What Does It Take To Design A Modern Kitchen?

Modern kitchen designs are all the rage these days, and they easily stand out from other styles through their layered lighting and cabinetry choices.

If you’re planning to design a new kitchen, the first step is to choose between a traditional or a modern style, and different factors come into play when making this decision, such as your home’s overall décor.

What you need to know is that these two types of kitchens are very distinct, each offering its own advantages.

While a traditional kitchen is timeless and warm, blending seamlessly into a home’s original features, a modern kitchen is trendy and ideal for homeowners who want to turn their cooking space into a work of art.

If a chic kitchen is what you’re after, you may wonder what the principles of designing such a space are.

Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the characteristics of a modern kitchen design. Let’s get started!

What makes a kitchen modern?

A modern kitchen is easily recognizable due to its specific features, which we will discuss in detail below.

Clean lines

In modern kitchens, the focus is on linear designs that favour clean straight lines. These lines will impact the overall design not only aesthetically but also by creating the illusion of depth.

There are different ways to include lines in a kitchen, but you should consider the layout and design brief, as well any advice your kitchen installer can give you. For instance, horizontal lines will help widen your field of view in the cooking space.

On the other hand, vertical lines will create the impression of a taller space. Clean lines are also ideal if you want to achieve a minimalist look in your kitchen, and you can do so by using wide drawers or a mix of tall cupboards. This will accentuate the size of the room by creating seamless lines.

Flat/Slab panel cabinetry

Modern-style cabinetry provides a minimalist look, with flat panel doors preferred over traditional designs like Shaker.

They generally have two or more finishes intended to designate zones and create depth.

If you want to create a contemporary style, handleless doors are your go-to, as they boost the linear aesthetic and can make the kitchen feel bigger.

Gloss black kitchen doors are also an excellent option, and they are especially suitable for smaller rooms, giving the impression of a brighter space.

On the other hand, if you want to add a traditional twist to your contemporary kitchen, you can combine slab doors with traditional ones, achieving a transitional kitchen design.

Kitchen lighting

Lighting is often an afterthought when designing a kitchen, but homeowners should prioritise it, as it is one of the most important elements in this space.

In a contemporary kitchen, lighting creates atmosphere and boosts the design’s features.

It can accentuate horizontal and vertical lines, materials and curves, and the textures and colours used in the kitchen.

Under cabinet lighting, backlit stone, and shadow gap lighting are all excellent choices for creating a certain ambience in a modern kitchen.

If you want to design an open-plan kitchen, focusing on lighting is even more critical.

This is because the lighting will help complement your kitchen’s functions, whether task lighting or atmospheric lighting.

Modern appliances

In a modern kitchen, appliances can be hidden or integrated. Keeping the sightline clear is essential in a minimalist design, which can be achieved by hiding the appliances.

For instance, you can incorporate them behind doors or design hidden utility. Some appliances can’t be hidden; in that case, you can get brand-new modern appliances like stainless steel.

Investing in them will help modernise your kitchen instantly, as they are classy, bright, energy-efficient and durable.

Smart storage solutions

Nowadays, kitchens are no longer limited to cooking. They serve different purposes, such as entertaining, relaxing with loved ones, and even working.

As a result, smart storage solutions have become vital to maintaining an intentional and clutter-free room. Modern kitchens provide a myriad of possibilities regarding storage.

For instance, you can incorporate corner caddies or pull-out larders to organise your cooking space.

If you’re looking to achieve an informal aesthetic, consider opting for open shelves, as they can add personality to the kitchen via curated accessories.

Manufactured materials

Traditional kitchens incorporate natural wood finishes, while modern kitchens feature engineered materials. The manufacturing process provides great flexibility regarding the materials.

Veneers and laminates are durable and come in different finishes that imitate the look of stone, wood, metal, and concrete. This wide range of materials enables the personalization of a kitchen design.

Moreover, reflective materials like mirrors, metallic finishes and polished stone are excellent options if you want your kitchen to look ultra-modern.

On the other hand, soft-touch finishes and matte materials are incredibly popular trends in urban interior design.

Important considerations when designing a modern kitchen

Given the importance of the kitchen in your home, you want this project to be as successful as possible.

However, it can seem pretty challenging – and stressful – to ensure that your cooking space meets all your needs and provides an appealing aesthetic and functionality.

But fret not – if you take things step by step and consider some important aspects, you’ll create an outstanding kitchen. Getting inspired with real life designers can help too; Birmingham based Bayliss have a kitchen showroom in Solihull. That said, keep these things in mind when designing your cooking space:

Size and location: this should be a top priority, as you want to ensure there’s enough room to move around as comfortably as possible. Consider uses like meal prep, food storage, general cleaning supplies, eating counter, and location of major appliances;
Workflow: make sure to plan for the location of daily use items, such as the toaster, coffee maker, and other similar amenities. Daily living functions are among the most important factors that will determine whether you will be satisfied with your kitchen, so pay attention to this aspect;
Focal point: regardless of the kitchen style, you should focus on designating a focal point, as this will help elevate the space to featured status;
Aisle width: this aspect is essential, as you want to ensure you won’t bump into people when cooking or socialising. Hence, choose a floor plan that accommodates four-foot aisles;
The island: the kitchen island is the command centre of your home and should enable everything from food prep and serving to clean up and entertaining. That said, it’s vital to ensure it provides enough space.