5 Functional Features Every Modern Kitchen Needs in 2024

What makes a kitchen feel contemporary and up-to-date? As an interior designer and kitchen remodeler, here are the changes and updates I feel have the most impact.

Lighting

A thoughtful and well-executed lighting plan contributes greatly to a successful modern kitchen update.  Lighting should be layered and dimmable with the right amount of warmth and provide both general and task lighting. Typically, that means recessed lighting throughout the kitchen and accent and task lighting in the form of sconces and hanging pendants or fixtures, along with under-cabinet lighting to illuminate the work surfaces.

A Home for Everything

A contemporary-feeling kitchen is about personalization more so than the style or look of the cabinets. An updated kitchen should reflect the way the owners cook and live in their space. We see that there are different cooking and food shopping habits in our diverse area, and a well-designed contemporary kitchen should reflect those needs. Everything should have a designated place to live that simplifies food storage, prep, and clean-up. Getting trash and recycling off the floor, incorporating bulk ingredient storage, and creating permanent and convenient homes for items like water coolers and coffee machines, are just some of the ways kitchen design takes personalization into account.

Thoughtful Design

Raising children, frequent entertaining or hosting, aging in place, and dietary needs are just some of the lifestyle components that should be considered in successful kitchen design. Appliance choice and placement, all types of storage, and spatial and traffic patterns and use are what differentiate an outdated kitchen from one that serves a homeowner’s needs. Soft-close hinges and drawer slides, pull-out trays, spice racks, and pantries, as well as deep drawers, pot-lid storage, appliance lifts, and corner cabinet organizers can all improve a kitchen’s functionality, make it easier to get everything put away, and make it feel up to date. “Command centers” and a variety of charging options are also updates that allow a kitchen to better support how people live now.

Easy to Maintain 

If you’re embarking on a kitchen update, take a moment to consider how you cook, how often you clean your kitchen, and how hard you and your family are on the surfaces you have now. For example, if you often cook on the stovetop in oil, you may want to look at laminate cabinets that are easy to wipe down, avoid hanging light fixtures with glass or fabric shades that will attract the oil and be challenging to clean, and choose colors and finishes that will not show dirt. Taking stock of the wear you have now will ensure a beautiful new kitchen for years to come.

Details, details, details

What’s great about design in 2024 is that there isn’t just one style or look that a homeowner needs to choose to feel like they have successfully updated their kitchen. Traditional, rustic, transitional, farmhouse, eclectic, industrial, and contemporary elements can all feel current and be employed in ways that will stand the test of time. If you are concerned about resale value or keeping up with design trends, we always say a white kitchen will date less quickly than other colors, and good quality white cabinets paired with a ceramic subway-style backsplash tile and marble-looking quartz, will stay fresher looking longer than other choices, and you can always update light fixtures, window treatments, and cabinet hardware after 10-15 years.

At Kitchen Tune-Up we want to help you make the most of your home. We would love the opportunity to see your kitchen, show you door and hardware samples, and create a plan to update and upgrade your space to meet your needs. Contact us today for a free design appointment and estimate.