If you’re reading this, you’re probably part of the club: Kitchen-obsessed. Perhaps this comes on the heels of a new kitchen renovation (yes, updated cabinets are definitely worth the investment). Or maybe you’ve been curating your “dream kitchen” Pinterest board since the age of 15. Either way, it’s important to remember that trends come and go—and if you fall into the former camp, you want to make sure you’re budgeting for a kitchen design that won’t harm your ROI 10 years down the line. So below, we’ve rounded up four kitchen trends that have officially jumped the shark this fall, plus what to replace them with (that won’t go out of style next season).
4 Kitchen Trends We're Officially Ready To Say Goodbye To This Fall (And What to Do Instead)
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Published Aug 16, 2023
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1. OUT: All-White Quartz Countertops
It’s time to say goodbye to simple white stone countertops. Think: quartz, laminate or ceramic slabs in all white—without the color variation of a natural veining. Of course, these man-made materials gained popularity for their budget-friendly price tag and accessibility (available at your nearest Home Depot). But today, the commercialized, all-white stone look has gone from ‘sleek’ and ‘minimalist’ to mainstream—and has become much more synonymous with cookie-cutter condos built by developers in bulk.
IN: Dramatic Marble Veining
This doesn’t mean marble, in and of itself, is outdated; it’s more about the undertones of the marble you’re incorporating. Nowadays, designers are angling toward countertops with more dramatic veinings, specifically, with an emphasis on green, black and brown hues. It creates a warmer, earthier look that feels custom to the space (and leaves lots of wiggle room for you to play around with cabinet colors when the pendulum swings back to white).
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2. OUT: Gas Stovetops
Back in the day, you probably didn’t think much about your stovetops (what you get is what you get, right?). Times have changed, and recently emissions from gas stoves have been connected to an increased risk for childhood asthma—among other health concerns—per a recent New York Times article. Not to mention the impact fossil fuel emissions have on a warming planet. In fact, in 2019, Berkeley became the first CA city to pass a code banning natural gas hookups in new buildings. Since then, other hotspots, including San Francisco, Seattle and the *entire state* of New York have banned natural gas and fossil fuels in most new buildings, according to another report from CNN.
IN: Hidden Induction Ranges
“Consider switching from a gas stove to an induction range when you’re in the market for a new appliance,” the article cites. Mainly, because there are no associated health risks linked to electric stovetops. On the design front, we’re seeing an uptick of searches for 'hidden induction stovetops' and 'induction ranges' that skew more French farmhouse than contemporary modern. Translation: You can achieve a vintage-inspired kitchen look without sacrificing the health of everyone in your home. (Plus, they’re way easier to clean.)
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3. OUT: Prep Sinks
Yet another outdated kitchen trend we’re saying goodbye to? Prep sinks (aka bar sinks). Unlike your main sink—which is bigger in size, usually fit with a spray attachment—a prep sink has a smaller, more narrow basin that’s intended to be used as a pot filler or wash and prep station for produce, fish, pork, beef, etc.
IN: Pot Fillers
“Over the past six months, I compared every fictional kitchen I saw on TV,” writes Editor-in-Chief, Jillian Quint. “The one trend I saw again and again, that ultimately influenced my favorite thing in my new kitchen: pot fillers,” she continues. “Essentially a faster-flowing faucet with a swinging arm that sits above your oven range, a pot filler is designed to, well, fill pots on your stovetop without you having to schlep them to and from the sink.” As warmer, less minimalist kitchens come back into vogue, we see this as a (functional!) natural extension of the trend.
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4. OUT: Brick Backsplashes
You would have been hard-pressed to find a kitchen in the early aughts that didn't include a white brick backsplash with bold black grout. And while we loved this vibe as mch as we loved our Edison bulbs in that era, these days, it feels more kitschy and less luxe—which is what this year’s quiet luxury trend is all about. So now, as we head into fall, the look is being turned on its head (literally).
IN: Vertical Zellige Tile Backsplashes
Before we get into the orientation of the tile, you should familiarize yourself with Zellige. It’s a handcrafted material that offers a glossy, organic modern alternative to the generic ceramic swatches we’ve seen trending for years. And instead of stacking your backsplash with horizontal rows of Zellige, you can take it a step further by selecting rectangular ones and lining them up vertically. We can’t guarantee that this look won’t feel a hair 2023 come 2027…but as long you like it, we say go for it.
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