These Kitchen Cabinet Trends Will Revolutionize Your Storage Space in 2025

Planning a kitchen refresh? Start with the cabinets. As the backbone of your kitchen’s design, they play a starring role in how the space looks and feels. This year, designers are moving away from cookie-cutter, minimalist storage and embracing cabinetry with warmth, texture, and personality.

Here, we asked top designers to share the cabinetry trends they’re leaning into in 2025. Read on and learn how to bring them into your own space—no gut renovation required.

A Hint of the 70s

The 1970s are making a quiet comeback in the kitchen, but not in a kitschy way. “Clients are stepping away from safe, white minimalism and leaning into richer colors and textures,” says Lesley McClennan, director of The Design Consultant. That means timber veneers, deep rusts and smoky browns, brass hardware, and polished surfaces.

Statement elements like powder-coated open shelving and dramatic pendant lights are also getting their moment. “It’s all about adding personality,” she adds. “That might be color, a standout piece of furniture, or even just a few bold accessories.”

The Smarter Kitchen

The rise of smart homes has officially reached the kitchen, but you don’t need flashing lights and ultra-futuristic finishes to make it work. Today’s designs focus on blending innovation with style, making gadgets feel like an extension of your space—and your cabinets. 

“We’re seeing remote-controlled ovens, hidden induction cooktops, and energy-efficient appliances seamlessly tucked into cabinetry,” says McClennan. “The key is to keep things sleek with reflective finishes and lacquered surfaces. We balance that with warmer elements, like sculptural pendants and soft lighting."

Statement Hardware

Handles and knobs might seem like an afterthought, but this year, they’re more like jewelry for your cabinets. “We’re seeing homeowners really consider each detail,” says Tennille Burnup, founder of Tennille Joy Interiors. Mixed metals are in, and so is the idea of using hardware to express a little edge or polish.

“Honestly, I touch hardware way more than I touch my phone,” Burnup says. “Why shouldn’t it feel great?”

Specialized Zones

Kitchen cabinet layouts are getting smarter and more personal. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, designers are tailoring storage to suit how people actually use their kitchens. That might mean choosing deep drawers instead of traditional ones, or adding custom inserts for spices and other everyday essentials. 

Burnup likes to take it a step further by creating what she calls “specialized zones:" Dedicated areas for daily rituals like coffee making, fermentation, or hydration. “I’m personally designing joinery for each client based on how they live,” she says. “One of my clients even has an entire cabinet just for her sourdough process.”

No More Upper Cabinets

Upper cabinets have always been a bit of a love-hate situation. Sure, they store your mugs and cereal boxes, but they can also make a kitchen feel top-heavy and cluttered. More homeowners are choosing to skip them entirely and opt for a walk-in pantry.

“A casual, well-designed pantry can do a lot of heavy lifting,” says Laura Marion, principal architect at Flight Architecture. “It gives you space for all the things you’d usually cram into upper cabinets."

With the visual clutter out of the way, the main kitchen area feels lighter, calmer, and more open. “You can keep the design clean, and even add a bit of drama,” says Marion. She often conceals range hoods, extends stone up the back wall, and leaves room for framed art or sculptural lighting.

Soft Brutalism

Brutalism might sound a bit intense for the kitchen cabinets, but this new take is all about warmth and natural beauty. “It’s a softer, more organic version,” says Marion. Think chunky timber beams and cabinetry that feels intentionally solid.

“We’re playing with geometry in cabinetry layouts,” Marion says, “using oversized shapes and negative space to create something that feels grounded, but still refined.”