Anyone who has recently followed the news is likely aware of the fact that despite rising interest rates, homes are still selling at historic highs because many homeowners are choosing to make the most of their property. Whether you’re looking to sell your home fast or are looking to make your space more enjoyable for the foreseeable future, here are some kitchen design trends to consider in 2023.

Things that matter most to buyers

When buyers are shopping for a home, they often give preference to properties that are move-in ready. The last thing they want is to have to tackle large projects after moving in. With those points in mind, the kitchen upgrades most recommended by real estate agents include creating an open-concept kitchen with a family room (57% of surveyed agents), a kitchen island (52% of surveyed agents), and stainless steel appliances (44% of surveyed agents). 

Energy-saving appliances also are top of mind for homeowners as they’ve surged in popularity over the past few years. In 2022, 48% of real estate agents reported that homeowners were prioritizing energy efficiency features in their property to save on utility bills. 

While the earlier trends require noticale amounts of work to implement, there are a few trends you can embrace that are much more manageable. For example, smart appliances, eye-catching or designer backsplashes, and under-cabinet lighting are noted by real estate agents as being attractive to buyers.

Upgrading your color palette

Choosing the right color for your home is one of the most important things you can do to create a great atmosphere for your space, and also make your home more attractive to traditional buyers. You may have heard that homebuyers prefer bold colors that pop, however, 84% of real estate agents report buyers still prefer to see light and white color schemes in the kitchen.

If you’re not sure how to choose a color scheme for your kitchen, keep the following information in mind. The top three design elements that agents believe make buyers excited are light or calming color schemes, a white color scheme, and mixed materials – all coming in at 43%, 41%, and 30% respectively.

Other color combinations worth considering include grey or greige palettes, earthy tones, light wood, black or matte black, and deep or bold colors. 

Embrace a more modern cabinet design

Cabinets are a core component of any kitchen because they take up the most visual space in the room. One of the hottest kitchen cabinet trends today is the two-toned look. This means choosing two complementary colors and/or textures for similar areas such as upper and lower cabinets or cabinets and kitchen island. Colored and textured cabinets frequently add interest to kitchens because they liven up the space and make it feel unique.

Another notable trend is homeowners moving towards fewer cabinets with more open shelving in their space, or leveraging alternative storage units. This aligns with the overall trend of making properties more welcoming with open wall space and shelving, and larger windows throughout homes.