite Countertops
Quartz and quartzite offer the look of natural stone with extreme durability. These low-maintenance countertops resist scratches, stains and cracks and come in stunning patterns.
Wood-look Tile Flooring
Wood-look ceramic and porcelain tiles offer the warmth of hardwood with greater durability and water resistance, making them ideal for kitchens. Available in planks with varying textures and grains.
Statement Backsplashes
Creatively use backsplashes to infuse color, texture and pattern. Try boldly veined marble, geometric motifs, handmade tiles, multi-colored mosaics or even wallpaper.
Built-In Coffee Stations
Designate space for your coffee bar complete with cabinetry, counter space, outlets and plumbing for the ultimate convenience. Include your coffee maker, espresso machine, mini fridge, mugs and more.
Smart Appliances
Today’s smart refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers and more allow you to control and monitor them from your smartphone for unparalleled ease. Look for options compatible with voice assistants.
Furniture-Style Islands
Make your island feel like an integrated piece of furniture with panelized construction, furniture legs, mitt molding and designing it perpendicular to cabinets.
Integrated Lighting
Strategically incorporate task lighting, accent lighting, under-cabinet lighting and puck lights for brilliant illumination while hiding unsightly electrical.
Warm Metal Finishes
Brushed brass, bronze, copper and other warm metallics add a classic yet modern look. Use for lighting, hardware, plumbing fixtures and hoods.
Layout Ideas for Efficient Modern Kitchens
Your kitchen layout should enable multiple cooks to work comfortably while allowing adequate room to circulate. These popular layouts maximize workflow and functionality in modern kitchen designs:
Galley Kitchens
This efficient, single-wall layout has counters and cabinets on two parallel walls with an aisle in between. Great for small spaces. Include overlapping work triangles.
L-Shaped Kitchens
An L-shaped layout has cabinets and counters on two perpendicular walls. The open end allows for traffic flow. Include a sink, cooktop and prep space in each leg.
U-Shaped Kitchens
A U-shaped kitchen has cabinets on three walls with an open space for the fourth wall, creating an efficient work triangle. It can accommodate multiple cooks.
G-Shaped Kitchens
This modified U-shaped layout adds an additional wall of storage/counters resembling a letter G. The extra leg offers more workspace.
Island Kitchens
Adding an island provides ample counter space and storage as well as a casual dining spot. Position it near the sink and cooktop to enable circulation.
Peninsula Kitchens
Peninsulas extend from cabinets/counters into the room to separate a kitchen and dining area. Include seating, storage and appliances.
Storage Solutions for Clutter-Free Modern Kitchens
Carefully designed storage ensures everything has a dedicated place and keeps kitchens clutter-free. Consider these storage solutions:
Pull-Out Pantries & Cabinets
Maximize hard-to-reach corner cabinets and standard base cabinets by replacing shelving with pull-out pantries on shelves or tracks. Great for organizing food and small appliances.
Roll-Out Trays & Shelves
Install roll-out trays or shelves in base cabinets to double your storage capacity. Full extension slides provide easy access to items in the back.
Deep Drawers
Replace standard base cabinets with deep drawers that hold utensils, pots and pans vertically to double storage. Include dividers and organizers.
Vertical Spice Racks
Utilize wasted wall space by mounting vertical spice racks. Choose wall-mounted strips, hanging racks or sliding hardware. Keep spices visible and accessible.
Undersink Organizers
Customize your undersink cabinet with organizers for soaps, sponges, cleaners, gloves and more. Use hanging racks, slide-out trays and adjustable dividers.
Overhead Pot Racks & Shelves
Pot racks free up cabinets for other items and show off your cookware as decor. Choose ceiling-mounted racks or wall-mounted shelving.
Appliance Garages
Keep small appliances hidden away but easily accessible via roll-up doors installed in place of lower cabinets. Protect counters from clutter.
Mix Storage Styles
Combine enclosed cabinets up top for infrequently used items with open shelving below to display pretty dishes, cookbooks and accents.
Modern Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
Kitchen cabinets establish the style, storage and functionality of your new space. Consider these on-trend options:
Mix Door Styles
Incorporate distinct upper and lower cabinets. Try glass doors up top to display collectibles and solid recessed panel doors below for a built-in look.
Two-Tone Cabinets
Achieve the integrated furniture look by pairing painted uppers (white, navy, green) with stained wood base cabinets. Or staining perimeter cabinets a darker shade than the island.
Horizontal Cabinets
Trade vertical cabinetry for horizontal to break up high walls. Perfect for floating shelves, glassware, narrow cookbooks and displaying dishware.
Open Shelving
Open shelving lends an airy, furniture-like look while allowing you to display your pretty cooking essentials. Use for lower cabinets or floating wall units.
Unlacquered Brass Hardware
Brass is back, but skip the dated shiny brass. Unlacquered brass develops an elegant patina over time. Sleek bar pulls create a minimalist modern look.
Unique Countertop Finishes
Quartz, quartzite, Dekton and solid surface materials like Corian offer hundreds of patterns from marble looks to concrete, wood grain and more.
Extend Cabinets to Ceiling
Maximize storage by extending cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. Add glass doors to avoid totally closing in the space. Illuminate with puck lights.
Mix Metals & Finishes
Combine silver hardware with black fixtures or opt for an all-brass look. Use polished chrome, satin nickel, bronze and more.
Contemporary Door Styles
Slab, flat panel and Shaker-style cabinet doors create a clean, contemporary look. For more interest, add open shelving, glass fronts and task lighting.
Choosing Modern Kitchen Appliances
Integrating professional-grade appliances elevates a kitchen’s functionality and style. Look for these features when selecting appliances:
Dual Fuel Ranges
Dual fuel ranges combine gas cooktops for instant temperature control with electric convection ovens for even baking. Many feature double ovens.
Ventilation Hoods
Select powerful hoods that mount to the ceiling or wall to most effectively capture grease, smoke and odors. Look for sones rating under 4.0.
Built-In Refrigerators
Integrated or built-in refrigerators fit flush with cabinets for a seamless, upscale appearance. Choose stainless or custom panels to match cabinets.
Induction & Electric Cooktops
Induction cooking heats pans directly for efficiency and precision. Electric models with glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and install.
Steam & Convection Ovens
In addition to standard ovens, consider adding a convection oven for fast, even cooking or a steam oven to retain nutrients.
Electric & Induction Ranges
Electric and induction ranges offer quick heating and responsive controls. Models with induction burners allow using the entire surface for large pans.
Quiet Dishwashers
Look for quiet dishwashers with sound insulation at 48dBA and under so you can run them without disruption. Top control models further reduce noise.
Smart Faucets & Soap Dispensers
Touchless and smart faucets allow you to start and stop water flow with just a wave. Connected soap dispensers automatically reorder supplies.
Beverage Refrigerators & Wine Coolers
Add specialty refrigeration for beverages and wine. Look for temperature zones, UV-resistant glass doors and capacity for full bottles.
Modern Kitchen Lighting Design Tips
Proper lighting transforms a kitchen from purely functional to welcoming. Follow these lighting design tips:
Install Layers of Light
Combine overhead fixtures, pendants, undercabinet lighting and accent lighting for a well-illuminated workspace. Dimming lets you customize brightness.
Mind Overhead Lighting
Pot lights evenly spaced over workstations, linear LEDs and multi-bulb fixtures provide overall ambient lighting. Size appropriately for room proportions.
Use Rail Lighting
Contemporary rail lighting systems mount directly to cabinets, offering total flexibility to position pendants anywhere along the track as needed.
Include Task Lighting
Strategically place task lighting over key work areas like islands, sinks, stoves and countertops where more light is needed.
Light Upper Cabinets
Illuminate the often dark area above cabinets with built-in LED strip lighting to display collectibles and for ambient lighting.
Install Under Cabinet Lights
LED strip lighting installed underneath upper cabinets directly illuminates countertops and tasks without shadows, glare or eye strain.
Accent With Picture Lights
Picture lights add a touch of elegance while showcasing special art, architectural elements or collections needing dedicated illumination.
Highlight Architectural Details
Accent architectural features like arched walls, coffered or tray ceilings with recessed or wall-mounted directional lighting.
Bounce Light Off Ceilings
Uplights placed high on cabinets facing the ceiling bounce light, reducing shadows for a bright, welcoming ambiance.
Choose Warm White Shades
Look for fixtures rated 2700-3000K to emit soft warm white light that feels inviting and complements wood cabinetry and finishes.
Additional Elements for Modern Kitchens
Infusing creativity and personalization into your kitchen remodel makes it truly spectacular. Consider these special finishing touches:
Unique Backsplashes
Backsplashes protect walls while adding visual interest. Try handmade tiles, colorful glass mosaics, stone slab inserts or even metal or leather backsplashes.
Statement Sinks & Faucets
Sculptural statement sinks serve as focal points. Choose striking materials like natural stone, copper, or concrete. Finish with matte black or vintage brass faucets.
Integrated Smart Hubs
Built-in charging stations, smart cooking assistants like Alexa and digital calendars keep everything you need at your fingertips.
Indoor Herb Gardens
Dedicate space for growing herbs and greens indoors to garnish dishes. Use sunny windowsills, wall-mounted planters or hydroponic herb walls.
Specialty Pantry Rooms
Convert a closet, mudroom or bonus space into a walk-in pantry for storing dry goods, small appliances, meal prep tools, dishes, coffeemakers and more out of sight.
Textured Subway Tile
White subway tile backsplashes are timeless, but add interest with textured, beveled, moroccan fish scale tiles or arrange in varied patterns.
Bright Colored Appliances
Make a bold statement by selecting brightly colored appliances like cobalt blue, fire engine red or even colorblocked refrigerators.
Intricate Tile Floors
Handmade encaustic cement tiles, moroccan patterns and Middle Eastern motifs create breathtaking floors to serve as artwork underfoot.
Window Seating Nooks
Incorporate banquettes, window seats or built-in dining nooks to maximize unused space near windows or corners. Include storage below.
Frequently Asked Questions About Modern Kitchen Redesigns
What is the average cost of a kitchen remodel?
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, expect to spend an average of $135,000 for a major remodel involving layout changes, top-of-the-line cabinetry and appliances and high-end materials and finishes. Minor remodels range from $20,000-$60,000.
How long should a kitchen remodel take?
Major remodels take two months to six months from demolition to completion. Minor facelifts can take two to four weeks. Timelines depend on the scope of work, permitting requirements and customization of cabinets, furniture and lighting fixtures.
What is the most popular kitchen layout?
The L-shaped kitchen layout is the most popular, providing ample counter space and storage along two adjoining walls with easy access between work zones. The U-shaped kitchen is also a top choice.
Should I remodel my kitchen before selling my home?
In most cases, yes. A major kitchen overhaul allows for the greatest return on investment of any home renovation, with up to 111% ROI. Even minor kitchen updates like new hardware and paint can increase home value.
What is the best material for kitchen countertops?
Quartz and quartzite countertops are currently trending as a durable, low-maintenance option that mimics the look of natural stone. Other top choices are granite, solid surface and laminate for budget-friendly projects.
Should I get an open-concept kitchen?
Open-concept kitchens improve flow and natural light, allowing interaction between cooks and guests. However, they also enable noise to travel. Using an island to partially separate the kitchen can give you the best of both worlds.
How do I add storage to my small kitchen?
Optimize storage in a small kitchen with roll-out trays in lower cabinets, drawer dividers, tall pantry units, pot racks and open shelving to hold essentials you use daily. Also consider adding a freestanding hutch.
Should I remodel my kitchen or buy a new home?
If your current home meets your needs aside from the kitchen, it may be worth remodeling rather than buying a new home and dealing with closing costs and moving hassles. But also consider other upcoming maintenance costs.
What kitchen remodel adds the most value?
According to Remodeling Magazine, the projects that add the greatest resale value are midrange remodels of the major components, including new cabinetry, countertops, appliances, flooring and lighting fixtures.
Final Thoughts on Modern Kitchen Redesigns
A kitchen renovation requires weighing considerations such as layout, storage, appliances, lighting, finishes and more against your budget. Careful planning is key to creating a kitchen that not only looks amazing but also functions flawlessly for years to come. Focus on changes that improve your daily experience, whether it’s improved lighting, smart appliances or upgraded amenities you’ll actually use. Work with professionals experienced in kitchen design to ensure your new space is cohesive, purposeful and a place you’ll love spending time for years to come. With strategic and savvy design decisions, your dream kitchen can become a reality.
