Whether you’re remodeling an outdated kitchen or building a new one, you don’t want your plans to include on-the-way-out trends that will be obsolete in a year or two. You especially don’t want to incorporate a trend that ends up being impractical — and those are more common than you’d think.

The only way to avoid these trends is to take a look at kitchen remodeling dos and don’ts to gauge which features fit in your space. Start with these eight kitchen trends to avoid from PAXISgroup. 

1. White & Gray Palettes

White-on-white and white-on-gray color palettes have been popular in kitchens for the last decade or so. Painting your kitchen white can brighten the space and even make it seem bigger — plus, white is a universally appealing, inoffensive color that can go with anything. However, a shift has occurred. Once seen as modern and minimalist, these neutral palettes are now being characterized as boring, unwelcoming, or sterile. Homeowners are now redoing their walls and outdated kitchen cabinets in natural hues like blue, green, and warm-toned neutrals.

2. Kitchen Desks

Kitchens are one of the most utilitarian areas of the household, and they often become a dumping zone for letters, packages, and other important items. Kitchen desks provide a designated spot to store and organize these items. They allow you to turn your kitchen into a multipurpose space; for this reason, they’ve been popular for much of the past decade. 

However, as more people have started working from home, kitchen desks have fallen in popularity. It isn’t practical for most people to locate their home office in the kitchen. The privacy offered by a separate room is often preferred. Plus, unless you keep your kitchen desk immaculately clean, you’ll have to look at a stack of papers on your desk every time you walk through the kitchen. 

The question of whether kitchen desks are outdated, though, really depends on the homeowner. If you need a space where you can do some serious work, we recommend carving out space in a quiet area of the house like the basement, guest bedroom, or extra room. But if you only need a small area where you can store papers and do a few leisurely hours of work, a kitchen desk might be perfect.

3. Pot Racks

Once pot racks were all the rage. Usually hung above a kitchen island and dangling gleaming pots and pans, pot racks are a focal point and a source of visual interest in a kitchen. They’re also excellent storage and keep your cookware within reach at all times. 

Despite these benefits, pot racks have lost popularity in favor of a more refined look. Homeowners no longer want a jumbled mess hanging quite literally above their heads; they’d rather the clutter be tucked away in cabinets or drawers.

4. Double Ovens

These days there are all kinds of countertop kitchen appliances that can help replace bulky and expensive traditional appliances. Where homeowners with a penchant for cooking once invested in large double ovens, they are now opting for smaller appliances such as air fryers and slow cookers. Convection microwaves tucked away in a pantry is another option when two ovens are needed.

5. Above-the-Range Microwaves

Microwaves aren’t necessarily attractive to look at — especially once leftovers are splattered all over the inside. So displaying your microwave in a place of prominence, such as above your range, doesn’t really make sense. Yet it’s been a predominant trend for years. Well, no more! Homeowners are now having their microwaves built into kitchen islands, bottom cabinetry, or a walk-in pantry.

6. Open Shelving 

Open shelving shot into the spotlight recently. As more people adopted this trend in their homes, some realized they’d bitten off more than they could chew. Open shelving seems like a creative way to simultaneously store your dishware and beautify your kitchen. However, this is rarely the case in practicality. It’s difficult to keep open shelves looking pristine 24/7 and you don’t have the option of closing doors on the mess like you do with cabinetry. Open shelves also have to be cleaned regularly as dust and other kitchen grime accumulate.   

If you do want to include this trend in your remodel, we recommend mixing open shelving with traditional cabinetry. You can use the open shelving to display aesthetically pleasing kitchen utensils or decor, while the cabinetry allows you to hide maximum storage — the best of both worlds!

7. Granite Countertop 

Trends in countertops have been shifting away from granite for a while now. The stone was once loved for its boldness, but granite is being replaced by softer alternatives like quartzite, marble, concrete, and wood. 

8. Traditional Backsplashes

Are backsplashes outdated?

Great question. There are some outdated styles of backsplashes. Subway tile has fallen off in popularity recently (though they are considered classic), as have traditional tile backsplashes as a whole. Current trends include extending your countertop onto the wall in a slab backsplash as well as ceiling-height backsplashes and unconventional mirrored materials like glass.

Homebuilding in Georgia

Before you can rid your home of outdated trends and wear-and-tear alike, you should know what you’re getting yourself into. This custom home building cost guide from PAXISgroup can help.