Top Cabinet Design Trends in Modern Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling
Cabinets carry most of the visual weight in a remodel. Change them and the whole room feels new. Trends come and go, sure, but a few ideas keep showing up because they actually work day to day. Here is a clear, no-nonsense rundown. I’ll keep it practical and a little conversational.
1) Warm woods are back (and calmer)
Walnut, rift white oak, even ash with a light stain. Grain is visible but controlled. Think vertical grain on doors, horizontal on drawers for a tidy rhythm. Pair with matte hardware so it feels inviting, not flashy. If you want paint, try warm off-whites or soft mushroom tones instead of stark white. It photographs well and it lives better.
2) Slab and thin-frame Shaker
Two door styles dominate for a reason. Slab reads clean and modern. Thin-frame Shaker gives you detail without visual clutter. I like mixing them in one space: slab on tall pantry runs for a quiet plane, Shaker on working bases for a little character. It sounds fussy. It isn’t.
3) Mixed finishes without chaos
One wood tone, one paint color. That is plenty. Wood bases with painted uppers. Or painted perimeter with a wood island. Keep counters simple so the cabinets stay the star. Hardware can shift tone slightly, but keep shapes consistent.
4) Drawers over doors
Drawers win for pots, dishes, pantry zones, and vanities. Full-extension, soft-close slides at 75–100 lb make daily life easier. Add simple dividers rather than hyper-specific inserts. Adjustable solves more problems over time.
5) Slim profiles and furniture toes
Thinner slab edges and tight reveals feel current. In baths, a shallow furniture toe or floating vanity opens the floor visually and helps cleaning. In kitchens, toe-kick drawers add sneaky storage for trays or linens.
6) Ceiling-height uppers and a tiny “attic” row
Take wall cabinets to the ceiling. Use a short top row for once-a-year items. It finishes the room and kills dust ledges. Crown can be micro or none at all with a square scribe. Both look fresh if executed cleanly.
7) Integrated lighting you actually use
Under-cabinet task lights in a neutral 3500–4000K. Motion sensors in pantries and deep drawers. Toe-kick night lights in baths. Plan wiring early. Lighting turns a nice cabinet run into a great work zone. It also helps resale, even if no one says it out loud.
8) Appliance and tool garages
Counter clutter is the enemy of calm. Pocket-door or tambour garages hide coffee gear, stand mixers, hair tools in the bath. Add outlets inside and a shallow tray. Doors close and the room exhales.
9) Textured laminates and durable mattes
Not every trend needs luxury pricing. High-pressure laminates with subtle texture are tough and clean easily. Super-matte finishes resist fingerprints better than you’d think. Use them on high-touch base cabinets or kids’ baths and save the splurge for hardware or counters.
10) Honest hardware
Long pulls on wide drawers, small knobs on doors, all in one finish family. Brushed nickel, matte black, soft brass. Pick one. Oversized pulls are more ergonomic and they look intentional. Try samples in your hand before you commit.
11) Smart storage in small footprints
- Narrow pull-outs for spices or baking sheets
- Deep drawers with peg systems for dishes
- U-shaped vanity drawers that wrap the sink trap
- 9–12 in. shallow pantries that use awkward walls
Small things, big comfort.
12) Sustainability that isn’t performative
Low-VOC finishes, CARB-compliant cores, real plywood boxes, and hardware you will not have to replace. It is better for the air you breathe and for the cabinet’s lifespan. Quiet wins.
Planning tips so trends don’t boss you around
- Choose function first. List what must live in the room and size storage to fit.
- Limit the palette. Two cabinet finishes max, one hardware family, done.
- Mock up heights with painter’s tape. Your eyes will tell you if an upper run is too heavy.
- Get a door and finish sample in your light. Colors shift at home. Always.
Bottom line
Modern cabinet trends are moving toward warmth, fewer lines, and smarter storage. Nothing gimmicky. Just rooms that feel calm and work hard. If your plan gives every item a real home, opens smoothly, and looks like it belongs to your house, you will not second-guess it in a year. And that, honestly, is the real trend worth chasing.
This post was written by a professional at The French Refinery. The French Refinery specializes in custom kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, and full home cabinetry in Tampa, FL, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg, FL. With over 100 years of combined experience, our team designs, builds, and installs premium custom cabinets, millwork, and casework for homeowners, builders, and interior remodeler St Pete. From kitchens and bathrooms to closets, mudrooms, entertainment centers, and home offices, we create high-quality, handcrafted solutions that elevate your space and bring your vision to life.
