Minimalist Kitchen Design Trends
Whether They Have a Kitchen That’s Part of the Living Area in a Small Condo or a Large Entertaining Space in a Single-Family Home, More Homeowners Are Opting to ‘Marie Kondo’ Their Kitchen
What started as a movement to get rid of clutter in closets and bedrooms has spread to the kitchen, where spoons, spices, and small appliances are disappearing from the counter. Design choices emphasize sleek simple lines and monochromatic palettes.
“So often the kitchen is open to the living area and is an extension of the space where people do their entertaining,” says Liz Brooks, vice president of sales and marketing at the Belgravia Group, a real estate developer. “Homeowners want the kitchen to blend with their décor. They want crisp, clean lines with beautiful cabinets and counters to look at.”
Elissa Morgante, a founding partner with Morgante Wilson Architects, says one of her custom-home clients requested an Italian-style contemporary kitchen that can be completely hidden behind doors that look like cabinets. “When we design a home with an open floor plan, we spend a lot of time talking about the color palette and materials that we’ll use throughout the house, especially the family room and mudroom if they’re near the kitchen,” says Morgante. “Most people want a visual connection between the kitchen and the rest of the house.”
That visual connection means that a cluttered counter or numerous patterns or colors are particularly unappealing. “If you’re in a small one-bedroom condo, you’re not using your kitchen to host a dinner party for eight people,” says Clint Mann, president of Urban Pace, a real estate sales, marketing, and advisory firm. “At the same time, even if it’s small, you want your kitchen to look like a showpiece for your living space. You tend to focus on aesthetics more than functionality when the kitchen is part of your living area.”
How to Design a Minimalist Kitchen
Achieving a neat kitchen requires smartly designed storage to remove unnecessary items from the counters, as well as design choices that create a visually appealing space with few distractions. Important elements of a sleek kitchen include:
The Pantry
A walk-in pantry with big shelves for appliances is ideal. Brooks recommends including electrical outlets in the pantry to charge small appliances. “Even if you don’t have space for a walk-in pantry, it’s smart to build a full-height pantry cabinet with roll-out shelves,” says Morgante. “You get a lot of storage that way and can hide most of your kitchen clutter.”
Smooth Cabinets
Shaker cabinets offer a timeless look, while smooth glossy cabinets provide a modern minimalist aesthetic. “Cabinets with finger grooves eliminate the need for hardware,” says Brooks. Mann suggests affordable low-profile pulls underneath cabinets.
Disappearing Appliances
Integrate appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators with panels matching cabinetry. “Even cooktops can be seamless,” says Brooks. Mann notes microwaves are now hidden in drawers or islands.
Coffee Station
A hidden coffee station with flip-back doors and pull-out counters keeps clutter at bay. “We add refrigerator drawers for cream and storage for mugs,” says Morgante. Mann highlights cost-effective Keurig integrations in refrigerator doors.
Hidden Hood Vent
Conceal hood vents behind cabinetry for uninterrupted lines. “The goal is to avoid distracting from the cabinets,” says Brooks.
Smooth Counters
Homeowners favor light neutrals or classic black-and-white counters with minimal patterns. “Multifunctional islands without sinks or cooktops maintain clean surfaces,” Brooks adds.
Pattern-Free Backsplash
Extend counter materials up the wall for a seamless look. “Quartz resembling marble is popular,” says Mann. Morgante recommends large stone slabs for an art-like finish.
Eliminating Outlets
Hide outlets under cabinets or use pop-up versions. “Cords are only visible during use, which is a worthwhile trade-off,” says Mann.
Transition-Free Flooring
Extend hardwood or consistent flooring from living areas into the kitchen. “This creates cohesion and eliminates tile grout,” says Brooks.
Minimalist Lighting
Under-cabinet and recessed lighting maintain clean sightlines. Brooks suggests complementary fixtures over islands to blend spaces.
How to Keep Your Kitchen Decluttered
“Plan where you’ll keep everything during the design phase,” advises Morgante. “Include extra cabinets for future needs.” Brooks recommends multifunctional storage like built-in desks and pantries. “Careful design ensures a calm, clean space even in a busy kitchen,” she says.
