One of the biggest concerns many homeowners looking to renovate have is whether their kitchen design ideas will stay relevant for long enough to keep their home value high. Because kitchen design trends are constantly changing, many would-be remodelers fear that their trendy kitchen will become dated before they’ve even finished the installation.
Luckily, there are a few big players in interior design that are perennially popular. In this blog, we’ll go over some of these steadfast design choices, including the kitchen design choice that everyone is talking about—gray kitchen cabinets. By the time you finish reading, you’ll have an answer to all of your kitchen trend questions, including whether or not gray cabinets are too trendy.
What are Kitchen Design Trends?
Kitchen design trends are different elements of a kitchen that fit in with the zeitgeist of a specific time period—while some trends come and go every year, there is typically an overarching trend that lasts for around five to ten years, like minimalist and modern kitchens now and traditional kitchens in the early 2000s.
These trends tend to be the talk of the town for a few years, featured in various home renovation programs and collections, and as the subject of many lifestyle blogs. However, just as quickly as they rise to fame in the kitchen renovation world, they tend to burn brightly and briefly, fading from popularity soon after. When it comes to something as labor- and time-intensive, not to mention expensive, it’s understandable that many people want to stray away from something that may not please them or potential buyers for very long.
With that being said, there are a few kitchen design elements that have remained popular throughout the years without becoming dated or falling out of style. One of these elements is gray cabinetry, which we’ll explore further below.
What Kitchen Cabinets are In Style in 2022?
Before we talk in detail about gray cabinets, we’ll outline some of the kitchen trends 2022 has to offer, as well as some popular predictions for upcoming 2023 kitchen trends.
Marble Countertops and Backsplashes
One of the biggest trends for the past few years has been the heavy inclusion of marble in kitchen spaces. While natural stones tend to remain popular throughout the years, the 2010s and 2020s have held marble in the spotlight. That being said, some think that marble is due for its downfall—similar to complaints about the minimal kitchen trend as a whole, many think that marble is too cold and lifeless for a gathering place like the kitchen. To combat this, some sources have made strides towards more patterned and colorful marble countertops, but we suspect that this trend, too, will pass.
White on White (on White)
While white cabinets serve as the perfect canvas for bold color combinations and complementary natural elements, the same cannot be said for white kitchens with white cabinets on white walls over white counters. Once a hallmark of modern kitchen design, the cold and industrial white kitchen, while still popular, is quickly falling in popularity when compared to bold colors and warm tones.
Hidden Storage
A trend that is becoming more common as we approach 2023 is the “concealed kitchen”. In these kitchens, cabinets are devoid of hardware or texture and blend into the walls. Similarly, appliances like the fridge and dishwashers are hidden by faux cabinet doors. While this trend may seem sleek now, we suspect that it’ll quickly join the many trends that are now seen as cold,uninviting, and impractical.
Are Gray Kitchen Cabinets a Trend?
It can be easy to think that a design element’s popularity indicates that it must be a trend, but that isn’t necessarily the case. While some popular styles have popped up seemingly out of nowhere, there are others that have been popular for years and years, such as white shaker cabinets. This long-lasting design choice remains popular because it can be adapted to any kitchen style, including modern, farmhouse, and traditional. Gray kitchen cabinets are another design that will likely last for years to come.
One of the primary factors that go into the continued popularity of gray cabinets is the fact that there are endless shades of gray that can fit in any style of kitchen you may desire. While light gray and “greige,” which is a blend of gray and beige, are in style right now, there are countless shades that will always look good in any kitchen, including dark grays, which are rising in popularity because of their boldness. Ultimately, gray is here to stay because of its ability to work as a neutral color or a daring design choice in a number of styles.
Benefits of Gray Cabinets
Because of the number of shade options available and the nature of the color itself, gray cabinets are one of the most versatile cabinet colors on the market. Below are some—but not all—of the biggest benefits of gray cabinets.
Versatility
Depending on the aesthetic that you want your kitchen to have, you can opt for a cooler gray, with purple, green, or blue undertones, or a warmer gray, with yellow, red, or brown undertones.
Finish Options
Unlike other cabinet colors, gray works in multiple finishes for your kitchen. If you want other elements of your space to contrast against a solid surface of gray, you can opt to use gray paint on your cabinets for a sleek and uninterrupted look. If you want your gray cabinets to look more natural, you can add a gray stain to wood cabinets so that the natural pattern of the wood comes through.
Forgiving Surface
Let’s face it—no matter how clean or organized you are, kitchens get dirty. Gray cabinets are a great option for messy cooks (or those with young children and messy pets), as the color is dark enough to hide any fingerprints, dirt, or drops of food that land on them during cooking.
How to Style Gray Kitchens
Gray kitchens are a wonder to style because the options are endless. The way that you style a kitchen with gray cabinets can completely change the ambiance of a space, from the modern style to farmhouse or traditional. While the shade of gray you choose will change the specific colors that will look best, there are a few general tips that you can follow to best style your kitchen .
Choose Colors Wisely
One of the only dangers of a gray kitchen is that if you use too much gray, the kitchen might feel washed out. That’s why it’s best to use complementary colors in your kitchen, either in the form of some key appliances, a dramatic backsplash, or an accent wall color. This will make both the gray and the additional color stand out so the kitchen can pop with color rather than fade into the background.
Incorporate Multiple Textures
Solid colors aren’t the only thing that can add an extra element to your space. Different textures, like tiled backsplashes or natural stones and wood tones, will contribute to the specific kitchen style that you’re looking to emulate. These different textures can also warm up the feel of the kitchen, as sleek and smooth surfaces can feel minimalist.
Add a Splash of White
Another way to make your kitchen stand out and complement itself is to add white elements. For example, your upper and lower cabinets don’t need to be the same color—introducing shaker white cabinets to either the top or bottom of your kitchen can add dimension to your space. You can also choose natural stones in white for your countertops, which will add to the modern feel of a kitchen.
Gray Cabinets at Buy Wholesale Cabinets
While there are endless options for styling your gray cabinets, and even more reasons to choose them, your gray kitchen journey has to begin somewhere: buying the cabinets themselves. For a convenient and affordable cabinet-purchasing experience, consider purchasing your cabinets online at an online retailer like Buy Wholesale Cabinets.
Buy Wholesale Cabinets offers shaker gray cabinets in both ready-to-assemble (RTA) and pre-assembled varieties and multiple configurations through their online catalog, and we’re ready to help you at any step of your cabinet journey. We offer the highest quality cabinets on the market at a low price for everyone, and we pride ourselves on our outstanding customer service. Contact us today for a free quote on your gray cabinets!
