Skip to main content

These 7 amazing kitchen cabinet ideas will totally refresh your kitchen

Now, more than ever, people are realizing how crucial it is to have a kitchen that is both functional and beautiful. Over the past two years, most of us have spent more time in our kitchens than ever before, and this fact alone has changed the way we look at and decorate the room.

Kitchens should be both welcoming and practical, soothing and functional, especially when it comes to storage and cabinetry. In 2022, interior designers are embracing natural materials, colors, and forms to bring the relaxing nature of the great outdoors into the home. How can you incorporate this overarching trend and others into your kitchen design? Read on to discover some new kitchen cabinet ideas that you can use to refresh your traditional kitchen.

Sage green kitchen cabinets
Serghei Starus / Shutterstock

Refresh the kitchen with shades of green

There are so many great kitchen cabinet color ideas that you can incorporate in your design, making it simple to find one that matches your style. With the popularity of natural materials and colors, it’s no surprise that green will be one of the most significant cabinet colors of the year. Thanks to its soothing and almost-neutral look, sage green will be the trendiest shade for 2022. Choose a deep, rich forest or emerald hue to add more drama and opulence to your kitchen. Or get inspired by the foods in your refrigerator and try a mint or olive green.

Recommended Videos

Embrace natural wood grain

If you’re updating your cabinetry this year, you can forgo the paintbrush altogether, shun glossy finishes, and instead welcome natural wood grain. Wood cabinets are naturally beautiful; each piece of wood has a totally unique grain, creating a one-of-a-kind look in your kitchen. The material is natural, creating a soothing environment, and classic, signifying a desire to return to long-lasting and timeless design. Add some luxury to your sustainable design by choosing walnut cabinetry. Its fine grain and warm, dark color can instantly take your kitchen to the next level.

Modern kitchen with handleless cabinets
Luciano Santandreu / Shutterstock

Say goodbye to handles

For modern kitchens, handles are about to become a thing of the past. This year’s modern kitchen trends are all about multifunctional design with a minimalistic, streamlined look. Handleless cabinets have push-open doors, which offer a sleek design ideal for any contemporary kitchen. If you don’t like push-open cabinets, you can achieve a similar look with doors that have recessed handles. Regardless of which you choose, the simplicity of these designs has earned them an essential spot in any modern kitchen.

Swap navy for cobalt and sky blue

Navy blue has long been an old standby in interior design, thanks to its versatile, almost neutral tone. But this year, a few new shades of blue are coming for navy’s crown. Sky blue is making waves this year. The soft, pastel shade lends an air of tranquility to the busiest room in the home. Painting the cabinets baby blue is also one of the best kitchen cabinet ideas for small kitchens, because using lighter colors can make your space look larger. Cobalt is another popular hue for 2022. This striking shade of blue adds drama to any room, making it a bold choice for your kitchen cabinets.

Try metal and other unconventional materials

Design experts are expecting an increase in the variety of cabinetry materials in the upcoming year, too. Metal cabinets are set to be very popular this year since they fit the natural materials trend. These cabinets look great in modern and industrial-style kitchens. Plus, this type of quality cabinetry doesn’t just look great; it’s ultra-durable too. Designers also expect to see unconventional materials like plaster, concrete, and luxurious stone make their way from countertops to cabinetry to create really unique and beautiful kitchen storage.

Kitchen with blue frame fronted cabinets
YinYang / Getty Images

Add some dimension with frame fronted cabinets

Frame fronted cabinets, also called in-frame cabinets, are a style of cabinet door characterized by a rim of raised edging. The three-dimensional design of these cabinets adds a bit of visual interest to the kitchen. They create depth and add light and shadow, which breaks up the monotony of flat cabinetry. You can take this cabinet style to the next level by adding decorative mesh inserts, giving the classic look an industrial spin.

Incorporate more old-fashioned storage options

Cabinets aren’t the only kitchen storage space you should consider; more traditional storage options like open shelving, pantries, and larders are making a comeback in a major way. Thanks to the popularity of the cottagecore aesthetic, these traditional kitchens will be super common in 2022. To get this look in your home, consider adding a larder or other freestanding storage unit to store your food. Or, if you have the space, give your pantry a makeover so you’ll have plenty of room to hold all your bulk food purchases. Floating shelves or a single open shelf can offer a traditional look, too.

If you’re looking for kitchen cabinet organization ideas, you’ll want to pay close attention to this trend. These options can give you a ton of extra storage space, allowing you to optimize your kitchen and make the room more functional overall.

The kitchen design trends of 2022 are more exciting than ever before, especially when it comes to cabinetry and storage. If you’re planning to update your kitchen, get inspired by the beauty of the natural world. Use materials like wood or metal for your cabinets, leaving the material in its natural state or adding a pop of color by painting the cabinets green or cobalt blue. Consider handleless cabinets for a modern look, or add depth to the room with frame fronted cabinets. And don’t forget about the other storage opportunities you can add to make your kitchen even more functional than before! With any one of these cabinet trends, you can level up your design and create a Instagram-worthy kitchen.

Shannon Cooper
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Shannon Cooper has written about everything from pet care and travel to finance and plumbing in her seven years as a writer…
Board and batten: Your essential guide
How board and batten is different from traditional siding, shiplap, and wainscoting
Small red barn in the countryside

Whether you’re replacing your exterior siding or considering revamping your interiors with paneling, you may have encountered the term "board and batten." Board and batten is a unique feature to add to any home, especially if you’re looking for a streamlined and modern aesthetic.

But what is board and batten? How is it different from traditional siding, shiplap, and wainscoting? Today, we'll discuss everything you need to know about board and batten so you can gain some inspiration for your next home improvement project.
What is board and batten?

Read more
An expert’s guide to refreshing your dated midcentury modern living room
Here are the best tips to give your space a fresh look
Living room with midcentury modern wallpaper

A midcentury modern living room has remained a popular design choice for many long after it first appeared. The slim, clean lines and symmetry bring order to any room, and the color palette is neutral and inviting. The classic look never goes out of style; however, if you are looking to breathe new life into it, there are a few things you can do to keep it updated but true to the original timelessness of the design.

We asked the experts how to keep things feeling fresh in a midcentury modern home while still holding true to the shapes, colors, textures, and lines that make the style unique. Anna Franklin, interior designer and founder of Stone House Collective, gave us some easy and fun ideas to keep it feeling fresh.
How to keep a midcentury modern living room feeling less orchestrated

Read more
Cringe-worthy decorations that definitely ruin good home design
Experts say these are some of the most common design mistakes that ruin your home's interiors
Woman placing a pillow on bed for cohesive design

If you’re aiming for a stellar home design, then there are a few things many experts urge you to watch out for. Good home design is all about intentionality and ensuring that your design appears balanced through the use of color, texture, and form. So, to help alleviate any worries and to save you from a cringe-worthy design, we’re offering a few tips on how you can decorate your home to achieve a stunning look.
Uninspired, boring artwork

One of the most common aspects of bad interior design is adorning your walls with uninspired, boring artwork. Artwork is a great way to express your personal style while also adding color and character to your room decor. For homeowners in need of decorating a blank wall or who crave more visual interest, artwork can be a fantastic solution. However, it’s easy to pick out any old piece to style your space quickly. But doing so can sometimes leave your design feeling cheap or poorly planned.

Read more