6 Kitchen Decor Choices That Are Officially Outdated, Designers Say

While kitchen decor style trends often prevail for years, sticking to what has been popular can sometimes leave you with a design that looks tired or played out by the time your renovation is finished.

We asked designers to identify kitchen decor choices that feel outdated, with advice about what to choose instead.

Waterfall Islands

Waterfall islands have been a fixture of contemporary kitchens in recent years, but interior designer Rosanna Bassford says that the trend has seen its time.

“Now it feels quite heavy to have so much stone,” she explains, both in small kitchens or larger kitchens with massive islands.

The designer suggests cladding the ends with grooved, slatted, or reeded wood panels for a warmer, lighter look that feels more current.

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All Matte Black Hardware

All matte black kitchen hardware has its go-to appeal for both aesthetic and practical reasons.

“Dark hardware certainly has its place in decor, but overusing contrast can force the eye to bounce around the room without landing on a focal point,” interior designer Erin Williamson cautions. “Matte black is a painted finish that tends to chip off and wear poorly over time. Kitchen cabinet hardware and faucet finishes especially must withstand daily use and abuse.”

If your design calls for darker hardware or faucets, she suggests opting for bronze for a softer, warmer look and more durability.

All-White Kitchens

Both designers agree that once classic all-white kitchens can feel cold by today’s standards.

“Just like any other room in the house, a kitchen needs to have layers and textures to make it interesting and inviting,” Bassford says.

She suggests painting cabinets in a cream color for a softer look than pure white, pairing them with a darker soapstone countertop, and bringing in texture such as handmade ceramic tile backsplash.

Williamson also warns that, while white cabinets are a classic, pairing them with white counters and backsplashes can make the whole room feel sterile. Make it work by choosing inset or paneled cabinets, natural stone counters with decorative edging, and textured backsplash tile, she suggests.

“All of those details add shadows that soften up the harshness and add a cozy human element,” Williamson says. “Throw in some patinated metals and a handmade runner and you’ve got an effortless look for the ages.”

Cold Grays

In addition to stark whites, Bassford cautions kitchen color palettes that are too cold, such as cool grays mixed with stainless steel.

“The gray decade is over and currently beige and warm color palettes are on trend,” she says. “The kitchen being the heart of the home is particularly where you want a warm, inviting feel. You can still use the color gray—it is just important to balance it with warm tones like wood, brass, or other warmer colors.”

Gray Kitchen Flooring

Williamson says that gray flooring in particular can have a particularly dated look.

“Gray seems like it should play well with everything,” she notes, “but in reality it coordinates with very little. Solid gray floors are especially difficult to work with, often resulting in a monochrome palette that comes across as lifeless.”

She recommends sticking with warmer wood, stone, or file flooring that has some variation to create a timeless mix of warm and cool tones.

Faux Marble Countertops

While marble countertops are an enduring classic, the trend of using faux marble made from synthetic materials is over.

“I am a big believer in honest materials,” Williamson says. “I highly recommend avoiding any imitation marble manmade products with large veins running through them—they aren’t fooling anyone.”

Because marble is porous and high-maintenance, Williamson suggests a trial run with a natural stone sample to see if you can tolerate the inevitable etch marks caused by acidic liquids such as lemon juice, coffee, or tomato sauce.

“If that drives you crazy, opt for a denser quartzite stone or a composite manmade quartz in a simple pattern” for a lower-maintenance and more convincing alternative, she suggests.