When building a new kitchen, you need to think about functionality, but also the colours and design as you want your kitchen in cohesion with the rest of the house.

Renovating can sometimes seem like a huge challenge, but is usually worth the effort as it will increase the value of your home if you are thinking of selling, or increase the comfort, practicality and aesthetics of the space you probably spend much of your time in.

One of the most popular kitchen looks today is a modern design as a clean and modern appearance can really help to make a kitchen feel timeless. This is  important if you’re going to be enjoying the space for many years to come. With this in mind, below we offer a few design and material ideas you might want to consider.

Design

A modern kitchen decor features minimalism as the primary driver of the modern aesthetic at the moment. It doesn’t need to be taken to an extreme, but generally, designers will try to reduce clutter, smooth edges, and avoid any excessively complex design elements.

Colours don’t necessarily have to be neutral, but you’ll find that greyscale is the most common look, though bright block colours can work too. Combining style with functionality is also really important – the modern kitchen should be easy to use and ergonomic. Think of handles recessed into cupboards, and innovative yet discreet storage solutions such as fold-out racks in corner units.

Materials

Materials are really important when it comes to achieving that modern feel, and often it’s more about the finish than the type of material. If you’re looking for ways to modernise your kitchen, then this is a great option. Modern kitchens will often make use of smoother, flatter stones and wood. Instead of decorative wooden cupboard doors, think sleek and flat with tactile, smooth edges.

Stainless steel appliances are a good example of how this sleek look can be achieved. Match it with similar metal elements throughout.

Consider if you would like the benchtop to be a colour similar to your cabinets, or an opposite colour to contrast the rest of the kitchen. Would you like all of your cabinets the same colour, or perhaps use a different colour for your base and overhead cabinets? Think about your kitchen space and consider if you would like handles on your cabinets or use push-to-open mechanisms for them.

Ultimately, whichever design and materials you use, it is important to remember that, “how it feels” is just as important as “how it looks”.