As a hub of home activity, your kitchen needs a design that suits your lifestyle. Fortunately, you have many options, from modern styles to traditional ones.
Which kitchen design styles are the best fit for your needs? This depends on several factors, such as the adjacent rooms and your home’s architecture. Of course, your personality and needs play an essential role as well.
Looking to learn more about your options? If so, let’s talk about what’s in right now and what makes each popular kitchen style appealing to Tampa Bay homeowners!
What Is the Most Popular Kitchen Style Right Now?
In 2025, the most popular kitchen styles tend to be hybrids. One key example is the transitional style, which combines traditional and modern design elements. Other key trends and features include:
- Earthy colors (such as beige and cashmere)
- Light, neutral woods (such as maple and white oak)
- Bronze and mixed hardware
- Kitchen island layouts
It’s worth noting, however, that all the best kitchen styles are relatively timeless. As such, it’s usually smarter to focus on your sensibilities when choosing designs rather than chase trends that are constantly changing.
How Many Types of Kitchens Are There?
Kitchen styles come in many forms, but some designs will always be worth your consideration. Here are six types of kitchens you must know about!
1. Modern
Contrary to popular opinion, the words “modern” and “contemporary” don’t describe the same style. The modern style is defined by simple forms and a focus on functionality over decorative trims and accents.
Modern kitchen ideas usually feature straight lines and sleek surfaces. There’s also a preference for basic materials, since they’re easier to maintain. These kitchens have little contrast in shape or color, making them visually smooth.
2. Traditional
With roots in the 18th and 19th centuries, traditional kitchens have an ornate and formal style. One defining feature of these kitchens is furniture-like cabinetry, which is often made of warm wood and comes with details like:
- Raised panel cabinet doors
- Leaded glass panels and corbels
- Decorative touches such as arches
Traditional kitchens rely mostly on neutral/warm colors. You’ll often see less saturated primary colors used as accents and classic patterns used as window treatments. Architectural details like columns and molding are prominent as well.
3. Transitional
A transitional kitchen aims for a simple and relaxed look. This style pairs sleek angles with soft curves. It’s usually a largely neutral color foundation (often featuring wood and stone) with a patterned backsplash providing texture.
Looking for eclectic kitchen inspiration? If so, transitional styles often feature intriguing brass and black finishes and eye-catching pendant lights. They’re also one of the best choices for open-concept kitchens.
4. Country
Country kitchens use a warm color scheme and casual lighting to seem cozy and inviting. They also feature an informal approach to storage, which is why you’ll often see mismatched historic furniture combined with traditional cabinetry.
The rustic kitchen decor is a big part of the country look. Wooden beams and farmhouse sinks are classic examples, as are the exposed brick and stone. Some popular decorative adornments in this style include:
- Large stone accents on the flooring and walls
- Wire mesh behind glass panel doors
- Metals with patina or texture
5. Scandinavian
Most homeowners associate Scandinavian kitchens with serene feelings. The minimalist kitchen layout prioritizes functionality, resulting in a simple look. They feature anything that increases productivity, such as smart appliances.
Visually speaking, Scandi kitchens are bright. They often forgo large cabinets in favor of white walls and open shelving. The color palette is predominantly white and neutral, with stone adding texture and variance.
6. Contemporary
Contemporary design trends are fluid, since they embrace trends in everything from materials to technology. Contemporary kitchens are largely minimalist, but saturated colors make them more dramatic than modern kitchens.
This kitchen style is big on contrast, such as combining light countertops with dark cabinets. The surfaces are mostly flat with hard angles, but there are plenty of details that can bring visual energy. Examples include:
- Strong curves and arches
- Stone countertops
- Bold pops of color
- Mixed metals
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Is the Golden Rule of Kitchen Design?
The golden rule of kitchen design is to balance functionality and aesthetics to get a practical and visually appealing space. One example of this is the Golden Triangle: placing the sink, stove, and fridge in a triangular layout.
What Are the Six Basic Types of Kitchens?
Beyond design styles, kitchens have six types of basic layouts. These layouts are distinguished by the arrangement of appliances and cabinets to optimize the space. The six common kitchen layouts are:
- U-Shaped: cabinets lining three walls
- L-Shaped: cabinets lining two adjacent walls
- One-Wall: all cabinets are along a single wall
- Peninsula: U/L-shaped layout with a countertop extending from a wall
- Galley: two parallel countertops with a walkway in between
- Island: a freestanding island added to a larger kitchen
What Is a Montessori Kitchen?
A Montessori kitchen is a term you’ll likely run into while researching kitchen styles. It refers to a child-accessible space designed to allow children to participate in kitchen activities, fostering their real-life skills.
This kitchen can be a dedicated child area or use adapted adult kitchen components. In either case, it must use real materials in order to encourage kids to learn how to handle them with care.
What Is the 60-30-10 Rule for Kitchens?
The 60-30-10 rule is a design guideline for creating a balanced color scheme in a kitchen. The rule states that 60% of the kitchen should be in a dominant color, 30% in a secondary color, and the remaining 10% in an accent color.
Kitchen Design Styles Made Easy
The above six kitchen design styles are merely the most popular options in the market right now. If you truly want to find the ideal style for your kitchen, your best bet may be to consult the professionals.
At the Kitchen & Bath Design Center, we can help make your design dreams a reality. We’re a licensed, BBB-accredited business with decades of experience creating designs that maximize functionality and aesthetics.
If you’re in Tampa Bay, make sure to check out our fully-stocked 9,000-sq.ft. Showroom area! You can also contact us here to schedule a free in-home design consultation!