Antitrends in Kitchen Design 2025: What to Avoid in Interior Design

The kitchen remains the most important room in the house, but ideas about what it should look like are rapidly changing. Let's explore which kitchen design solutions are no longer relevant in 2025 and what they can be replaced with.

Main points from the article:

• Open shelves are going into the past due to impracticality and difficulty in maintenance;

• Glossy cabinet fronts are no longer considered a sign of modern kitchen design;

• U-shaped layouts are losing popularity in favor of linear solutions;

• Mosaic backsplashes are no longer an актуальный trend;

• Heavy island tables don't fit into the concept of ergonomic kitchens;

• Surface-mounted spotlights are no longer trendy.

Saying goodbye to open shelves

Open storage systems, which were once at the peak of popularity, are gradually giving way to closed cabinets. The reason is simple — they are hard to keep clean, and displayed dishes quickly accumulate greasy dust. A modern solution is cabinets with matte glass fronts or combined systems where one or two open shelves serve for decoration, while everything else is hidden behind doors.

Design: Anastasia Priddhina

Glossy cabinet fronts are no longer trendy

Glossy cabinet fronts, which were long considered a symbol of modern kitchens, now look outdated. Mat textures and natural materials are replacing shiny surfaces. Especially relevant are cabinet fronts with barely visible wood or concrete textures, matte enamels, and ceramic coatings that not only look noble but are also practical in maintenance.

Design: Daria Valeeva

The U-shaped layout is going into the past

Clumsy U-shaped kitchen units that occupy three walls are no longer considered an effective solution. Modern kitchens tend towards openness and lightness. Linear compositions and L-shaped layouts are now in style, leaving more free space. This is especially relevant given that more and more people are combining the kitchen with the living room.

Design: Tatiana Ivanova

Mosaic backsplash is losing ground

Small mosaic tiles on kitchen backsplashes, especially multicolored ones, have completely gone out of style. Today designers prefer large-format tiles or ceramic granite that imitates natural stone. Popular are also solid glass panels and ceramic tiles without visible joints, which are easier to keep clean.

Large islands give way to compact solutions

Large island tables, which often became the center of the kitchen, were found to be impractical in real life. Their place is taken by mobile and compact solutions — narrow bar stools, extendable work surfaces, and foldable tables that can be adapted to current needs.

A new look at lighting

Recessed spotlights and rows of surface-mounted spots are no longer considered a successful solution for kitchens. Modern kitchen lighting is becoming more diverse: pendant lights above the dining area, functional task lighting on work surfaces, and hidden LED strips in cabinets. Light is now not only functional but also creates atmosphere.

Design: Lagom Interiors

Abandoning pseudo-classicism

Kitchen units with fronts that imitate classical style (with surface-mounted panels and decorative MDF carving) have completely gone out of fashion. If you want a classical interior, designers recommend choosing more restrained solutions with minimal decor or investing in real classic fronts made from solid wood.

A new approach to storage

Standard tall cabinets with pull-out shelves are giving way to more thought-out storage systems. Trends include sliding columns, corner systems with full drawer mechanisms, and built-in organizers for spices and small items. It’s important not only to hide things but also to ensure easy access to them.

How to adapt an old kitchen to new trends

It’s not necessary to completely change the kitchen unit to modernize the kitchen. You can start small: replace handles with more minimalist ones, install new lighting, repaint cabinet fronts in matte shades. Even replacing the backsplash or countertop can significantly change the look of the kitchen.

Remember that any trends should adapt to your lifestyle, not the other way around. The kitchen should primarily be convenient for those who use it.

Cover: Design project by Lagom Interiors