Interior-design experts share the 12 kitchen trends you’ll probably regret in a few years

Concrete kitchen countertops are on the rise amongst their marble, quartz, and granite counterparts. But Taylor said it’s important to remember that concrete countertops are expensive and hard to maintain.

“Counters are expensive. Even if the concrete countertop trend continues to persist, concrete is going to be wrecked so fast that you’ll want to replace it in two years,” Taylor told BI. “It is incredibly porous and just not going to look like anything but a mess, trendy or not.”

“Double islands are nice if you have the space, but also expensive and permanent. You need to commit to the layout, and there isn’t room for making changes,” Duena said.

Instead, Duena recommends opting for a less-permanent furniture piece, like a large table or cabinet, to add visual interest to a space.

Rhea Vaflor, associate principal and director of trendcasting at Hickok Cole, told BI that aspects of the industrial-farmhouse trend may be difficult to deal with down the road. 

In particular, the industrial-style matte-black finishes show “scratches more easily, and if the quality isn’t high enough, the finish can flake off.” 

Instead, Vaflor recommends choosing polished- or brass-nickel fixtures, which tend to be more timeless and durable. 

Lisa Odor, senior interior designer at MA Design, told BI that open shelves with highly-curated items could lead to regrets down the road.

“They look great for Instagram when they are nicely organized and picturesque with your three favorite cookbooks and some cute knickknacks, but they aren’t functional and will only collect dust and more things,” she said.

Instead, Odor recommends capitalizing on closed storage options.

Erin Davis, owner and lead designer at Mosaik Design & Remodeling, said light-colored cabinetry has been a popular trend for years but it’s not the most practical one. 

“Homeowners may regret having a light color on the lower cabinetry as it can quickly show wear and tear. A great alternative is combining wood cabinetry on the base with lighter-painted uppers,” Davis told BI.

Interior designer Randi Destefano said sliding doors can work in a pantry, but you might want to skip anything too rustic unless it fits your kitchen’s aesthetic. 

“Rustic barn doors for pantries don’t always fit the kitchen style. Some trend followers only see rustic and think they need to have it. They forget that the rest of the kitchen is not rustic,” Destefano told BI.

Before committing to a pantry door, do some research to understand the available options rather than defaulting to the popular rustic style.

This story was originally published on January 31, 2023, and most recently updated on September 6, 2024.