NKBA 2025 Kitchen Trends Report
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA | KBIS), the world’s leading trade association for the kitchen and bath industry representing nearly 55,000 North American kitchen and bath industry professionals, has released its 2025 Kitchen Trends Report. Comprising data generated from a survey completed by industry experts including designers, manufacturers, remodelers, architects and more, the report provides a comprehensive look into current and upcoming trends in residential kitchens that will have the biggest impact in 2025.
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 establishing 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,” said 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.”
NKBA 2025 Kitchen Trends Report Key Findings
Design: Kamal Moshg. Photo credit: NKBA
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 1970s will be popular and 47% saying that the muted mid-century modern aesthetic of the 1950s will see a resurgence. NKBA Design Council member Michael Smith Boyd notes to KBB, “I’m happy to celebrate the 70s, but with a more monochromatic palette. I’d choose one color and create interest by layering multiple hues. My favorites are golds and peaches, but in my own kitchen I used an avocado quartzite for counters that includes just about every shade of green. I always ground the design with natural stone where at least one of the colors occurs naturally.”
● 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
Design: Yancy Dearinger Bonner. Photo credit: NKBA
The kitchen is becoming an epicenter for wellness, with 74% of respondents agreeing that ovens with steam cooking/air frying technology will be popular to support healthier cooking methods. Fifty-three percent 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.
Caleb Anderson, NKBA Design Council member, shared with KBB how he prioritizes wellness in the kitchen.
“Wellness in the kitchen starts long before the design ever takes shape during the initial conversations of discovery. By mapping out a client’s needs and personality in the kitchen, we can select healthy, efficient materials that speak to them. Infusing those discoveries in various elements creates wellness opportunities throughout the design. For instance, color is a great place to pull from nature’s palette of biophilic references or Ayurvedic practices to evoke thoughtful design. It can make one’s time in the kitchen feel more intentional and mindful rather than task-oriented.”
Bringing the Outdoors Inside
Design: Brandie Postles. Photo credit: NKBA
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
Design: April Spagnolo. Photo credit: NKBA
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.
Asked for tips on prioritizing organization in the kitchen, NKBA Design Council member Celerie Kemble told KBB, “I like to have everything housed behind cabinetry, except for an empty shelf that is disguised into the kitchen backsplash. You can move oils and spices while cooking up on the shelf, and then items can be cleared off and hidden away after cooking. An appliance garage with plenty of electric outlets in the back, and a door that slides back into the cubby is so nice to conceal all bulky appliances, but still have them accessible and ready to be plugged in. A lot of people forget that you can use upper cabinets with an attached ladder to store items up high and out of sight. This is great for non-day-to-day items.”
Making the Most of Your Kitchen
Design: Kristin Petro. Photo credit: NKBA
Ninety percent of respondents said that as a result of working from home full/part-time, 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
Design: Lloyd Haack. Photo: NKBA
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 wellbeing. 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?
Design: Jeffrey Pozin. Photo credit: NKBA
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.
NKBA Design Council member Thom Felicia tells KBB, “I suggest unifying the overall mood and vibe of the interiors through the kitchen. By thoughtfully using materials, multiple layers of lighting, and decorative pieces of art that feel connected to the rest of the home, the kitchen will be a natural extension of your personality and point of view. Tips: Always add art, books about cooking and entertaining, beautiful & useful items on display, collections of attractive trays for organization, and portable mood lights that can go from countertop to tabletop as well as rugs to help tell your unique story. The kitchen should be accessorized just as you would any other space in your home.”
The full NKBA 2025 Kitchen Trends Report is available at NKBA.org with free access for NKBA members.
