Remodeling your kitchen can be a long and expensive process, so it is not one to take lightly. A kitchen remodel can increase your property value, and if you plan to sell in the next ten years, having a recently redesigned kitchen can be a big selling point. When thinking of DIY projects to design a timeless kitchen, it is a good idea to choose a timeless look for the kitchen, so you will not have to redo it again too soon. In this article, we have put together some of our favorite timeless kitchen design ideas for a cohesive look.
Why choose a timeless kitchen design?
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so you want it to look good. While you want to make your kitchen fit your personal taste and lifestyle, you also want it to add some value to your home, which is why at least choosing a few timeless elements is a good idea. Of course, you should add in things that are part of your personality, but especially if you plan to sell eventually, try to blend it in with timeless elements. Choosing some of these timeless kitchen design ideas, it will give you a home that will always stay in style.
1. Commit to Simplicity
When you are working on updating your kitchen, you might start with one thing, then later decide to make another change. The problem is that it can be easy to get distracted and end up with parts of your kitchen that simply clash. Keep things simple and think about the kitchen as a whole. Before choosing anything, think about if it will fit cohesively with the rest of the kitchen; otherwise, you could end up with a backsplash that is too busy when paired with the cabinets or the new countertops.
2. Use Neutral Wall Colors
Whether you are using paint, wallpaper, brick, faux stone, or something else, aim to choose a neutral color. This is especially important if you are selling your home. While you may want to choose a bright color or something that seems a little more fun than a plain white or gray wall, those colors never go out of style. If you choose to go with something brighter for now, make sure you repaint the kitchen in neutral tones before putting it on the market.
3. Quartz Countertops
There are a lot of different kitchen countertop options out there, but one of the most timeless is quartz. It offers a classic look like marble, but it is more durable and can handle being in a kitchen.
4. Blue Kitchen Cabinets
While an all-white or neutral color palette is a timeless design, one that is becoming trendy and timeless is blue cabinets. Blues are a comfortable color that has a timeless look and feel to them, and they can be paired well with many other colors. Repainting your cabinets is an easy DIY project that you can do in your kitchen for just a few hours.
5. Install Shaker Style Cabinets
Shaker style kitchen cabinets are a timeless design that appears in many kitchen designs and can fit into almost any other design. They are easy to keep clean of grease, dirt, and dust. You can get creative with the hardware, and these cabinets can be repainted easily.
6. Pick Natural Materials
While it might be tempting to go for a modern kitchen with bright and shiny cabinets if you want your kitchen to have a timeless look, choose natural materials. Wood and stone can ground the space and give it a classic, timeless look, and feel. Keep your materials looking natural, too. Do not paint the wooden cabinets or the stone elements of the walls; leave them in their natural state.
7. Create a Noodle Board
The stove takes up a lot of valuable space in the kitchen, so if you find yourself struggling with needing that counter space, you can easily create a DIY noodle board to put on top of the stove when it is not in use. While this might be a slightly more modern kitchen design, you can use it to help tie your kitchen designs together. Besides, more counter space is always a good thing.
8. Open Shelving
Shaker shelving is not for everyone, but open shelving is quickly becoming a timeless kitchen design that is easy to DIY. Having some of your kitchen items on display can be a great time saver since you can clearly see where everything is. It is a great way to turn your cookware into the decor. Open shelving can really open up your kitchen and help declutter it. You do not have to turn all of your cabinets into open shelving either; you can leave some of them as classic cabinets. Mixing it up like this leaves room for creativity and allows you to have some mixed mediums in your kitchen.
9. Glass Cabinet Doors
If you like the concept of open shelving but would rather have doors to your cupboards, adding glass cabinet doors is an excellent idea. This can be a little more difficult to DIY, but it is a timeless kitchen design that will stand out.
10. Stone Backsplash
The look of natural stone in a kitchen can be a beautiful thing. However, many may be hesitant to choose it for their backsplash since natural stone can be tricky to keep clean. Faux stone is an affordable DIY solution that is much easier to keep clean. A stone backsplash can give a kitchen a country vibe or something sleeker and more modern, depending on the color scheme you choose. Plus, it can blend in with a color scheme with ease or stand out as an accent.
11. Brass Accents
Using brass accents in your kitchen is an easy DIY way to make your kitchen pop and give it a timeless feel all at once. It is all about the little things here. You can incorporate brass drawer handles or sink hardware. Even using lights that have a brass fixture is a good way to use brass to accent the kitchen. Little things like this can really pop and give your kitchen a vintage feel to it.
12. Subway Tile
A subway tile backsplash in the kitchen is one of the most common kitchen design trends because they have a classic, clean look. They are easy to clean and install and have been used in kitchens for decades. It is a truly timeless look.
13. Stainless Steel Appliances
Stainless steel is the most common finish for kitchen appliances. While this is not a DIY project, it is still a timeless kitchen trend, and you can always DIY the installation of them. They are a timeless design that can easily blend in or stand out, depending on the color scheme of the rest of your kitchen.
14. Multi-Function Kitchen Island
Kitchen islands have become a must-have for many homeowners and with good reason. They can add a lot of extra counter space and storage space for all of your appliances. An island can serve many purposes all at once, which is why so many homeowners love them. You can set up bar seating at your kitchen island, with plenty of storage around it, and either your stovetop or sink is perfect there. If you have an open-concept home, the island is a good way to show where the kitchen begins. An island can be difficult to DIY, but with some basic carpentry skills, you can get this project going easily. You can give the kitchen island a timeless look by installing faux stone or brick around it.
15. Add More Storage Space
Every kitchen needs more storage space, making it a great DIY project to make your kitchen more yours. If you have empty walls in the kitchen, turn them into storage solutions.
Do you have cabinets that are slightly tucked in, making it hard for you to reach them? Install some pull-outs so you can reach them without digging. It will allow you to maximize your existing storage space without having to completely redesign your layout. These types of storage ideas can also be a great selling point when you sell your home. You can even design all of your cupboards to be drawers, so you never have to sit on the floor to dig for the right pan again.
16. Deeper Drawers
Do you have a bunch of little drawers in the kitchen that do not have enough room in them to fit anything? You can turn them into bigger, deeper drawers to better organize your kitchen. This can be especially helpful if you are short and cannot reach the top shelves in your cupboards since it will allow you to move things down to your drawers. If your drawers have a habit of getting cluttered, you can invest in some drawer organizers to keep everything tidy.
17. Decorative Lighting
Lighting does not have just to be something functional to see, and you can make it into something decorative that looks beautiful. Pendant lights or a chandelier hanging over the kitchen island offer a timeless and elegant look that can completely transform the look and feel of your kitchen.
18. Open it Up
Tired of feeling alone in the kitchen? Tear down the walls to open up the layout, giving your home a more connected feel to it. This has quickly become a timeless design trend that is here to stay. Without the walls closing off the kitchen space, you will be able to spend more time interacting with your family and friends while making dinner.
19. Large Sinks
A big sink that can fit your bulky pots and pans is something that many homeowners would love to have, and most homes are lacking. When remodeling your kitchen, go for a large, deep sink that you can fit things in. A farmhouse sink is a timeless kitchen design that you can DIY, though it might require a little work, depending on how big your current sink is.
20. Fitted Cabinets
Having fitted kitchen cabinets can give your kitchen a cleaner and more sturdy feeling. These are also typically more affordable than a custom cabinet design. Since they have a uniform style, you can maximize your storage space with this type of cabinet, allowing you to organize your kitchen with ease.
21. Two-Toned Cabinets
Two-toned cabinets are a design where the top cabinets are one color, and the bottom cabinets are a different color. This can be a fun way to bring your personality into a kitchen design, especially if you want to avoid having an all-white kitchen.
22. Butcher Block Counter
The solid wood butcher block countertop can add warmth to your kitchen and give it a colonial style. It is something that can be DIY installed, and it has a timeless beauty to it that can make it stand out in any kitchen.
23. Hardwood Floors
Wood is beautiful, and it comes in so many shades that you can find something that will work well in your kitchen. A hardwood floor is more comfortable to stand on when cooking than stone or tile, and it can improve your property value. Buyers love real hardwood floors, too, so it can be a boon when you sell your home.
Final Thoughts
A timeless kitchen is something that you can enjoy for years and will help you entice buyers when the time comes to sell your home. Truly, timeless means that it is something you will love forever, so do not aim to choose something that is called timeless if you do not like it. It is your kitchen, so make sure it fits your lifestyle and your tastes.
