4 min readIt’s no secret that designing a kitchen is expensive. All those appliances, countertops, and fixtures can add up in a hurry. And, since you likely don’t want to spend all this money for nothing, you’ll probably want to create a kitchen that you’ll always love, especially if you’re planning on staying in your house for a long time—right?
That’s why it can be helpful to think like a designer when tackling your kitchen, following the rules designers follow themselves to ensure that a modern kitchen design will age beautifully.
“Thinking like a designer encourages a more thoughtful, curated approach, where every detail is considered in relation to the whole,” says designer Christine Markatos Lowe of Markatos Design. “It allows a home to feel layered, cohesive, and effortlessly beautiful, rather than simply pieced together. The result is a space that not only feels refined, but lives gracefully day to day, and just as beautifully years into the future.”
To apply this approach to your kitchen, read on for the indispensable rules some of our favorite designers rely on when designing cook spaces for their own clients—and themselves.
Prioritize Function
Corinne Ekle, Founder and Principal Interior Designer of C2 Design Interiors, stresses the importance of prioritizing function first and foremost in a kitchen. “A beautiful kitchen has to work seamlessly for everyday life, so layout, storage, and flow are always the starting point,” Ekle says. As you play out your kitchen, consider how you want to use your space, how many people typically fill your space, and even what cookware you reach for most often.
Edit With Intention
Designer Alexandra Azat of Plaster & Patina says that it can be helpful to edit a kitchen “with intention,” as you dream up your kitchen. Translation: Rather than allowing elements to overly compete with each other, “focus on a few strong focal points that anchor the space and allow it to breathe.” In other words, less is more when it comes to creating a truly timeless, well-curated kitchen.
Avoid Maze-Like Layouts
Space planning is huge in a kitchen that you’ll love for years. Denise Taylor, Founder and Design Director at Aspen Design House, says that you should avoid “pinch points” to make a kitchen function well. She recommends accounting for appliance clearances and traffic flow (i.e., for French-door versus single-door fridges, you should ensure that the fridge door and dishwasher door can open fully without blocking walkways).
Create a Neutral Base
“Keeping the countertops, backsplash, and paint finishes in a soft, neutral palette creates a timeless foundation that won’t date,” Markatos Lowe says. She adds that in her kitchen designs, she brings in color through lighting, upholstery, fabric shades, and ceramics, “which allows the space to feel layered, personal, and easy to evolve over time.”
Consider Satin Nickel
While finishes like aged brass continue to trend, you may want to lean into finishes that won’t age so quickly. For this, Markatos Lowe suggests nickel for plumbing and hardware, which offers “a timeless, understated foundation that never feels overdone.”
But you won’t have to be limited to just nickel. If you do want to weave in one of those on-trend finishes, Markatos Lowe says that she likes to layer in other metals throughout the space, “creating a subtle mix that adds depth, warmth, and a more collected, lived-in feel.”
Incorporate Smart Storage
Trust the pros: a beautiful kitchen is no good if you can’t find anything in it once you’re ready to cook. “Prioritize smart storage,” Azat says. “Thoughtful, functional storage is key to maintaining a sense of calm. When everything has a place, it’s easy to tuck away clutter when needed.”
Use Natural Materials
Natural materials have a more timeless quality about them, and often have a more luxe, authentic appearance. “Use natural materials whenever possible,” Ekle advises. “Wood tones, natural stone, and layered textures tend to age far more gracefully than overly synthetic or trendy materials.” Azat agrees, noting that a kitchen is meant to be lived in. “The beauty is in the patina, the wear, the signs of daily life—it should never feel too precious,” she adds.
Opt for Classic Cabinetry
While experimentation an be fun, Azat says that it’s a good idea to keep your cabinetry profiles classic. “When it comes to cabinet faces, I always advise against chasing trends,” she says. “Timeless styles—like a simple shaker or a shaker with a subtle bead—offer longevity. Down the line, you can easily refresh the space with a new finish rather than undertaking a full renovation.”
Create Zones
When putting together your kitchen, Taylor says that you can think in terms of “four key zones or workstations,” which include the range for cooking, the main sink, the refrigerator, and a kitchen dining and social area.
You can also create bonus zones that cater to your individual needs. For instance, if you have a large kitchen, you can create a bar or cocktail area for gatherings, as Taylor recommends. For coffee stations, she says that you can make them functional by keeping related items close, such as mugs, plates, and spoons. And if one sink isn’t enough, Taylor says that you can consider a separate bar sink in addition to the main task/wash-up sink.
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Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer who frequently covers home design and decor for national publications. She has worked as a full-time freelance writer for over a decade, and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, writing home tours, interviewing top designers, and beautifying her own home. She holds a master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and when she's not writing, you can find her at thrift stores and flea markets, running, or exploring local trails in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and corgi, Dolly.
