From outdoor living to bold appliances, we’re breaking down which 2024 kitchen trends lived up to their promise—and which ones missed the mark.
Every year, the design world teases us with big promises for the trends that will dominate our homes. In 2024, these predictions painted a bold vision of where kitchens, living spaces, and appliances were headed. But now, with 2025 in full swing, it’s time to ask: did these trends deliver? From redefining the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living to embracing bold colors and biophilic touches, 2024 brought us a mix of inspiring trends and practical innovations.
But not every idea hit the mark! In this round-up, we’re diving into the hits that elevated our homes and the misses that made us shake our heads. Whether you’re looking to refresh your kitchen, revamp your outdoor space, or simply keep tabs on what’s in and what’s out, we’ve got you covered with all the highlights—and the ones we hope won’t make a comeback.
Flew
Outdoor Connections
The line between indoor and outdoor living has never been blurrier—and we’re here for it! From outdoor kitchens to springtime living room, connecting these spaces has made our homes even more expansive. Whether it's hosting a summer barbecue or starting your day surrounded by an oasis, this trend turns your home into a destination. When you add in phantom screens for ultimate flexibility, you've got the perfect blend of function and beauty.
In 2024, experts predicted that indoor-outdoor living would reach new heights, with seamless spaces becoming the ultimate luxury feature. And they were right!
Lighting Enhancements
With the enhancements in lighting over the last few years, layered lighting is having a moment. You have task lighting for precision, accent lighting to make the mood, and massive windows for natural brilliance. What really makes the difference, is tunable lighting. This is more than just being able to say Alexa turn the lights blue. This is white lighting that lets you shift between cool or warm, natural or artificial. It's incredibly beneficial, energy efficient and surprisingly helpful in making a space suit your needs.
2024 promised advancements in lighting technology that would transform the way we experience our homes—and tunable lighting has delivered.
Induction Cooking
If you've read our 2025 trends article then you know that induction cooking is the cooking trend of the year. We are quite excited to see this technology stepping into the spotlight and are excited to see the way that it changes kitchen safety in the years to come.
A sleek and lovely induction stove courtesy of Rangemaster
When 2024’s kitchen trends forecasted the rise of induction cooking, it seemed like a tech-forward dream. Now, in 2025, it's clear the buzz was well-deserved.
Low Maintenance Minimalism
In 2024 minimalism was everything. More importantly though and the key difference here, was that it wasn't just about making your kitchen empty. It was about making your life in the kitchen easier. Functional layouts and fewer nooks to clean means you spend the time in your kitchen enjoying the space.
Minimalism wasn’t new in 2024, but the shift toward functional simplicity was a predicted game-changer—and it’s delivered.
Courtesy of KIron SajoL
Universal Design
Although not directly relevant for us, a growing trend that we noticed in 2024, was how many people are adjusting their homes to a universal design. People are once again focusing on aging in place and staying in the home that they're in throughout multiple stages of their lives, if not all of them. But that includes more than just our elders, that also includes design for if you sustain an injury and need mobility aids for a time. Universal design works for everybody and means that your home isn't just beautiful it's functional and this is a trend we hope continues for many years.
The prediction that more homeowners would adapt their spaces to fit all life stages has proven true, with functional, inclusive layouts now more common than ever. It's a trend that prioritizes practicality over aesthetics alone, and one we hope continues to grow.
Small Space Solutions
2024 marked the beginning of appliance manufacturers delivering on small clip powerful appliances. We're seeing half fridges, drawer dishwashers, and countertop ovens that are just as powerful as a standard size. This makes living spaces more versatile and able to be used for multiple functions without losing necessities.
Predicted to gain traction in 2024, compact yet powerful appliances have carved out their place in 2025.
Punches of Color
We are so happy that people were bringing in color left right and center in 2024! White and gray and stainless steel and flat neutrals is boring let's be real. With as much time as we spend in our kitchens it should be full of bold vibrant colors, or comforting pastels, or whatever else takes your fancy. Whether it's wrapping your oven in the hottest shade of Barbie pink you can get your hands on, or purchasing a stunning cobalt blue Smeg fridge, it adds joy to the space.
Color was expected to make a triumphant return in 2024, and homeowners didn’t disappoint! Bold hues and pastels have replaced the monotony of neutrals, breathing life into kitchens.
Bringing Nature Into Your Home
Let's be honest: was as much time as we spend at our work we could all use more nature in our lives. The design concept biophilia isn't just a trend that has been growing, it is becoming a lifestyle, even a movement. It's natural woods like oak and walnut paired with living walls of moss and succulents. Some are starting to shed the sterile nature of their kitchens to embrace a lived in warmth. Bonus points for the way this makes you want to stay and spend time in these spaces.
What Flopped
Sustainability Ascendant
Pause for a moment. How many times have you asked yourself, or the salesperson, ‘how was this built’ or ‘is it made from sustainable materials’ ? Go ahead, we’ll wait.
Now, we are ALL for the idea, but it should be a standard part of all things, not something that’s added to your bottom line as part of a marketing line.
While 2024 brought more discussions about sustainability, the reality is bittersweet. The idea of eco-friendly materials has yet to become a universal standard, often showing up as an added cost rather than a baseline expectation. We hope this evolves into a lasting change rather than remaining a buzzword.
Multizone Adjustable Refrigerators
We love this idea, legitimately. And, we want to say that as a concept, the multizone refrigerator is amazing. We have to point out though that making the zones more flexible also presents an issue for keeping your fridge food safe.
Dark Matte Finishes
This. Just no.
Think about how hard it is to keep a stainless steel appliance clean. Dark appliances, specifically matte ones, are so much worse. Most cleaning sprays leave behind residue. It’s meant to be a protective coating typically. But on a dark matte surface? You end up getting dingy appliances very quickly. This is going to lead to one of a few scenarios.
You have to clean twice. Once with your cleaner of choice and a second time with water to remove that residue.
An entire new industry pops up to charge more to a targeted niche, and you pay more.
Predicted to be sleek and modern in 2024, dark matte finishes have proven impractical in real life.
Sleek Built-In Styling
This is great in the moment. BUT if you want to fix it? If you want to change things out? Hidden appliances are going to end up being a nightmare.
Built-ins were forecasted to dominate in 2024, but as predicted, they come with a hidden downside—difficulty in repairs and upgrades.
Steam Revolution & Sous Vide
Ahh we love these so much. They’re fantastic! Especially from a health perspective. However. If it’s too complicated, how many of us walk away from a complicated tool?
Predicted to revolutionize cooking, steam ovens and sous vide systems have incredible potential, but their complexity has limited their appeal. Many homeowners love the health benefits but admit they can be intimidating to use, proving that ease of use is still a major factor in adoption.
What We Want Gone
Composting Emerges
Courtesy of Couleur
This just isn’t safe. This is /asking/ for your kitchen to be a germ and pest magnet, no matter how much you clean it. This should not be on the counter. It shouldn’t be under the counter. Compost should be outside. At that point, we’re fine with the idea! We’re all for composting and growing your own garden. Just don’t keep compost in the kitchen.
Smart Features With Connectivity
Courtesy of Gerd Altmann
Smart features are great. They can save a lot of time, but… the focus for everything is on either solving problems we don’t have or on creating problems.
Also at what point do we stop adding smart features? Is it when a power outage means you can't do anything in your house? Is it when the features become so invasive that somebody hacking your printer can lead to them knowing your bank details? Or maybe it's when we get to the point that the power grid cannot go 24 hours without failure?
As we step further into 2025, looking back at 2024's home trends is a lesson in how the design world evolves. Some trends exceeded expectations, becoming everyday staples, while others fell short or created challenges we didn’t anticipate. The good news? Homeowners have more options and inspiration than ever, from universal design to nature-inspired spaces. At Appliance Rescue Service, we’re here to help ensure the appliances at the heart of these trends are running smoothly, so your home continues to be a place of beauty, comfort, and function. Whether you're embracing the next big thing or sticking with the classics, we’re here for every stage of your home journey.
