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The kitchen is one of the most used spaces in the house. It has its utilitarian purposes - grabbing a drink, getting a snack and cooking. But, the contemporary kitchen plays a much bigger role than just sustaining us physically - the kitchen can also be a place of healing, entertaining and enjoyment if stylized to reflect your personality and your values. If your style leans towards modern, then you'll love our recommendations for designing a modern kitchen.
Black and white is such a classic combination, and it can fit in perfectly with a modern kitchen. It can also work well for creating a kitchen that has both modern and traditional style in it. Yes, the two can work together! To mold the two styles, use cabinetry, countertops, and storage that has clean lines to fit the modern style. Then, add in traditional elements like a distressed, patterned runner rug and a patterned floor tile.
For more tips, view How to Choose a Kitchen Rug
If you love modern style, then you probably love natural materials. Incorporate them into your kitchen in several ways to really highlight the style and mood. Using wood accents near or on top of stones is an excellent way to combine two natural materials, create that modern vibe, and bring warmth into the area. To ensure that the stone backdrop and island don't feel cold, choose a glossy or semi gloss finish; it adds texture against the matte woods and will brighten up your room by reflecting more light.
This kitchen blends traditional charm with contemporary touches, featuring a striking contrast between the white shaker cabinets and the dark, gleaming countertops. Oversized windows flood the space with light, while chic pendant lights and vibrant red dining chairs add a pop of modernity and warmth.
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This kitchen offers a timeless design with its classic white cabinetry, subway tile backsplash, and marble countertops, anchored by a dark wood island that adds depth and warmth. The jute kitchen rug complements the natural stone floor, creating a welcoming atmosphere for both cooking and socializing.
Modern style may highlight new, cleancut materials, but that doesn't mean you can't shake things up a bit and add in some unexpected flair. Keep the structure of the kitchen itself modern with straight lines and simplicity, and then add in accents that fit into a different design family. In this case, you can see how incorporating two antiqued, more elegant picture frames and artwork can create a distinct focal point in the kitchen area. The elegant details of the frames and rug contrast against the simple modern style and will create clear focal points in your kitchen.
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The stunning mosaic stonework of Italian design pairs perfectly with modern design! If you do go with a bold stone mosaic, choose cabinets and hardware that are simple and understated. You can carry that trend to the upper cabinets, but at the same time, you can choose uppers that lean into Italian design with arches and frills. However, don't forget to add in one more important element to tie it all together--a rug. This traditional-inspired floral kitchen rug is the perfect addition to add a feminine and cohesive touch to the mosaic wall and pink and gold color scheme, but any runner with a traditional theme and neutral color scheme would work well in a modern Italian kitchen.
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Modern farmhouse is another popular style, and oftentimes, it leans more towards farmhouse than it does modern. If you want your space to vaguely reference farmhouse but not have it dominate your kitchen, choose a classic farmhouse color scheme of grays, whites, and natural wood tones as the base. Then, establish your space as modern by using lots of clean, sleek lines. From the lower cabinets to the uppers, simple countertops to the straightforward backsplash, you can incorporate modern lines and simple details to have that style define the space more completely.
Modern style loves function and minimalism in all of its spaces including the kitchen. That doesn't mean that the space needs to be bland, though! Once again, choose simple cabinets and accents. Then, allow your backsplash to be the star of the show by choosing something marbled or "artistic" looking. You can even add in a shelf for function, but try not to fill it too much to detract from your backsplash or clutter the space. You can add items that have functional purpose in the kitchen, or items that function as art. Don't forget that you can always break a neutral color palette by adding in a colored runner! It's comfortable to stand on, and stylistically, it's a perfect opportunity to add in your favorite color.
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Modern and rustic styles are two more styles that are being paired together more frequently. To effectively combine the two, add in a lot of natural elements, but make sure that they are cleaned up and neat. The ceiling, for example, may include different worn woods, but they are very uniform in their layout. Remember the key idea of modern design: simplicity in its structure and clean lines. Use that as the basis for choosing your wood accents, flooring, ceiling, and accent pieces.
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This modern kitchen strikes a balance between functionality and style, with its light wood cabinetry and dark countertops creating a warm, yet sophisticated palette. The greenery outside the window brings a touch of nature indoors, complementing the soft green accents of the area rug.
This kitchen marries classic design with modern aesthetics, featuring a herringbone backsplash and an ornate coffered ceiling that gracefully contrasts with the sleek dark wood island and contemporary bar stools. The space is thoughtfully accented with a colorful, kitchen runner rug, adding warmth and texture to the polished hardwood floors.
A kitchen that incorporates black, white, and earthy tones is already well on its way to showcasing that modern look, but there's so much more to design tan just a color scheme. Consider the hardware and metals that you have throughout the room. Black metal can be incorporated with earth tones and white fixtures to stand out and add some flair. If you have black cabinets, like this kitchen does, use a different color for the handles, like a bold color or even a white. Not only is it practical for you to actually see the handle, but it also adds in a pop of vibrance against the stark color.
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Industrial is another style that is a popular subset of modern design. If you want to add some industrial style to your kitchen, try a concrete (or concrete colored) backsplash. Keep the space simple with its cabinets and countertop, and to really set an industrial mood, dare to incorporate some dark colors. Black countertops are one way to go bold, but you can also incorporate darker shades in shelving, cabinets, and even open shelves. Make sure you include some warmer, lighter tones so that the space doesn't get too dark...the rug and cabinetry show here are a great example of a great balance.
Choosing a color scheme can be tough, so try one that's already established. An easy color palette to start with is black, white, and a neutral like gray or blue. Use the neutral as a bridge between the two extremes to guide the eye from one point to the other. In this modern kitchen design idea, you can see that the blue kitchen rug is set as the backdrop of the kitchen, and white lower cabinets are a distance away from the black hood vent. However, you don't necessarily need to bridge between the two; if you want more drama, go with white lower cabinets and then switch over suddenly to a black island. Even if you just do the underside of the island black, from the dining room's perspective, it is a dramatic contrast that immediately draws your eye to the stunning kitchen.
Check out our curated selection of Best Kitchen Rugs.
This sleek, modern kitchen balances boldness and elegance, with dark wood cabinetry that accentuates the luxurious marble countertops and backsplash. Natural light filters through the shuttered windows, casting a warm glow on the herringbone-patterned floor, highlighted by a stylish, yellow runner.
This vibrant kitchen showcases a bold blue color palette, complemented by striking geometric backsplash tiles and a pair of elegant brass pendant lights. The runner rug adds a fun and cozy texture, contrasting with the sleek wooden countertops and dark hardwood floors.
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We've already shown you how you can blend farmhouse and modern design with an emphasis on modern style. But, if you want to lean more on the farmhouse side of things, here are some tips for you to implement: Choose a light, bright color scheme with a lot of white. Incorporate light woods as accent pieces, furnishings, and floor color. The modern flair comes in with how those items appear: are they worn and well loved, or are they clean cut? Go for a refined, unified look with the wood to fit that modern farmhouse vibe; go for more worn, imperfect woods if you want something more rustic.
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To blend together traditional and modern styles, go with a color scheme that they both love: neutral and earth tones. By using white as the base color, you can add in warmth and stylistic elements through the other elements like rugs, vases and photos. Use gold/bronze to add in modern style with clean, simple handles as shown here, or you can choose something more ornate if you'd like to lean into the more traditional style. Your light fixtures and decor around the kitchen do a lot to establish the style of the space, so don't be afraid to mix it up--whether it be different styles of vases and flowers or kitchen utensils. There are so many ways to add style to the space with small tweaks, so play around with what you have to see what you like.
Steel isn't the only metal that fits well in modern design. Bronze is another perfect fit because of how it melts into the natural, earthy tones that modern style thrives on. You can include it in your hardware, your handles, your lighting, and any accents you have in the room. It is one color that you don't want to have over saturate the room, though, so going with white appliances like the fridge is a smart move to let the bronze stand out. If you want another added element, add in some bronze on the hood vent, drop in some picture frames, vases, etc., and viola! You've created the kitchen of your dreams.
Your modern kitchen doesn't have to be plain, by any means. If you like detail and pattern, choose one area/aspect that you want to be the focal point of the kitchen--whether it be a detailed rug, backsplash, island, artwork, or anything else that pops into mind. From there, go with simple, straightforward elements in the rest of the space so that your focal point will have a chance to shine. As you see here, going with a patterned backsplash in an otherwise plain kitchen is a stunning way to create drama in the space.
In terms of actual definitions, modern and contemporary styles actually have some key differences from each other. That doesn't mean that they can't be paired together, though--in fact, it's just the opposite. Allow the fixtures of your kitchen to be simple and straightforward, and then add in contemporary flair through light fixtures, seating, and accents. Modern style would lean towards more simplistic, natural seating, but contemporary loves rounded, artistic shapes as shown in the chairs here. The light fixtures fit contemporary style too with their roundness and curvature, but even so, this room is a cohesive blend of the two styles that you can easily imitate in your kitchen.
Just because you can fill a wall entirely with cabinetry doesn't mean that you should (or need to). In this modern style kitchen, there are plenty of cabinets to store items in, from the island, the sets of cabinets by the stove to the cabinets above the fridge. If you have all the storage you need, don't add in extra units that may just clutter up a wall, go for some simple open shelving units to display your favorite plants, family photos, or even your most-used cookbooks for a practical kitchen accent.
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If you have a small kitchen, be very deliberate with the metals you choose for your appliances, handles, and other kitchen staples. Choosing steel, for example, is great for modern design because it keeps the space bright and easily coordinates with other colors/textures. If you want the space to be extra practical, add in a rod for hanging dish towels or even pots and pans that you regularly use. Once again, make sure the metal is the same as the others so your space is uniform and looks masterfully designed.
This open-plan kitchen has a bright and airy feel that features a classic white cabinetry with sophisticated gray marble countertops and a subway tile backsplash. Elegant pendant lights hang above the island, adding a touch of glamour to the space, which seamlessly transitions into the inviting living area.
Backsplashes are both practical and beautiful. Since modern styles love simplicity, there's no shame in choosing a simple backsplash for your space. The one used in this kitchen is a nice callback to classic subway tiles, but these are square instead of rectangular. Opting for a backsplash like this one is an excellent choice because it creates an accent wall and takes away the need for you to add in any other decor.
Of course, lighting is also essential for a good kitchen. Choosing a set of chandeliers or pendants to hang above your island is an awesome way to add in personality and style to a functional space. Not only that, you can connect the finishes of the lighting back to your kitchen hardware and to lights in other rooms, like the dining room chandelier across the way. Whatever you decide to do, being expressive with lighting is always a bright idea.
This modern kitchen boasts a clean and sophisticated design with its crisp white cabinetry and marble waterfall island, accented by warm wooden textures and a contemporary chrome faucet. The sleek, understated elegance is punctuated by high-end stainless steel appliances, inviting both culinary creativity and casual dining at the island's stylish bar seating.
The kitchen is an important space, and just like any other area of the house, it can be stylized and designed to match your personal style. Whether your style is 100% modern all of the time or you like to combine it with other popular design styles, there's no limit to the potential of your kitchen. Remember, the key colors and design traits of modern design that we detailed above, and create a kitchen that will sustain you in more ways than one.
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