What makes a kitchen look dated?

A kitchen looks dated primarily through builder-grade speckled granite, dark wood or pine cabinets, and cold, gray-toned color palettes. Other key factors include outdated lighting like fluorescent or track lights, inefficient layouts with poor flow, and dated materials such as glass tile backsplashes, ceramic tile countertops, and small, short upper cabinets.

What makes your kitchen look dated?

Outdated Cabinetry

Granite countertops typically pair with natural wood cabinets, but pine or hickory cabinetry can date your kitchen's style back a few decades. Additionally, cabinetry with gold or brass fixtures shows that the kitchen hasn't had an update for a while.

What is an outdated kitchen?

Kitchen cabinets that vary in height, or short upper cabinetry. Ceramic tile countertops. Wood paneled walls. Stained, peeling, faded, or outdated wallpaper. Dim or fluorescent lighting, recessed lighting, and old light fixtures.

What color kitchen will not date?

A white or neutral colour scheme

White and neutral tones are popular choices in a timeless kitchen design for one reason: they don't date. Before you start to worry about it being boring, remember the more bold your design choices are in the kitchen, the bigger chance there is of you changing your mind down the track.

What is the 60 30 10 rule for kitchens?

Using The Rule for Color Choices

In the featured image, 60% of the surfaces are white, 30% are black, and about 10% are silver. These choices feel visually balanced. Other popular trios in kitchen colors include blue/silver/white or even white/black/orange.

What colors will make my kitchen look dated?

What color is replacing grey in 2025?

Beige: The Warm Neutral Taking Over

Beige has made a remarkable resurgence in the world of interior design and is expected to be a popular color in 2025.

What kitchen cabinet color is outdated?

Key Points. Avoid outdated cabinet shades like navy, cherry wood, mustard yellow, and country red. These colors once felt warm or luxurious but now make kitchens look dated or overly themed. Instead, choose softer neutrals, natural woods, or richer muted tones for a timeless feel.

What color kitchen looks expensive?

"Rich and inviting, navy and dark green kitchens offer a sense of class and timeless sophistication — adding a stylish and elevated aesthetic to any home," says Al Bruce, founder of Olive & Barr. "These colours feel bold and creative, giving your space an added depth, balance and dramatic edge.

What is the most popular color for a kitchen in 2025?

Warm Neutrals and Earthy Tones

The era of stark, sterile kitchens is giving way to spaces that exude warmth and comfort. In 2025, expect to see a shift toward warm neutrals and earthy tones: Beige, sand, and taupe hues create a calming, grounded atmosphere. Terracotta and clay add a touch of rustic warmth.

What is the most expensive part of redoing a kitchen?

The true budget buster in your kitchen remodel project isn't the fancy appliances or the new backsplash—it's the cabinetry! Custom or semi-custom cabinets often take up the largest portion of a remodel budget, and for good reason!

What kitchens never go out of style?

Here are five ideas that have lasted through the decades:

• Neutral Paint Colors. The classic white kitchen is sometimes criticized for being boring—but it will never go out of style! ...
• Shaker Cabinets. ...
• Natural Materials. ...
• White or light countertops. ...
• Subway Tile.

Are white kitchens still in for 2025?

According to the 2025 NKBA Kitchen Trends Report, only 29% of designers still prefer the traditional all-white kitchen. Most are blending white with other colors or wood finishes—for example, white upper cabinets and darker lower ones.

How to make a kitchen look posh?

Painting existing cabinets in a darker, ultra-matt shade, such as grey or black, helps to create a feeling of sophistication. Choose heritage shades with deep pigmentation for a high-quality look – more expensive paint might feel like a luxury, but those few extra pounds spent will usually be worth the investment.

What color countertop is timeless?

Black, white, gray, beige, and brown granite are timeless options that complement a variety of interior design styles. Whether you prefer a classic, elegant look or a more natural, earthy vibe, there's a granite color that suits your needs.

What color not to paint your kitchen?

From "school bus yellow" to pure white, experts suggest avoiding these hues in the cookspace. Paint colors may be the most divisive category in the interior design space, especially in kitchens. After all, whether you're an avid cook or occasional chef, you likely have to see or be in your kitchen every day.

What color kitchen increases home value?

According to the findings, dark gray living rooms and blue bedrooms can boost resale value. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, it's green that delivers the biggest return. The report found that homes with olive green kitchens attract more buyer interest than any other color.

Will open shelving still be trendy in 2025?

Open storage is also making a stylish comeback in kitchens for 2025, with floating shelves leading the charge. This shift marks a dramatic departure from the wall-to-wall cabinetry that dominated kitchen designs of previous decades.

What makes a kitchen look cheap?

Interior designers said dull color schemes and the wrong lighting can make your kitchen look cheap. It's also important to pay attention to details such as cabinet handles.

What is the 2026 color for kitchen cabinets?

Say hello to the “new neutrals.” Soft greens, dusty sages, and rich navy tones are showing up everywhere — on islands, lower cabinets, and even full kitchens. These nature-inspired colors, like one of our new Coastal Colors, bring a calming, collected feel that's both timeless and on-trend.

What is the 1 3 rule for cabinets?

What usually looks best is a pull length that is about 1/3 the height of the cabinet door and 1/3 the width of the cabinet drawer. Your eyes follow the length of the pull up the height of the door or across the width of the drawer. Pulls don't have to all be the same length as long as the pull design is the same.

What kitchen trend to avoid in 2025?

4 Outdated Kitchen Cabinet Trends

• All-White Cabinets. The all-white kitchen had quite the run, but sometimes even timeless trends have an expiration date. ...
• Glossy Cabinets. ...
• Open Shelving. ...
• Dark Wood Finishes.

What paint colors will never go out of style?

Top 10 Timeless Paint Colors for Your Home

• White: There's a reason why white is the most popular paint color. ...
• Beige: Beige may have a reputation for being boring, but it's a classic neutral that works well in any room. ...
• Gray: Gray has become a popular neutral recently, and for a good reason.

What color should I paint my kitchen cabinets in 2025?

Earthy Greens

Muted tones of sage, olive, and moss are leading the charge for trending kitchen cabinet colors in 2025. These nature-inspired shades bring a soft, organic feel to the kitchen and pair beautifully with natural wood textures, marble, and warm metal accents.