blogs

Over the years kitchens have seen some changes in popular trends. Some things have remained largely unchanged, but others are remembered for existing in a specific decade. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular kitchen trends over the years. 

The 1930s: Green and Yellow

In the 30s, many kitchens were green and yellow. You could find this color scheme just about everywhere in the kitchen from the cabinets to the chairs to the walls and more. The bright colors were chosen in an attempt to make things look uplifting following the worst of the Great Depression. Green and yellow were thought to bring joy and make the room brighter and happier. It was an affordable way to get some control back and take their minds off of the Depression. 

The 1950s: Bright Pastels, Bubble Appliances, and Linoleum

Similarly, the 1950s saw a fresh take on the kitchen with bright pastels. These “happy colors” signified the joy of the end of the war. The “retro” appliances came into play during the 50s with rounded, more bubbly designs. These could also be brightly colored, as could cabinets. Speaking of cabinets, the 50s saw the rise of unified wall-mounted options that have stuck around since.

The 1960s: Extremely Bright Colors

Does this one really come as a shock? The 60s were all about color! The kitchens of the decade definitely reflected this new love. We aren’t just talking colors, we’re talking loud colors. Lime greens, bold oranges, hot pinks, and more all made their way into the kitchen. Patterned wallpapers also made heir debuts in kitchens as well as the occasional shag carpet. Appliances could be the same color as the cabinets, or silver stainless steel - a new trend of the decade. Things in the kitchen stepped away from the rounded look and moved back to strong straight lines. Appliances were more square and angular as were smaller details like cabinet handles. A lot of storage was common to see because the 60s were all about saving space and removing clutter. 

The 1980s: Bright, Light, and White

The 1980s saw a shift to something similar to the modern kitchens of today. Instead of the bright colors of the earlier years, the 80s were filled with white kitchens. A stronger focus was placed on brightening the room with lighting rather than bold paint choices. White was the color of choice because it looked clean and fresh and could make the room look bigger. Off-white was also popular for those how wanted a somewhat softer look. Wood stains were used on cabinets and countertops, particularly in “Euro-style” laminate cabinets with a white front and wooden edges. For a sleek look, these cabinets were often installed without handles to avoid breaking the line of color that flowed along a wall of cabinets. While white shades were used on cabinets, the walls could still be brightly painted or covered in fun wallpaper. 

The 2000s-Present: Modern Kitchens 

Contemporary kitchens are much more open-concept than those of the past decades. We still want to create a family area, but we want more room to maneuver. Kitchen islands are extremely popular, as are long strips of the uninterrupted countertop. We have ample storage for all of our kitchen gadgets and we focus on avoiding clutter. Stone countertops are everyone’s favorite and they are often used to contrast the color of the wall or the cabinets. 

The color palette is pretty neutral, with a lot of woods and metals becoming prominent players in the kitchen. Our appliances are mostly stainless steel and are much more advanced than those of earlier decades. We have more gadgets than ever and somehow find space to keep them all looking tidy. In some modern kitchens, you’ll find a bar, a breakfast nook, or some other extra seating area for entertaining guests. 

All in all, kitchen trends have changed for the better. We have learned from our past interior design fails and has come up with new ways to make the kitchen one of the liveliest rooms in the home. Ventura Stone loves to help upgrade outdated kitchens into modern marvels. Visit us to find your perfect stone surface for your new countertop!