Kitchen and bath cabinetry is often the highlight of a room, as it takes up the most real estate in a space. Styles today run the gamut from classic traditional to more mainstream transitional, and modern and contemporary designs are even taking hold. Those preferences reference the exterior of the cabinets, but of equal and sometimes even greater importance can be what’s found inside.
Above photo: The cabinets in this kitchen created by architect Michael Menn were designed in continuous pieces made at the factory
to maximize appearance space. Everything was built in, and all lower cabinets have two rollouts.
Today’s kitchen and bathroom storage options are designed for accessibility and convenience. These interior elements may not be part of the pretty package you present to your clients, but they can make the difference between a kitchen or bath that’s simply aesthetically pleasing and one that also offers the upmost function for the way we want to live and be comfortable in our homes.
Our recent survey on kitchen and bath cabinetry and storage covers a variety of these features and trends gaining in popularity, as well as recent innovations seen out in the field. We also learn from the design pros which outdated offerings need a much-needed revision.
Key Takeaways
- The majority (56.7%) of our respondents chose semi-custom cabinetry for their kitchen projects over the last year – over custom or stock.
- The most popular convenience feature for kitchen and bath cabinets and storage is the soft-close option.
- The built-in is the most popular type of pantry specified in today’s kitchens.
- 36.9% of our survey respondents said ALL their kitchen and bath projects were sourced from the U.S. over the last year.
Kitchen and Bathroom Storage: A Matter of Convenience
Today’s storage options for ease of use are varied and plenty, and soft close is a must for today’s kitchens and baths. Almost 100% of our respondents said they specify soft-close doors and drawers in their cabinetry, and lighting inside and/or underneath cabinetry came in second at 75.6%. Homeowners want to easily be able to see what’s inside their cabinets, and brands are stepping up their illumination innovation game.
Charging stations, hidden outlets both came in at 47.2%, and push-to-open doors and drawers came in at 45%. Pull-down storage and motorized cabinets rounded out the bottom of the list, and other choices included rollout shelves, pocket doors and magic corner options.
What’s Trending in Kitchen and Bathroom Storage and Cabinets
In the kitchen, incorporating drawers versus doors is gaining in popularity, as is open shelving, although some respondents said this trend is on its way out. Decorative cabinet door inserts like wire and mesh were seen at KBIS 2024, and 61.6% of design pros used those in their kitchen projects in the last year.
Islands are becoming more multi-use, and those on legs give the piece the furniture-type look a lot of homeowners want. If the project has the square footage, clients are opting for more than one island in the kitchen.
Rounding out the list of kitchen cabinetry design trends are reeded/grooved detail and larder cabinets, and write-in answers included walk-in pantries with hidden entries, tables concealed behind a drawer front, full-height cabinetry, hutch-style cabinets and metal accents.
In terms of bathroom cabinet design trends in the last 12 months, wall-hung/floating vanities topped the list at 69.8%, and drawers versus doors took the close second slot at 68%.
“I like wall-hung vanities, but no one wants dust bunnies under their cabinets,” said Robin Rigby Fisher, CMKBD, CAPS, CLIPP, of Portland, Ore-based Robin Rigby Fisher Design. “If a client wants that look, I will create a tall 9-inch toe kick that is 10 inches deep and finish it to look like the wall, paint or tile. This gives the the illusion of a floating cabinet without the cleaning issue.”
Vanities on legs, tall wall cabinets and freestanding cabinet units came in around 50%, and vanities with open and/or integrated shelves and reeded/grooved detail rounded out the list. Other bathroom cabinet trends included toe kick lighting, drawer stacks and integrated makeup areas.
Getting More Specific
In terms of specialized kitchen and bathroom storage options homeowners have asked for in their kitchens and baths over the last 12 months, spice storage took the top spot at 82.2%. Pot-and-pan, small appliance, utensil and corner storage all came in around 70%, and cleaning supply, stemware, step ladder and toe kick storage rounded out the list. Write-in specialty storage asks included baking tray, trash/recycling, wine, cutting board, plate, cooking oil and foil and storage bag accommodations.
“Some of the more unique storage solutions we have created in the kitchen are for those clients who want to hide everything but want instant access to a wide variety of countertop appliances,” said Michael Menn, CAPS, CGR, CGP, principal architect of Michael Menn Ltd. in Northbrook, Ill. “In one project, we accommodated almost 30 different types of cooking oils.”
Pet food storage and build-in feeding stations are also becoming more popular since our furry friends are part of the family. Menn says his clients ask for pet storage to be incorporated in laundry areas and mudrooms more than in the kitchen.
To minimize clutter on the countertops, everything in this bath designed by Menn was built-in, including towel storage and vertical hanging for bathrobes.
He maximized space by using deeper medicine cabinets.
Sustainability Awareness
It was somewhat surprising that our survey results reported that more than half of our respondents do not know if they specified cabinets made without off-gassing or VOCs in the last year.
“As an architect/designer, I think it is very important to know about off-gassing and VOCs,” said Menn. “Knowing about these types of properties makes you stand out to your clients as a knowledgeable source.”
KBB talks to a lot of designers who make sustainability a priority in their projects, so it was also a shock that only 9.2% reported that all their projects included cabinets without off-gassing or VOCs.
“We only have one planet, and it is our responsibility to make sure the cabinets we use are healthy for both the client and the environment,” said Fisher.
Innovations Spotted in the Field
In terms of aesthetics, our survey responses included everything from bold, vibrant colors; three-toned cabinets; cabinetry that emulates furniture in the home; less wall cabinets for a more open feel; stained cabinets versus painted; stone and ceramic options for doors and drawer fronts; and an open-shelf concept for all uppers.
For innovation in function, the tech-savvy answers included motion sensors for toe kick lighting; countertop charging; adjustable shelf lighting; designated storage for small bathroom appliances; lighting integrated into shelving and cabinet boxes; and hands-free- or foot-activated trash/recycling storage.
More specialized kitchen and bathroom storage innovations seen at trade shows and other industry events included lift-up doors for large tray storage; super-sized corner units; deep drawers with pegs; the use of metal in drawer organizers; under stairs storage; and trash/recycling cabinet drip edge protection.
Fisher noted an electric corner storage option and electric hidden doors, and Menn has seen storage for a step stool in the toe kick, as well as built-in mirrors with storage incorporated into bathroom cabinets.
Out with the Old, in with the New
Although some homeowners appreciate open shelves, too many of them are a no-no in kitchen and bath design. Fisher says most of her clients want some open shelving, and as an alternative, she will suggest cabinet doors with frosted or textured glass to break up cabinetry. Menn says open shelving is a great way to highlight items you want on display, such as those from a collection.
Our survey says Shaker doors are out, and all-white kitchens need to warm up. Ornate cabinets with decorative moldings are not the norm, and we need to say goodbye to staggered upper cabinetry. Other trends that gave gone by the wayside are dark cherry-stained cabinets, shiplap, gray cabinetry and cabinets that do not reach the ceiling.
In terms of needed functional updates to kitchen and bath cabinets and storage, some love the appliance garage, and some want to part ways with the roll-up door many of them feature. Menn’s preference is for appliances to be hidden, and Fisher specifies an appliance garage for those items her clients use regularly; hers are growing in size at 42 inches wide.
Other functional storage elements that need an update or need to be eliminated include lazy Susans, sinks without integrated storage, full-access hinges that stick out, toe kick pullouts, kitchen desks and mixer stand lifts/pop-ups.
“I shy away from anything that is trendy,” said Fisher. “Designing a kitchen or bath is no different than selecting a work of art – it’s subjective to the client. I want their home to look like them.”
