Along with the debut of the first installment of Behind the Design, the annual report stated that personalized design, accent colors, multifunctional appliances, and clutter reduction are trending.
By Nicholas Tamarin
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA | KBIS) released the 2025 edition of its annual Kitchen Trends Report on December 17 to provide a comprehensive look into current and upcoming trends in residential kitchens that will have the biggest impact in the coming year. Paired with the webinar, was the debut of the inaugural installment of the highly anticipated Behind the Design video series starring its first designer, Mexico City–born Nar Bustamante.
According to the report, the focus over the next three years will remain on sustainability and wellness, calming earth tones, and the importance of lighting design. The report also reveals key emerging trends, including personalized design, clutter reduction, multifunctional appliances, and biophilic design, which focuses on bringing the outdoors inside and a connection to nature.
“The kitchen and bath industry remains resilient as we are seeing record levels of home equity, with 20+ million homes entering their prime remodeling years,” says NKBA | KBIS Global President & CEO Bill Darcy. “The 2025 Kitchen Trends Report comes at a crucial time, guiding the key changes designers can make to increase the longevity of their clients’ spaces while customizing unique homes with both aesthetic and functional creativity.”
Comprised of data generated from a survey completed by industry experts including designers, manufacturers, remodelers, and architects, the full report, delivered by NKBA | KBIS’s longtime Head of Research Tricia Zach, is available at NKBA.org with free access for NKBA members. Key findings of the top 20 kitchen trends for 2025 included:
Colors & Materials: What’s In, What’s Out
- Blast From the Past: Past trends are making a comeback in 2025, with 52% of respondents saying the bright colors and earth tones of the 1970’s will be popular and 47% saying that the muted mid-century modern aesthetic of the 1950’s will see a resurgence.
- Preference for Personality: As part of a broader trend that focuses on personalized design, 71% of respondents said they preferred colorful kitchens that showcase personality as opposed to only 29% of respondents who prefer a clean and classic white kitchen. Statement colors will primarily be incorporated into backsplashes, islands, cabinets, wallpapers, and wall paints.
- Color is King: White and gray kitchens are still off-trend, with homeowners preferring light, natural colors instead. Green is the most popular color for the second year, with 76% of respondents selecting it as the top shade for 2025. Other prominent colors are blue (63%) and brown (56%).
- Mix-and-Match: Stemming from the personalized design trend is blending colors and finishes, with 67% of respondents agreeing that mix-and-match backsplashes add a unique touch to the kitchen and 84% of respondents agreeing that lighting fixtures will increasingly feature differing materials.
- Statement Cabinets: Of those surveyed, 52% of respondents agree that cabinets will be a primary place for incorporating statement colors into the kitchen. Additionally, white oak kitchen cabinets are the clear favorite with 59% of respondents listing them as the preferred color for 2025.
Healthy Living Starts in the Kitchen
The kitchen is becoming an epicenter for wellness, with 74% of respondents agreeing that ovens with steam cooking and air frying technology will be popular to support healthier cooking methods. A total of 53% of respondents state that kitchens will become increasingly connected to the outdoors and become focused on healthy living in the next three years. Designers agree that water (72%) and air (62%) quality are top considerations in kitchen design, reflecting the continued prioritization of wellness.
Bringing the Outdoors Inside
Biophilic design is on the rise, with 72% of respondents reporting that homeowners want a kitchen with a greater connection to the outdoors. Creating an open and airy feel, 67% of respondents agree that large windows will be a popular way to bring more light into kitchens. Additionally, 64% of respondents say that sustainable food sources, such as herb and veggie gardens, are increasingly popular in the kitchen.
Seamless Design and Clutter Reduction
Open pantries and shelves are out, as homeowners increasingly desire clutter-free kitchens with concealed elements, such as hidden doors, panel-ready fronts for appliances, and walk-in pantries. Of those surveyed, 87% said homeowners want pantries that are concealed behind cabinet doors or panels to maintain a seamless kitchen design, while 66% said walk-in pantries and butler’s pantries will be popular in the next 3 years.
Making the Most of Your Kitchen
A total of 90% of respondents said that, as a result of working from home, homeowners are interested in remodeling to improve the functionality and aesthetics of the kitchen. Thus, multifunctionality will be a prominent kitchen trend in 2025, with 91% of respondents agreeing that appliances with more than one function are popular with homeowners. More specifically, 52% of respondents agree that adding a second kitchen island to increase functionality is gaining popularity and 83% of respondents agree that sinks with food prep and serving areas are becoming popular.
The Mood Kitchen
Homeowners are increasingly focused on lighting’s role in creating a “well space” that supports functionality and mood. According to 74% of respondents, homeowners are using lighting to improve their physical and mental well-being. Respondents report that natural light and lighting quality are top considerations in kitchen design, with 88% agreeing that lighting is widely used to create different moods within the kitchen, such as brightness while drinking coffee in the morning or a darker atmosphere for a cocktail party.
What Does Your Kitchen Say About You?
It’s clear that unique and personal design is crucial: 92% of respondents agree that the kitchen is a reflection of a homeowner’s personality and 85% of respondents agree that the kitchen has the strongest impact on the “personality” of the home as a whole. As personalized design continues to rise in popularity, 71% of respondents agree that their clients prefer a colorful kitchen to let their personalities shine through, and 75% of designers agree that homeowners want a kitchen that is unique to them. Decorative hardware, statement lighting, and pops of color in artwork are ways to showcase personality through kitchen design.
Following Zach’s report, Heather Shannon, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, NKBA | KBIS, introduced the premiere of NKBA | KBIS’s brand new video series Behind the Design. The debut episode starred acclaimed designer Bustamante giving us unprecedented access into his design process with a private video tour of one of his newest projects in his adopted hometown of Sacramento, California. “All the surfaces in this project are on by Cosentino. And I have a really great relationship with the Cosentino family. Talk about innovation. And I love the simplicity and the elegance that it allowed us to work with,” Bustamante says. “And when it comes to appliances, we get pretty picky, because it is one of those things that kind of makes or breaks the function of the kitchen. The ease of use, the quality, the elegance. And so I’m consistently a fan of Sub-Zero Wolf. They have been around for a long time. They know what they’re doing. The quality stands and it’s sophisticated, but yet very simple. They don’t get gimmicky.”
