Contemporary kitchens are sleek and attractive, with an emphasis on modern functionality and minimalist elegance. If you enjoy clean lines, crisp color schemes, and open floor layouts, this basic yet modern kitchen design will appeal to you.
From stainless steel appliances and flat-front cabinets to boxy islands and smooth stone worktops, these are ten must-have characteristics for every contemporary kitchen renovation.
1. Stainless Steel Appliances
Shiny stainless steel appliances are a must-have in any contemporary kitchen. Pairing them with dark mahogany or black cabinets will make them truly pop.
If you have the space and the budget, try adding a commercial-grade fridge or a large gas stove for a high-end industrial feel - or bring the beauty and convenience of modern technology into your home with the latest smart appliances.
2. Slab-Style Doors
Slab-style (or "flat-panel") cabinet doors are another feature of contemporary kitchen design. Their sleek, uniform appearance adds to the space's basic lines and minimalist atmosphere, while also allowing other features to shine out, such as metallic hardware, industrial light fixtures, or a patterned backsplash.
3. Bar Seating
Contemporary house design emphasizes open-concept, versatile areas. A wide kitchen island with pendant lighting and bar-style seating not only expands your dining and entertaining possibilities but also helps to create a smooth transition between your kitchen and dining area or living room.
4. Clean Lines
The use of bold, clear lines in contemporary kitchens contributes to their sleek, modern appearance. Choosing flat-front cabinets, boxy islands, and built-in appliances, as well as limiting countertop gadgets and decorations, can all assist in achieving this sleek, minimalist, and modern look.
5. A Variety of Materials
Contemporary kitchen designs differ from other types because they combine natural and manmade materials in creative and unorthodox ways. Combining elements such as natural wood, metal, concrete, glass, stone, and stainless steel produces texture and dimension in the room.
6. Bar-Style Hardware
Contemporary kitchens also have bar-style hardware. Hardware is a crucial design feature in all types of kitchens but is frequently disregarded. Although each piece of hardware is modest, the hardware you choose has a significant impact on the overall look of your kitchen.
Sleek, metallic hardware, especially when used with mahogany, dark gray, or black slab-style cabinets, makes a powerful statement and adds a modern, industrial feel. Open shelving or top cabinets with glass fronts contribute to this effect.
7. Full-Overlay Cabinets
Full-overlay cabinets have big door and drawer fronts that completely cover the face frame of the cabinet. This results in a sleek, homogeneous appearance as opposed to the more three-dimensional impact of a typical overlay design, which is commonly used in farmhouses and traditional-style kitchens.
Full-overlay cabinets are commonly used in kitchens with one or more walls covered in cabinets, and this style works well with hidden appliances.
8. Waterfall Countertops
Waterfall countertops provide a distinct and polished look to your modern kitchen. Waterfall countertops are distinct from regular counters in that they descend vertically down the sides of your bottom cabinets or island rather than suddenly stopping at the edge.
Pair waterfall countertops with unusual color or material contrasts to provide dimension. For example, choose white quartz for your waterfall countertops and complement them with darker cabinets and rich wood floors. This brings attention to the countertops and emphasizes their elegant lines.
9. Bold Accent Colors
The crisp, clean lines and color schemes that define contemporary kitchen design provide enough opportunities for experimenting with accent colors and unique or surprising accents.
To get a unique contemporary style, blend neutral slab countertops and full-overlay cabinets with strategically placed splashes of color or geometric patterns. For example, consider neon bar stools and kitchen towels, or chairs with patterned upholstery.
10. Under-Cabinet Lighting
Whether you place it under your upper cabinets, beneath your lower cabinets (just above the floor), around the base of your kitchen island, or all of the above, under-cabinet lighting adds a modern and sleek feel to your contemporary kitchen.
Not only does it look good, but it also provides wonderful lighting for slicing veggies and cooking meals.
