17 KITCHEN REMODEL IDEAS TO ELEVATE YOUR SPACE
Preparing to remodel your kitchen is an exciting project with many details to decide on and steps to manage. Use this guide to discover ideas for how you can most effectively design a kitchen remodel by making the most of your layout, appliances, backsplash, color, lighting, decor, flooring and more.
Some things to consider when designing a kitchen remodel include the layout, how you use the space, your budget and the overall style you want to create. The ideas outlined in this article can be achieved with a variety of budget ranges and can help you efficiently plan your inspiring new kitchen.
KITCHEN REDESIGN IDEAS
A kitchen remodel can be the perfect opportunity to blend function with personal style. From bold appliance finishes and textured walls to open shelving and custom cabinetry, read on for ideas that can add character, color and clarity to the heart of the home—one intentional upgrade at a time.
1. ADD A COLORFUL KITCHEN BACKSPLASH
The backsplash is a natural canvas for your creative flair in any kitchen design and remodel plan. Use the backsplash areas to tie in color, pattern and even texture using tile, wood, stamped metal, wallpaper or paint. Single color subway tile can be arranged in patterns that add subtle texture, while mosaic and patterned tile offer more drama. Use the space to coordinate with the surrounding surfaces or to create contrast.
2. INDULGE IN NEW MAJOR APPLIANCES
One of the simplest ideas for bringing a modern kitchen design to life is to upgrade your major appliances. Replacing your outdated refrigerator, dishwasher and range with sleek, energy-efficient appliances is both an aesthetic and functional change that can help transform your kitchen. KitchenAid® major appliances are available in stainless steel, black stainless steel and a variety of classic colors.
3. EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT TONES OF ONE COLOR
If you aren’t sure how to make multiple colors work in your kitchen redesign, try using different saturations of the same color to use throughout the space. This design method allows you to create dimension, movement and contrast that’s modern and fresh. You can also use neutral kitchen colors if you want a more classic look.
4. ADD A KITCHEN ACCENT WALL
Kitchen interior designs often include an accent wall. This design element is a versatile way to use a blank wall to add artistic flair and unique personality to your space. The wall can be covered with a single paint color in a bright, deep, cool or warm tone, or you can create a painted pattern or mural. Other design ideas include covering the accent wall with wallpaper, tile, or even wood or stamped metal. Painted in a single color, you can use the wall to create a photo and art gallery to bring even more of your personality into the space.
5. HANG KITCHEN GREENERY FROM THE CEILING
You can also look to nature for kitchen design inspiration and fill some of the open-air space by hanging plants from the ceiling. You can choose from a variety of trailing houseplants, ferns and succulents that can create an ethereal and lush space and invite a bit of the outdoors into the room.
6. EMBRACE DRAMATIC KITCHEN LIGHTING
You can completely transform the look and feel of any room with the right lighting, so be sure to think about what you want your lighting to accomplish when you design a kitchen remodel. Use lighting to highlight areas like the backsplash, or under and over your cabinets, sink or island. Consider task-specific lighting as well as mood lighting to add personality and drama to your space.
7. GET COZY WITH A KITCHEN NOOK
If you have the room for it, a cozy dining nook can make a great addition to your modern kitchen design. It’s nice to have a more casual place than the formal dining room to gather for everyday eating, working, tabletop games and even crafting. Turn an unused corner into an intimate spot that can feature a table and chairs or a cozy corner breakfast nook with an L-shaped bench.
8. INSTALL QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS
A beautiful and classic way to take your kitchen design and remodel to a whole new level is to replace your countertops with quartz. Available in a variety of colors, quartz is durable and ages beautifully, while adding gorgeous and artistic swirls to your countertops and island.
9. COMBINE TEXTURES
You can build interest and drama in your kitchen decor by combining unique textures like matte finish cabinets with high-gloss appliance finishes or metal cabinets and butcher block countertops.
10. FOCUS ON KITCHEN FLOORING
Don’t treat your flooring as an afterthought when you plan your kitchen design and remodel. Flooring is an opportunity to include a unique pattern, color or texture and tie your design elements together, whether with hardwood, laminate, or ceramic or stone tile.
11. CUSTOMIZE APPLIANCES
There’s no need to install off-the-shelf, cookie cutter appliances. Some brands offer customization options like interchangeable knobs or handles and bold color finishes—so your kitchen feels as personal as it is functional. For example, select KitchenAid® commercial-style ranges come in nine curated colors like Scorched Orange, Passion Red and Avocado Cream to infuse your kitchen with character, depth and a designer’s touch.
12. OPEN CONCEPT
An open concept kitchen can transform how you cook, entertain and connect. Talk to a contractor about removing a non-load bearing wall, which can invite in natural light, create a more seamless flow between spaces and help open up conversations with guests as you prep. Better sightlines and layout flexibility can also make it easier to customize your space and place appliances where they work best for the way you create.
13. BUILT-IN COFFEE STATION
If coffee jumpstarts your day, a built-in coffee station can add both style and convenience to your ritual. Consider setting up a dedicated space—like a cart, countertop or table near an outlet—stocked with essentials like mugs, stir sticks and your favorite tools, from coffee to espresso machines. It’s a simple way to bring intention to your space and add ease to creating every cup.
14. UPGRADE CABINETS
Cabinets can account for nearly 40% of your kitchen’s visual footprint, making them one of the most influential design elements in the space. A thoughtful upgrade can transform the overall look and feel of your kitchen, often setting the tone for everything from your color palette to your appliance choices.
When planning, consider how textures, finishes and proportions will harmonize with your wall color, backsplash, and both small and large appliances. Even if you're not overhauling everything, strategic updates like swapping out hinges, knobs or drawer pulls can add polish and personality with minimal effort.
15. OPEN SHELVING
Open shelving offers a minimalist and functional way to personalize your kitchen, turning everyday items into part of the decor. Whether you’re displaying a curated set of dishes, a few trailing plants, or your favorite cookbooks and keepsakes, open shelves can add visual interest and warmth. They can also be a simple solution for transforming blank walls and typically require less time and effort than installing additional cabinetry.
16. DISPLAY DISHWARE WITH GLASS CABINET DOORS
Whether you opt for new cabinet doors with glass inserts or refresh your existing doors with a DIY upgrade, glass-front cabinets can instantly elevate your kitchen. They can help open up dark corners by allowing light to pass through, softening the visual weight of solid cabinet rows.
In smaller kitchens where too much cabinetry can feel overwhelming, glass doors can introduce a sense of airiness and balance. They're especially well-suited to traditional, farmhouse or cottage-style kitchens, adding texture and charm while offering a welcome break from all the hard surfaces.
17. ENHANCE VENTILATION
Your kitchen needs to keep up with your cooking skills. An over-the-range microwave hood or a wall-mount canopy hood can help vent smoke, grease and lingering odors from the air, letting you fry, saute and sear with confidence. For island cooktops, consider a statement-making canopy hood or a sleek, retractable downdraft model like these range hoods from KitchenAid brand. If your setup includes cabinetry above the range or a range against the wall, an under-cabinet or wall-mount range hood can offer powerful performance and add to your overall aesthetic.
KitchenAid® kitchen hoods
Clear the air while you create
KitchenAid® kitchen hoods help capture smoke, grease and odors to keep your kitchen air smelling fresh
HOW TO DECIDE YOUR KITCHEN LAYOUT
The ultimate factor in deciding your kitchen layout is determining how to make the space as functional and easy to work in as possible. You will want to choose the placement of kitchen appliances carefully, depending on the size of your kitchen. In small kitchens, consider using a galley layout and put your vertical space to work for storage. Larger kitchens can comfortably use L- or U-shaped layouts and you can add an island for more work, storage and gathering space.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR KITCHEN DECOR
Whether your personal style is exemplified by the slick, clean lines and monotone colors of a modern and minimalist style, or by the vintage colors, fixtures and antique furniture that a farmhouse style is known for, your decor choices combine to create a specific mood in your kitchen.
If you have an open kitchen, you’ll want some continuity in the decor so it flows smoothly with the rest of the surrounding space, and there are countless styles to choose from that will reflect your personality. Your choices of paint, flooring, countertops, tile, light fixtures, faceplates, cabinets, shelves and art all work together to create the feeling and style you want your kitchen to evoke.
HOW TO ADD MORE KITCHEN STORAGE
There are a variety of ways to add storage when you remodel so your kitchen is organized and feels more spacious. Use empty walls to add open or floating shelves, suspend hanging racks from the ceiling, install rolling pantries in vertical spaces, or under-sink cabinets to help maximize storage capacity.
You can also add shelves and drawers inside cabinets to use more empty space or mount dowels and hooks to hang items from the underside of upper cabinets. A dining nook storage bench is another great way to add storage that serves multiple functions.
Your kitchen remodel is a chance to be inspired by the endless variety of design elements, fixtures, appliances and storage solutions that are available. Simply keep in mind how you most want the space to function and let yourself have fun bringing your perfect kitchen to life. Learn more kitchen remodeling tips to make your space your own.
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