Top Kitchen Trends From Every Decade In The Last 100 Years (2024)

While trends come and go, no part of your home has transformed more in the last 100 years than your kitchen. Long gone are the days of waiting for the ice delivery man and cooking food over a coal stove, or so we think.

Here’s a look at the kitchen trends of bygone times and how our cooking spaces have changed and, in some cases, haven’t really changed at all.

The 1900s-1920s

Kitchens, as we know them today, didn’t really enter the picture until the turn of the 20th century, when having running water in the home became commonplace. During this time period, kitchens only came with a stove and sink. The rest of the kitchen was a hodgepodge of pieces of furniture used to create storage and workspaces, so no two kitchens were alike.

Noticeably absent were modern refrigerators. Instead, people had iceboxes, which were essentially insulated cabinets with space for giant ice blocks to help keep food cool. Ice was delivered by the iceman and people tended to buy their groceries on a daily basis, rather than purchasing in bulk like many people do today.

The 1930s

Despite the gloom of the Great Depression, kitchens of the 1930s remained bright, glossy and cheerful, but now people had a new desire for efficiency. A new emphasis on streamlined and standardized cabinetry meant companies began producing standard cabinets so that countertops could be constructed at continuous heights. People could even integrate their new gas ranges and sinks into the cabinets, rather than leave them as freestanding objects.

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The 1940s

Kitchens of the 1940s were defined by their emphasis on sleekness, in part a reflection of the changing times, and in part out of necessity as World War II raged in the background. Technology made huge leaps in kitchen gadgets like electric ranges and refrigerators, which were finally becoming commonplace.

Aesthetically, kitchens remained plain and simple, but people also began treating more utilitarian items as decor, such as having decorative storage containers or leaving bright colored small appliances out on the counter. Bold colors were in vogue, particularly red and blue to bring a patriotic tone to the kitchen.

The 1950s

The 1950s kitchen is undeniably iconic, a post-war candy-colored daydream. Young families began moving out to the suburbs and with a new housing boom came a new focus on kitchens as the space where many women would spend their days. Kitchens needed to be modern, functional, but also comfortable and stylish.

Meanwhile, the steel industry turned to manufacturing cabinetry and appliances as a way to utilize now obsolete steel mills and factories making pastel-painted steel cabinets popular. Not only that, you could even match your countertops to your cabinets using newly developed materials like Formica. Stylistically, things were still relatively sleek and geometric, although the bubble-shaped appliances that became popular in this decade lent a certain cheeriness that we still associate with retro kitchens today.

The 1960s

With the more casual and free-spirited 1960s came a rise in entertaining as kitchens were designed to connect easily to dining rooms, even sometimes having eat-in nooks and breakfast bars. Although many kitchen appliances were being introduced (the dishwasher), the 1960s is the first decade marked by a more aesthetic shift, rather than a technological one.

Steel cabinets became obsolete as wood cabinets became more affordable, so kitchens took on a warmer and richer hue than in the past. People often complimented this new richness with bright-colored accessories and wallpaper to add more personal touches.

The 1970s

Welcome to the 1970s, filled with knotty pine and those delightful harvest tones you know and love. While everyone wanted the modernity and convenience of new tech, like the microwave, they also wanted to preserve the hominess of their parents and grandparents’ kitchens, leaning into the warmth of wood in their cabinets, wall paneling and other furniture and trim.

People loved to bring in texture and pattern, often opting for tile backsplashes and embossed linoleum floors. Colorful cookware and kitchen gear also made it easier than ever to add more unique personal touches to your kitchen, something that harkened back to the kitschiness of the 1940s.

The 1980s

As with the hair, the kitchens of the 1980s were big and extravagant. As more women began working full time, the kitchen became less of a domestic zone and more of a place for families to gather and regroup. This is where we begin to see the open floor plan kitchen, with expansive islands and breakfast bars providing views into large suburban living spaces.

More integrated kitchens also meant more neutral color palettes such as white and beige counters and matching tile or Formica countertops. Perhaps the most recognizable (and now detested) trend of the 1980s was the Euro-style cabinet, a white laminate front with a light-toned wooden band at the top to act as an integrated handle. You might remember the style from that one shabby apartment you rented in your early 20s.

The 1990s

While the 1990s kept with the neutral palette of the 1980s, the overall aesthetic shifted from sleek to shabby-chic. White-painted cabinets with more ornate paneling, ceramic tiles with country flourishes and wood cabinets added a touch of warmth. On the other hand, many homeowners began taking cues from professional kitchens with uncluttered counters, large refrigerators and gas ranges gaining popularity.

Another new material was granite, which became the go-to for durable natural countertops, often in dark tones to contrast the otherwise bright color scheme. Perhaps the most iconic trend of the 1990s, however, was sponge painting your walls with beige and yellow paint to look like stucco.

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The 2000s

The new millennium is here and with it a new aesthetic. Thanks to the rise of design television with channels like HGTV, people became more aware of kitchen design and trends. While wood cabinets and large appliances were still popular, in the 2000s stainless steel appliances really took off while darker wood cabinets like cherry helped balance out the more industrial look.

Rather than stick to the basic neutrals, high-contrast kitchens were also popular with light cabinets and dark granite countertops. Another popular combination, likely a carryover from that Italian-country sponge-painted stucco look, were Tuscan-style kitchens featuring lots of deep reds and tans.

The 2010s

And we’ve made it to the last decade. Although it was not quite that long ago, there are still quite a few noticeable trends of the 2010s. Reclaimed wood floors, subway tile backsplashes, farmhouse sinks and brass hardware were incredibly popular and added a touch of timeless vintage charm. Neutral tones were often deployed, although people favored cooler tones like greys and blues with high-contrast pops of navy.

Stainless steel appliances are still quite popular, although panel-ready appliances and low-profile gadgets like microwave drawers and under-cabinet lighting are growing in popularity to create a more streamlined kitchen. But likely the most memorable trend of the 2010s will be the rise of the Instagram-worthy kitchen jungle, a trend that doesn’t seem to be quitting anytime soon.

What will the new decade bring? Only time will tell. Perhaps more companies will lean into the retro charm of appliances like Smeg, or maybe groovy wallpaper and wood paneling will make a comeback. Whatever the next few years bring, we just hope some trends stay in the past where they belong (looking at you Euro-style cabinets). What are some of your favorite kitchen trends of the past?