If you’re about to embark on a remodel or starting from scratch, KBB journo Charlotte Luxford has pulled together our top kitchen trends to help you stay ahead of the curve. Ready to check out the most popular design elements at the moment?

Customised and unique detailing, pared-back and natural finishes and curves in all the right places are big themes this year. Scullery-style kitchens, complete with swoon-worthy pantry storage and cook’s tables are also top of our list.

Read on for inspiring ideas and kitchen trends to incorporate into your design…

1. A cosy banquette

Seating nooks are becoming the mainstay of kitchen-diner designs and we wouldn’t be without one. Not only are they pleasing to look at, but their compact nature invites a cosy communal feel, allows for more bums on seats, and takes up minimal floor space, often utilising otherwise awkward corners. And the best bit of all? Banquette seating offers oodles of storage capacity, whether it’s the kids’ array of toys or an overspill of kitchen equipment.

We love the idea of painting it in a strong contrasting colour, like in this kitchen designed by Olive & Barr.

2. Black and metallic cabinets

Black is back, but this year we’re looking at charred and dark-painted sawn timber units over sleek and glossy cabinet finishes. An all-black kitchen can be overwhelming, so consider pairings of natural timber or metallic finishes to break it up. Metallic door fronts lend a luxe look and an increasing number of kitchen brands are adding these to their repertoire.

Here, John Lewis of Hungerford has paired Smoked Oak veneer cabinets with brass door fronts and handle rails to create a layered textural aesthetic, with Dekton’s Taga worktop and splashback completing the look. A similar kitchen costs from £35,000.

3. Sustainable surfaces

Kitchen brands are becoming more resourceful and inventive with ways of creating sustainable options using waste materials that can also be recycled at the end of their life. We love the concept behind Foresso’s handmade terrazzo-style wooden worktops, which are both beautiful and low carbon.

Foresso’s worksurfaces are crafted from waste wood chips, sawdust and a non-toxic binder and manufactured in Birmingham.

4. Fancy a brew?

Let’s be honest, what’s more important than that first cup of tea or coffee in the morning? We’re all increasingly prioritising that caffeine hit and breakfast cupboards are becoming a kitchen trend. Even if you don’t have the space for a dedicated cupboard, you can create a one-stop shop for all your coffee and tea-making facilities on your kitchen countertop, within your pantry or on top of a dresser.

Wherever you put it, it’s going to be a hotspot on busy mornings. So, it’s best positioned away from other high-traffic zones.

5. Walk-in pantry

The modern-day pantry has become a hot kitchen trend that can be integrated into your space as part of your cabinetry or as a standalone room. “As a nation, we’re spending more time in our homes, which has produced a collective desire for a more organised home life,” says Richard Davonport, managing director at Davonport.

As a result, homeowners are seeking to use every square inch, with a walk-in pantry a great way of utilising floor-to-ceiling space in a very small area. This design by Chantel Elshout Studio cleverly maximises an otherwise awkward corner that didn’t have space for wall cabinets.

6. Beautiful kitchen brassware

“Aged brass and copper finishes are set to be in demand for 2024 with designers looking for a more organic and natural finish,” says Richard McGrail, chief executive officer at Armac Martin. “The patina adds character and charm to cabinetry to create a classic look.”

7. Ready, steady, prep

Just as the popularity of the back kitchen has soared, so has the resurgence of the traditional cook’s table – a classic element of the Victorian kitchen, made for meal prep. Increasingly more of us are choosing one over a conventional island for a more informal look with easy access to pots and pans. But, most importantly, this design is on wheels. This is a game-changer if you need more flexibility in your kitchen or you’re working with an open-plan space.

Papilio designed this moveable island so that it could be pushed back against a fireplace of historical interest that couldn’t be covered by cabinets, allowing plenty of a usable workspace.

8. Statement lighting

Supersized pendants and sculptural forms are another stand-out kitchen trend this year, as we increasingly search out lighting designs that double up as captivating art pieces. Look for clean, organic shapes and natural materials that will bring a welcome softness and fluidity to your design, as well as remain timeless and elegant.

We love these beautifully simple yet striking plaster cone pendant lights by Rose Uniacke.

9. Stainless steel kitchens

We’re blaming TV series The Bear and David Beckham for the soaring rise in popularity in stainless steel kitchens. Giving it a new luxe status, steel is the finish that’s unexpectedly taking the kitchen design world by storm. Previously reserved for commercial kitchens and industrial designs, it’s being given a softer look, tempered by pairings of wood, natural stone and painted furniture.

Not only does it look the real deal, it’s an ultra-practical finish that’s practically bulletproof. It’s hygienic, can withstand the heat and is stain resistant, plus you can work with it in longer lengths for a seamless surface, unlike stone. It does patina and scratch over time, but frankly, that’s all part of its charm.

10. Ahead of the curve

There’s been a real resurgence in fancy worktop edges as we hanker after period-style kitchens with intricate detailing. Consider adding an ogee or scotia edge to your worktop – it’s amazing how a small detail can elevate your design.

There’s also an increasing demand for curved profiles, which is a continuing interiors trend and will add a more free-flowing and inviting element to your interiors. They’re practical, too, as rounded edges create a more convivial setup for social gatherings and add extra circulation area in the room.

11. Add a touch of drama to your kitchen

“Our love affair with marble continues into 2024 and this is the year where we see the drama and opulence it evokes dialled up even further,” says Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca’ Pietra. Striking marble-effect designs with heavy veining or terrazzo-style patterns in a low-maintenance finish including porcelain are the heroes of the hour.

Opt for extra-large format tiles to create a faultless appearance. You can even use them on kitchen islands to give the illusion of a solid stone top.

12. Island destination

We’re ditching the bog-standard rectangular island in favour of free-flowing curvaceous designs for 2024. We love this show-stopping design from Martin Moore with its sweeping curves and circular breakfast bar with a contrasting worktop that’s perfect for entertaining.

“Adding a designated breakfast bar or informal dining area to your island creates wow factor; position a statement light fitting above it for extra theatre,” says Richard Moore, design director at Martin Moore. The built-in Kaelo wine coolers, wine rack and prep sink with hot water tap are all wish-list items that will take your island design to the next level and make hosting effortless.

13. Clutter-free living

Back kitchens are increasingly popular due to their versatility, enabling you to prioritise space in your main kitchen for hosting and entertaining, keeping the mess and clutter hidden from sight.

This prep kitchen designed for Becky Hillyard (@cellajaneblog), by McCroskey Interiors contains a second dishwasher, fridge and freezer drawers, as well as mirrored cabinets to make the space feel larger and conceal kitchen staples, while a café-style swing door provides handy access back into the kitchen.

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