Timeless vs trendy – kitchen design choices that stand the test of time

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Whether you’re cooking meals that bring the family together, packing lunch boxes, preparing a dish for a potluck with friends, or sneaking some ice cream straight from the tub at 2 a.m., the kitchen sees it all. A timeless kitchen will not only meet your needs but also add value to your home if you decide to sell it in the future.

What makes a kitchen timeless?

When you imagine a timeless kitchen, you might picture a gleaming, polished white space with sparkling stainless steel appliances. While this style of kitchen is definitely timeless, it’s far from the only option if you want to design a kitchen that will remain stylish and functional for years to come.

In fact, whether you like your kitchen in pristine white, warm woods, or painted duck egg blue matters far less than the decisions you make around functionality, space, and quality finishes.

Why quality matters

Designing and building a kitchen from scratch or renovating a kitchen is no easy feat. If you’re going to do it, you may as well do it right, which means investing in the highest quality your budget allows.

High-quality finishes and appliances mean your kitchen will reward you with years of service.

• Consider investing in a dishwasher and fridge with a 5-star energy rating, as these will keep your energy bill down and your environmental footprint small.
• High-quality finishes elevate a kitchen. Choose a quality benchtop material to avoid flaking, peeling, or heat damage over time.
• Consider an induction stove. It’s easy to cook on and clean, and produces far fewer air pollutants than a gas stove.
• Don’t skimp on your kitchen extractor fan. A good extractor fan will stop your kitchen and home from being overrun with cooking smells and remove air pollutants.
• Quality cabinetry is essential for a timeless kitchen. A professional cabinet maker can help you choose the right cabinets for your space and ensure they’re made with high-quality materials.

Balancing timeless and trendy

For most of us, the allure of a trend is hard to resist. Social media is bursting at the seams with home makeover inspiration, and it’s easy to get swept up in the hype. Luckily, you don’t need to sacrifice trendiness altogether, even when creating the timeless kitchen of your dreams.

Use this rule to balance timelessness with trends: choose timeless over trendy for anything permanent. That means you should select a layout, cabinets, bench tops, appliances, and finishes that will stand the test of time and prioritise functionality over trendiness. Save your love of trends for areas you can easily change when you want a quick refresh.

Trendy kitchen design elements

What trends you want to incorporate into your kitchen is entirely up to you, and there are quick and easy ways to incorporate them without making any permanent changes to your kitchen. So, whether your style is dopamine-inducing pops of colour, coastal elegance or farmyard chic, bring your personality to the kitchen with these tips:

• Use visible storage to express yourself. From salt and pepper shakers to tea storage, canisters and containers can inject some personality.
• Use picture rails to showcase items that complement your aesthetic. Pictures, herbs, jars, ornaments, small plants, and recipe books all look great displayed like this.
• Switch up your accessories. Tea towels are easy to change, and you can use them to highlight your particular style, whether it’s bright abstract patterns or country kitchen ginghams.
• If you’re brave and have an excellent vacuum cleaner, add a rug to your kitchen for a whimsical touch and a splash of colour.

Common mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake in kitchen renovations is not considering functionality. No matter how pristine your kitchen might look after the renovation, falling into these common traps will impact its functionality and inevitably lead to a cluttered, messy kitchen.

Not enough bench space

In a functional kitchen, bench space is king. You’ll want space to chop veggies for dinner, pack kids’ lunchboxes, prop open a recipe book, or lay out your groceries as you pack them away. Insufficient bench space is not only annoying when you’re trying to cook but will lead to a cluttered kitchen.

A simple solution is to add a kitchen island and to ensure you’ve thought through the positioning of the sink and stove to maximise available bench space.

Not enough storage

Another common pitfall when designing a kitchen is insufficient storage. Whether it’s pantry space or cabinet shelving for your crockery, without enough storage, you’ll inevitably end up storing unnecessary items on your bench top.

Storage for your pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, appliances and food is something you should consider right at the beginning of your kitchen design journey. Consider things like:

• Do you regularly entertain and have an extensive collection of crockery? If so, make sure there’s enough cabinet space for it.
• What appliances do you use regularly? Anything other than a toaster and kettle should have a dedicated storage space.
• Are your everyday essentials accessible? You don’t want to hop on a stool whenever you need a pan.Don’t forget to leave pantry space for snacks!

Top tips for a long-lasting kitchen

Now that you’ve designed a beautiful, timeless kitchen, it’s time to think about maintenance. After all, you want to see returns on the time and money you’ve invested in your home’s centrepiece. Regular maintenance will keep your kitchen in top-notch condition for years to come:

• Clean your dishwasher filter regularly to ensure it’s running smoothly
• Regularly clean and replace exhaust fan filters
• Tackle small jobs as they come up—fixing broken hinges on doors and touching up paint
• Use cork boards or another layer of protection between hot pots and pans and your kitchen benchtops
• Deep clean your kitchen regularly, including appliances like kettles, toasters, and food processors