Whether you’re looking for small changes or a big overhaul, there are many ways to redo your kitchen. You can make small changes by swapping out the paint colors, adding a new backsplash, or going big by tearing down what’s there and starting with a fresh, new space.
Either way, your best bet for your kitchen design idea is to start with shaker-style cabinets. These simple and versatile cabinets will look home in any kitchen, regardless of size or style.
You can create anything with your kitchen once you have shaker cabinets as your base. Read on for a kitchen design idea featuring shaker-style cabinets.
Before You Start a Kitchen Design Idea
Before you grab the sledgehammer and start demolition on your old space, you should evaluate what you want your final project to look like and, most importantly, how much money you have to spend. If you plan to use a contractor, you can work with them on your plans.
Contractors can help you create a blueprint for the final space, provide input on design, style, and materials, and provide a detailed budget ahead of time.
If you’re forgoing a contractor and doing the renovation on your own, make sure to have a clear plan and budget, plus a good chunk of contingency money set aside in case of any emergencies that pop up along the way.
Once your budget is settled, you can pick a style for your kitchen design idea.
Go Modern
Modern kitchen design is all about being sleek, sophisticated, and, most importantly, clean. Your surfaces should be clutter-free and as reflective and shiny as possible. Stainless steel appliances and lots of high-tech gadgets help keep your kitchen looking as modern as possible.
The simple and clean lines of shaker kitchen cabinets make them a perfect choice for modern kitchens. A glossy lacquered finish in a bold color to offset your stainless steel appliances gives them a chic and unexpected look.
You can also go with classic white and/or highly polished natural wood. Make sure to choose simple hardware to match.
Go Farmhouse
Farmhouse-style kitchens have been a popular design choice in recent years. These country-style kitchens are open and inviting and often have the rustic feel of a farm or cottage, no matter where you live!
White shaker cabinets are a good selection for farmhouse-style kitchens, but you can also paint them in shades of cream or pale yellow to create the same homey effect.
Your decor items should be eclectic and rugged. Think highway signs on the wall, mason jars, and kitschy finds like a rooster-shaped vase full of fresh flowers.
You don’t want anything to look too finished or polished. Woodblock counters and apron-style sinks complete the look.
Go Traditional
Traditional doesn’t mean old-fashioned. You can create a traditional-style kitchen that looks fresh and stylish by making a comfortable and welcoming space.
Your shaker-style cabinets can be darker in woods like walnut, mahogany, or shades of grey.
Traditional kitchens look luxe with extra details and embellishments that help them stand out. You can add vintage-looking light fixtures or chandeliers, crown moldings, and classic marble countertops and backsplash to add a special touch.
For your shaker cabinets, you may want to add glass panels or doors to help create that timeless style and showcase some of your finest wares.
If you have (or are adding!) a kitchen island, you might want to consider using upholstered chairs instead of bar stools for a more classic look.
Go Industrial
If you’re lucky enough to have a space with exposed brick or wood beams, an industrial kitchen will be the perfect choice for you. But even without those staples of industrial design, you can bring the look into your kitchen.
It’s all about choosing the right materials: stainless steel appliances, concrete worktops, and natural wood shelves can all give an industrial look. For your bar stools, try leather upholstered seats with metal legs.
You should use a simple, neutral color palette in this kitchen style. With all the materials like concrete and brick, you should keep your shaker cabinets in a neutral shade like black or grey.
You should choose simple polished brass or matte black kitchen hardware like cup pulls or bars.
Go Coastal
A coastal-style kitchen is an easy way to bring that relaxed beach living into your home. Colors like blue, green, and white will be obvious staples of a coastal kitchen, creating a sea-inspired color palette.
A coastal design works best with lots of natural light.
Ideally, you should have large windows and high ceilings to create an airy atmosphere, but the right window treatments and a light color scheme can trick the eye into thinking a kitchen is bigger and brighter than it really is.
You can go bold by installing a blue tile backsplash next to your white shaker cabinets and using blue as an accent color in places like your kitchen island or breakfast nook.
To complete the beach vibes, you can opt for white wicker or rattan chairs for your seating.
Go Contemporary
A contemporary kitchen and a modern kitchen are different, although sometimes the phrases can be used interchangeably. A contemporary kitchen might also be called a transitional kitchen.
It’s a careful mix of modern and traditional, often open-concept, to create a unique space functional for families and entertaining.
A contemporary kitchen design idea might have the polish of a modern kitchen with luxurious details. You might have stainless steel appliances and glossy countertops but with white shaker cabinets and a kitchen island with furniture-like detailing.
Use earth tones and neutral colors with a statement lighting fixture to make an elegant space that pops in the right ways.
