Buzz
Image Credit: Joe Hendrickson/Getty ImagesThe spacious and cozy farmhouse kitchen has enjoyed a long run as a favorite design trend. Its shaker cabinets, often paired with white or butcher block counters, create a bright and airy atmosphere. The vintage-inspired appliances and large dining tables add to its inviting vibe. However, this beloved kitchen style may not be as trendy this year.
TikTok user @NationalStoneLV, whose representative in the video works in countertops and flooring, claims the farmhouse aesthetic is fading in 2024, but suggests there will be variations of this style that will continue to emerge.
We reached out to design experts to verify TikTok’s claims and gather their tips on how to upgrade your kitchen in 2024.
Are Farmhouse Kitchens Truly on Their Way Out?
Patrick and Meghan Sharp, the design team behind Serenbe’s Mr + Mrs Sharp, believe no single kitchen style is truly ‘out’ in 2024. However, they acknowledge that the 'farmhouse craze' may be fading. While they consider a kitchen with farmhouse elements to be a timeless choice, they don’t foresee a full return to the farmhouse style anytime soon.
Dallas-based interior designer Laura Botelho of Laura Botelho Interiors concurs, noting that the traditional farmhouse kitchen is being replaced by a more European cottage aesthetic. “This style feels more timeless, blending old and new in an organic way. We’re also seeing a resurgence of warm neutrals, natural stones, and matte surfaces.”
How to Refresh Your Farmhouse Kitchen
Replace Fixtures
To achieve a more European cottage feel, Botelho recommends replacing “modern shiny golds or farmhouse matte black metals” with aged brass for the cabinet hardware, faucets, and light fixtures.
Say Goodbye to the White Backsplash
Botelho suggests, “Another effective way to upgrade the farmhouse look is by removing white subway tiles or a white ceramic backsplash, and instead opting for tiles with natural variations in color and surface texture for a more organic vibe.”
Introduce Timeless Design Elements
Marisa Bettencourt, Interior Designer and Founder of North + Fair Interior Design, emphasizes the importance of keeping kitchen designs timeless due to the high cost and long duration of renovations. She suggests refreshing the farmhouse style by “incorporating timeless design elements that evolve with you.”
One way to achieve a timeless design is by finding visual inspiration to identify which design features resonate with you, whether it's “color, texture, symmetry, or asymmetry, and decorative details,” Bettencourt explains. This approach can help define your style and prevent an “overly themed space.” Instead of multiple color pops, opt for one color paired with neutral tones like wood or light countertops, and choose subtle patterns to avoid overwhelming the senses.
Refresh Your Cabinets
A key element of the farmhouse kitchen is the square “shaker style” cabinet, which designer Eugene Corless of EF Corless Interiors believes has become overused.
“I’m always drawn to something more unique and special than the traditional ‘shaker style,’” says Corless. “I’ve enjoyed mixing contrasting finishes, like pairing stained oak lower cabinets with lightly painted upper ones, both in the same profile for a cohesive look.”
