Designing a kitchen is all about finding the balance between functional, streamlined design and creativity. With a vast range of styles from which to choose, you can tailor your kitchen space to suit your lifestyle and personality.
In 2025, natural colour schemes and interesting textures are on trend. The world is your oyster when it comes to styling your kitchen, but let’s look at six outdated trends to avoid.
1. Strip lights
Fluorescent strip lights are definitely best left to history. Not only are they outdated but also they cast a cold, unforgiving light that doesn’t flatter anything. Strip lights should be avoided at all costs.
2. Closed living
Recent years have seen an enormous rise in the popularity of open-plan living spaces, which offer a spacious feel and sociable family living. A closed-off kitchen is impractical and out of date, and it may not appeal to potential buyers if you come to sell your property. You can zone an open-plan space to include kitchen, dining and living areas.
3. Pine
It is safe to say that we have moved on from the short-lived knotty pine trend of the 90s; instead, natural and pastel colours, in addition to greys and monochromes, remain popular choices. If you still have a pine kitchen or would simply like an update, it is easy to install replacement kitchen cabinet doors to freshen things up. Replacement doors are available from companies such as https://www.happy-doors.co.uk.
4. Stand-alone appliances on the worktop
Having your appliances integrated gives a much more streamlined and neater look than having a small appliance, such as a microwave, taking up space on the work surface.
5. Shabby chic
Another short-lived phase was sanding or whitewashing painted cabinets to make them look old or vintage. Today, kitchens are much more about sleek, glossy, contemporary looks.
6. Frustrating fixtures
The majority of customers now expect extras as standard, such as soft-close doors and touchless taps. A kitchen without these little luxuries can feel dated and less comfortable.
