Survey Spotlights Key Trends in Kitchen Design

JASPER, IN — As minimalism and modern styles evolve, “bold trends featuring vintage elements and vibrant aesthetics” are emerging across the kitchen design landscape, allowing for unique, personalized spaces.

That is among the key findings of the MasterBrand 2025 Kitchen Trend Survey, an annual report released by MasterBrand Cabinets. The report was based upon a survey of 755 dealers and designers sell­ing MasterBrand cabinetry across the U.S. and Canada, according to the company.

“People are breaking away from popular design trends and setting their own by merging personal preferences with hints of modern elements to create a lively but comfortable space,” said Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends at the Jasper, IN-based MasterBrand, which manufactures 15+ cabinet brands, including Aristokraft, Decorá, Diamond, Schrock, Kemper, Homecrest, KitchenCraft, Omega, Mid Continent, Ultracraft and Starmark.

Among the emerging design trends identified by MasterBrand were the following:

• Blank Canvas for Personalization: Shrinking home footprints combined with busy lifestyles means the kitchen needs to be more functional than ever, and designers are getting creative with how they tackle clutter and fulfill people’s everyday needs while also incorporating their personal styles, MasterBrand said. Homeowners are increasingly looking to blend unique, charming elements with modern touches, giving rise to design styles like Baroque Americana and eclectic kitchen décor, the company added.
• Color Confidence: Experimenting with vivid colors in the kitchen continues to rise in popularity. The most common way people are incorporating color in kitchen cabinetry is through islands, followed by using color only on the perimeter cabinetry, MasterBrand added. Blues and greens are the leading choice for adding color, but unexpected colors are becoming popular as cabinetry finish options, the company noted.
• Warm Woods: Warm woods create a sense of comfort by promoting a biophilic connection, MasterBrand observed. Light and mid-tone wood stains are the top choices, and when it comes to material, oak, walnut and maple species are often used for their organic grain texture and balanced tones that give the space dimension. Combining wood and painted cabinet finishes creates more depth and adds character, the company added.
• Efficiency, Simplicity & Organized Chaos: The biggest kitchen concern for many homeowners is “decluttering” their space, according to MasterBrand. The emerging trends of inconspicuous kitchens and back kitchens (or butler’s pantries) demonstrate the need for hidden workspaces and hardworking functional areas. Both concepts preserve the visual appeal of the kitchen by offering concealed spaces for kitchen appliances and gadgets or creating extra prep and cleanup spaces that ensure the kitchen remains well-organized, MasterBrand said.

Smaller kitchens can benefit from “posh pantries” – or floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets – that keep household items organized and easily accessible, MasterBrand added. These storage solutions can also address sustainability and food waste by promoting proper visibility and encouraging more conscientious consumption habits, the company added.