A modern kitchen is characterised by its thoughtfully crafted look – providing you with both function and fashion by optimising space without compromising on style. We believe that the true beauty of modern kitchen design is in its ability to remain timeless, introducing a fresh contemporary look while still integrating classic kitchen features. This approach helps to avoid a ‘cold and clinical’ look that is too-often associated with modern interiors.

There’s a lot that can go into planning your modern kitchen design, so to help you achieve this look we’ve put together our top 10 modern kitchen design ideas below.

1. Create a Statement with Lighting

Lighting is often overlooked, but it is key to achieving a modern kitchen design that feels welcoming as well as practical. Bespoke ambient lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood and tone of a kitchen space. It creates a unique atmosphere, highlighting architectural details and enhancing your kitchen’s carefully chosen elements. The strategic placement and choice of lighting design, especially when combined with statement lighting fixtures, can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, elevating a kitchen to be a centrepiece of the home.

2. Go Seamless with Your Worktops and Splashbacks

Opting for seamless worktops that blend into your splashbacks will give your kitchen a visually striking and cohesive look. The smooth, continuous surface not only serves as an elegant design choice but also offers functional benefits. It simplifies maintenance and cleaning, providing a practical solution for a modern homeowner. By choosing this seamless design option, you’re aligning with the ideals of modern kitchen aesthetics: clean, uninterrupted lines that elevate simplicity with a sleek look.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Go Dark

Dark hues are a bold and sophisticated choice for a modern kitchen design. The use of black and other dark colours introduces an element of depth, moving away from the traditional preference for lighter shades in modern kitchens. These darker tones also contribute to a sense of warmth and cosiness, creating kitchens that are not only visually striking but also inviting. The incorporation of dark colours into cabinetry, worktops, or splashbacks can transform any kitchen into a statement. Balance out a dark kitchen with tailored lighting and metallic elements, such as cupboard handles, for a chic contemporary look.

4. Make Your Mark with Metallic Touches

Another modern kitchen design idea you can implement is the infusion of metallic elements such as gold, bronze, or stainless steel. These metals bring a touch of luxury and align with the stylish aesthetics of a modern kitchen. Whether used in cabinet handles, lighting fixtures, or as decorative highlights, metallic accents bring a visually pleasing contrast. Metallic features will also interact beautifully with both natural and artificial light, contributing to a dynamic and polished atmosphere.

5. Let the Natural Light In

Maximising natural light is a pivotal element in modern kitchens. Shutters and blinds are the perfect way to achieve this in your modern kitchen design, giving both flexibility and a beautiful, bright finish. Custom kitchen shutters especially offer a great solution for controlling natural light, allowing homeowners to modify the ambiance and mood of their kitchen space effortlessly throughout the day. With made-to-measure shutters you can make the window area a focal point in your modern kitchen, whether you opt for full-height shutters, cafe-style, or a shutter and blind combination.

6. Multifunction for the Win

Multifunctional spaces are a hallmark of modern kitchen design. Incorporating multifunctional spaces like bars, storage seating, and integrated workspaces makes a kitchen more versatile; perfect for a busy, modern home. These adaptable elements transform a kitchen from a mere cooking area into a multi-use hub, suitable for socialising, dining, and working from home. The important thing here is to blend function with design – double up a kitchen island as a breakfast area, add banquet style seating with hidden storage underneath, or add a pop-up plug socket to your worktop for easy electrical access.  

7. Blend Natural Materials

Adding wood and stone elements to a kitchen infuses an otherwise sleek, modern space with an earthy, organic touch. These natural materials provide a tactile and visual warmth that beautifully contrasts the often-clinical lines of typical modern styling. By including wood and stone textures –whether real or manmade- into your modern kitchen design, you can combine contemporary sophistication with nature’s ever-present charm.

Some design options that incorporate wood and stone materials in your modern kitchen:

• Worktops: worktops in wood or stone offer both durability and visual appeal. Wood brings warmth and a classic touch, while stone, like granite or marble, adds a sleek, luxurious finish. You can go for real solid wood or stone worktops, or choose laminated worktops for a more budget-friendly option.
  
• Flooring: Wood flooring in a modern kitchen adds warmth and character. Stone flooring, on the other hand, has a more polished appearance. In either case, selecting a natural-looking flooring option will provide some welcome contrast to sleek, glossy, modern kitchen cabinets.
  
• Cabinet Doors: Incorporating wood tones in cabinet doors brings a natural, organic feel to the kitchen. For a unique and striking modern kitchen design, go for contrasting cabinets that combine wood effect doors with more modern doors in a neutral colour.
  
• Window Coverings: Your window coverings provide a great opportunity to bring wood into your modern kitchen in a more subtle way. By opting for wooden shutters, painted to match your walls or cabinets, you can achieve added wood textures while keeping the colour and modern styling consistent across your entire kitchen space.

8. Add a Pop of Colour

An injection of colour can dramatically alter a kitchen’s atmosphere, infusing it with personality and ultimately avoiding a cold and unwelcoming all-white look. Whether it’s through painted cabinets, a colourful splashback, or decorative pieces, splashes of colour can be used to add a dynamic layer to your modern kitchen design. The strategic use of colour not only personalises the kitchen but also keeps it feeling contemporary and lively.

9. Hidden Storage vs Front-and-Centre Displays

In a modern style kitchen, having balance between hidden storage and front-and-centre displays creates a blend of functionality and personal expression. Hidden storage usually comes in the form of sleek cabinets and integrated appliances. These features provide a clean and uncluttered look that helps to maintain the minimalist aesthetic that comes with a contemporary style kitchen. As well as this, open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets allow homeowners to infuse personality into the space. Visible storage areas allow your kitchen items to become a part of the overall design; from showcasing elegant dishware with carefully crafted racks, to culinary books on conveniently placed shelves – front-and-centre displays add character and warmth to perfectly balance your modern space.

10. Work with Your Home’s Features

Incorporating your home’s unique features into your modern kitchen design adds a layer of personal charm. Period details, like original beams, classic fireplaces, or unusually shaped windows can be beautifully paired with contemporary fittings. Embrace unusual layouts by turning them into bespoke elements, such as a custom storage corner or a uniquely shaped island. This approach ensures your modern kitchen is not just stylish but also a true reflection of your home’s character and history.

For a sleek, modern look that complements your style and enhances functionality, choose Shuttercraft.

Designed to align with the minimalist and sleek look of modern kitchens, our custom made-to-measure shutters provide not just privacy and light control, but also add a sophisticated touch to your space. Whether you’re looking for a bold statement or a subtle complement to your decor, we have a range of styles and finishes to suit your unique taste.

Discover our shutters.