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10 tips to create a gorgeous modern kitchen

These modern kitchen ideas will help you create a gorgeous space that's sure to inspire friends and family

modern coastal kitchen with minimal decor
The modern kitchen is a sleek, minimal design style that can look stunning and timeless in many homes. Today’s homeowners crave a homely and eclectic aesthetic that feels curated, simple, and impactful. However, it can be tricky to pull off a successful modern kitchen design without it feeling tacky or dated.

So, we’ve gathered 10 modern kitchen ideas to help you create a gorgeous and trendy space that’s sure to inspire friends and family.

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Install a multifunctional island

rustic mediterranean kitchen design with blue tile backsplash
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Multifunctional furniture is a must-have in today’s modern kitchen designs. The best way to create a multifunctional and multipurpose space is to install a custom island. Invest in curated storage solutions like pull-out butcher block cutting boards or slim, hidden spice racks. Turn your center island into a food prep station, tabletop for dining, and custom storage cabinet.

Add curves

modern kitchen with wood cabinets and round bar stools
ppa5 / Adobe Stock

Curves are everywhere in modern interiors. Gaining inspiration from midcentury decor, today’s modern designers are opting for curves wherever possible. Curved countertops and cabinet ends are trendy in the kitchen. Alternatively, some homeowners opt for oval-shaped center islands, round bar stools, or vintage rounded refrigerator designs to add more visual appeal.

Invite green to your color palette

Green round pendant drum lights above kitchen island
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Green has been a trendy hue for a couple of years now. Dark evergreen shades, in particular, are popping up in many home designs. In the kitchen, dark green cabinets are some of the more popular choices for a kitchen color palette. If you don’t want to go too bold with the green, some homeowners are painting half their walls with a green base and a cream hue on top.

Mix wood tones

modern black and white kitchen with oak cabinets
Paolo De Gasperis / Shutterstock

Gone are the days of matching furniture and wood tones in our homes. Today’s homeowners crave eclecticism and personal touches that provide a homely, lived-in feel. Rather than having all of your wood tones match, choose a variety of hues, textures, and materials to spruce up your space. For example, dark oak cabinets paired with bamboo bar stools at the center island can create a more diverse space.

Midcentury light fixtures are a must

Woman standing in modern kitchen with unique light fixture
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Midcentury features are everywhere in modern interior design, so it’s no surprise that many minimalists and modernists are choosing classic globe lights over their kitchen center islands. Oversized globe-standing lamps are also popular in kitchen-dining combo designs. While you aren’t limited to globe lights, we still recommend choosing midcentury modern lighting when decorating your kitchen space.

Coastal furniture is trendy

blue stove in white modern coastal kitchen
BondRocketImages / Shutterstock

Coastal aesthetics have become a main event in modern interiors. With aesthetics like coastal grandchild and coastal farmhouse, modern coastal looks are also trending. Homeowners are gravitating toward wicker pieces, washed-out white tones, seaside colors, and stone accents for a coastal feel in their homes.

Use neutral tones

Fluted kitchen cabinet
PhotoMavenStock / Shutterstock

Today’s interiors trend toward more biophilic and natural design. People are aching for more organic aesthetics in their spaces, which is why neutral tones are dominating kitchenscapes. Dark brown hues mixed with tans, beiges, or creams have become a popular choice. In styles like Japandi interiors, we’re seeing more monochromatic brown, minimalist kitchen designs.

Monochrome is timeless

Modern kitchen with handleless cabinets
Luciano Santandreu / Shutterstock

As mentioned above, monochromatic color palettes are making a comeback. In modern kitchen designs, we’re seeing a fearless exploration into all-black kitchens. Black and white kitchen design creates the perfect moody juxtaposition that makes a statement. Black countertops and cabinetry are most common, with a hint of white backsplash or flooring.

Skip cabinet hardware

wood kitchen walls and backsplash
Ground Picture / Shutterstock

If you’re aiming to curate the perfect modern kitchen design, then it’s time to skip the cabinet hardware. Magnetic, push-button cabinets are a go-to for many modernists. This creates a seamless look in your kitchen with little visual interruption. Cabinets are often streamlined and sleek, offering a more minimalistic design.

Alternatively, some homeowners are choosing simple, minimal, rounded handles for their cabinets. Painting hardware the same color as your cabinets can also help create a seamless visual appeal.

Opt for an oversized range hood

Blue and white kitchen with modern lighting
Gabo_Arts / Shutterstock

A prominent feature to center the room in a modern kitchen design is the oversized range hood. Grand stove range hoods that extend just beyond the space that the oven or stovetop occupies create a focal point for any modern kitchen design. Additionally, these range hoods can become a grand statement piece. Choose one in the accent color for your pallet or with minimal decor around the rim to best show off this piece.

Modern kitchen design is about seamless, minimal kitchen aesthetics. It should inspire a sense of calm through its sleek and simple decorum. Be sure to use these ideas to curate the perfect modern kitchen that will look stunning for years to come.

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Amelia Wilson
Amelia Wilson (author pen name Amelia J. Wilson) is a content writer in Greenwood, IN. She often enjoys topics on…
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