5 Outdated Kitchen Trends Interior Designers Hope Never Come Back

Kitchen design trends come and go, but there are some that interior designers really hope will go away—permanently. Below, five pros speak to kitchen trends they think have had their time in the sun and are no longer practical—or relevant—in today’s cook spaces. So if you want a kitchen that’s fresh and modern, here are five outdated design choices they think you should steer clear of.

Floating Shelves

Some designers, like Molly Basile, are tired of seeing an excessive amount of floating shelves in the kitchen. “The floating shelf trend is fading, because they can make kitchens feel cluttered and chaotic,” Basile explains.

Vyanca Soto feels similarly. “While beautiful in editorial photos, it’s rarely practical for real-life living and often results in clutter or constant maintenance,” says the founder of Market Studio Interiors.

Basile would prefer to see cabinetry used instead, for a couple of different reasons. “Beautiful cabinetry is all about craftsmanship and thoughtful details,” she says. “Well-designed cabinets don’t just keep things organized—they elevate the entire space and can create a polished, timeless design with beautiful details and hardware.”

Desks

A few decades ago, desks were a common fixture in kitchens. “The concept sounded great at first,” says Anne Mueller, founder of Briar Design. “Look up recipes! Keep an eye on the kids while they do homework.”

In reality, though, the designer has found that “more often than not, these spaces ended up as clutter catchalls,” and she’d rather not see them make their way into kitchens again. The better option? Cabinets designed to sort and conceal mail, forms, and more, Mueller suggests.

Antique-Looking Cabinetry

Mueller has strong feelings on kitchen cabinet styles that she would rather not see make a comeback. “Distressed finishes, decorative paint techniques, and glazes were once popular for bringing an old-world charm to the kitchen,” she says.

But according to the designer, weaving these looks into new-construction homes simply doesn’t make sense. “One room feels like an 18th-century Sicilian villa, while the rest of the house clearly belongs to early 2000s America,” Mueller explains.

Over-the-Range Appliances

No range hood? That is indeed a problem, according to Liz Kirby, the founder of Surf Road Designs. The designer hopes to never again see microwaves positioned over the range in lieu of a range hood.

“A range hood, while sometimes being a splurge, elevates the look of the kitchen and is so much more functional as well,” she says. “It can honestly be as simple as a metal option off the shelf, or as custom and intricate as taste and budget allow.”

Mosaic Backsplashes

Are all backsplashes fair game? Definitely not, pros say. “Mosaic glass backsplashes—why did we think this ever looked good?” says Susan Klimala, founder of TKS Design Group. “Oversized acanthus corbels paired with Tuscan-themed range hoods can also stay far, far away!”

Soto, too, hopes mosaic backsplashes are a thing of the past, particularly those paired with granite countertops. “While it may have once been seen as a way to add personality, the combination often results in visual chaos and dates a kitchen almost instantly,” she says.