Kitchen and bath trends for 2025 revolve around an array of color choices.
Story by Tracy Dickinson
Featured in Winter 2025
After several years of predominantly neutral shades setting the tone for kitchen and bath design, 2025 is looking a little brighter, or darker, or simply bolder. From paint to appliances to hardware finishes, manufacturers and designers are expanding beyond the soft earth tones once again.
Morgan Vigon of Kitchen & Bath Company says, “I think 2025 is going to be the year where people break out of their shells and choose what they want based off their personal taste rather than what’s on trend whether it’s the burnt orange cabinets for their laundry room that they’ve always wanted or the dark, moody green for their kitchen. The sky’s the limit this coming season.”
Color as a Foundation
With the trend toward modern farmhouse and midcentury modern styles, homes and especially kitchens had gravitated toward natural wood finishes for the past several years. But designers are branching off to both sides of the spectrum.
“Light stains on white oak give a whitewash effect to cabinetry,” says Kitchen & Bath Company’s Tina Noel. “And that makes a strong statement for the kitchen design. Also, people are not afraid to use dark paint colors again. We’re seeing very dark colors, even green-black to very dark blue-black.”
According to Jeanine Weinzierl of BMD/Moehl Millwork, “Earth and natural tones will still dominate, but the trend leaders are rust, red, and terra-cotta palettes. These colors are easy to achieve with lighter stains rather than painted finishes.”
“We’re definitely seeing warmer tones,” says Jammie Pekarek of Woodharbor. “A lot of woods in darker finishes such as walnut and even oak are coming back, and there’s an uptick in reds and burgundy shades, as well as warmer whites.”
With the trend toward deeper colors in cabinetry, designers are leaning toward simple profiles. “Doors are no longer just a Shaker-style profile,” says Weinzierl. “We’re seeing more single slab, modern, or contemporary doors to create a clean, linear look, sometimes adding texture with a thermofoil material.”
The trend toward color is true in paint selection as well. Vigon says, “Deep jewel tones like ruby, sapphire, and emerald will have a huge presence, along with the chocolate and brown wood tones. Gray is becoming less popular, as is bright white. Warmer tones are replacing the cooler-toned colors of the past few years.”
Color as an Accent
Other design elements are changing in the kitchen to accommodate the richer cabinetry shades. “More and more, we’re doing both the perimeter cabinetry and the island in the same material,” says Weinzierl. “The contrasting island is becoming less common, creating one continuous look instead.”
Countertops, too, are trending toward the more subtle designs. “Quartz is still a big seller,” says Pekarek. “But we’re often extending the countertop up the wall as a backsplash, even to the bottom of the wall cabinets. That creates a nice clean look that is amazing.”
“Brushed gold is becoming more popular, too, although black is still the dominant choice for hardware.”
Jeanine Weinzierl, BMD/Moehl Millwork
“Even when homeowners prefer a bold, veiny countertop look, we’re leaning toward a monochromatic style rather than a contrasting one,” says Weinzierl.
Vigon agrees. “I am still consistently seeing clients wanting marble-looking quartz countertops,” she says. “But the options that are becoming more popular are the colors with more natural-looking and subtle veining.”
Color in the Accessories
With that rich backdrop, designers are finding ways to accessorize the kitchen in colorful ways.
“Satin bronze hardware is still a popular finish, and it goes beautifully with darker finishes,”
Noel says.
Weinzierl says, “Brushed gold is becoming more popular, too, although black is still the dominant choice for hardware.”
She says another way homeowners are adding color to the kitchen is in their appliance selection. “We still see black and stainless, but more manufacturers are offering—and homeowners are choosing—bright colors ranging from fuchsia to orange to aqua.”
Pops of color show up in backsplash designs, colorful tile features above the stove, and in decor selections such as bar stools and textiles that can be changed out more easily.
“A lot of homeowners are opting for softer shades on light fixtures, especially over the island, and adding smaller light fixtures over the countertop corners to soften the effect of the lighting,” says Weinzierl.
Pekarek says, “Because homeowners are focusing on decluttering and organization, they’re focusing on features that add convenience but don’t take up additional space like charging stations inside drawers and specific storage solutions within the cabinetry.”
As Vigon says, “Homeowners should make selections that will make them happy in their home, no matter what the trend. Everyone should be able to create an environment that is welcoming, calming, cozy, and unique to them.”
Rather than a design that focuses on “features,” homeowners are looking for a space that is clutter-free, where the style and the color can shine. •
Resources
- Jeanine Weinzierl BMD/Moehl Millwork
- Morgan Vigon Kitchen & Bath Company
- Jammie Pekarek Woodharbor Kitchen & Bath Company
