Introduction
Wood kitchen designs are one of the most popular choices for kitchen remodels and renovations. Wood is a versatile material, which can provide a timeless, classic look as well as a cool, contemporary feel. If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, or you like the idea of bringing more natural materials into your home, this comprehensive guide to wood kitchen designs is packed full of information, tips and ideas.
In this article, we’ll explore the latest wood kitchen design trends, share advice to help you plan a seamless wood kitchen remodel and discuss the benefits of wooden style kitchens.
How to introduce wood into your kitchen
Wood is one of the most widely used materials for building and remodeling. Sturdy, strong and robust, wood also offers unique, beautiful aesthetics. If you love the idea of a wooden kitchen, there are multiple ways to introduce wood into your living spaces. You can be bold and choose a range of different options, or opt for a more understated approach depending on the style and size of your kitchen and the look you want to create. Here are some ideas:
1. Wood kitchen cabinets
One of the most impactful ways to add wood to your kitchen is to choose wood cabinets and units. Wooden kitchen cabinets come in a wide range of finishes and textures and you can also choose from a broad spectrum of colors. Wooden cabinets look incredible, but they are also highly functional and durable. Wood is tough and hard-wearing and it lasts a long time, provided you take good care of it.
Popular types of wooden kitchen cabinets include:
- Oak
- Red oak
- Walnut
- Pine
- Cherry
- Birch
- Maple
- Ash
- Hickory
If you choose wooden cabinets and units for your kitchen, you can enhance the aesthetic and create a cohesive design with matching furniture, a kitchen island or wood paneling on the walls. Alternatively, make your cabinets the focal point and contrast them with other materials. Examples include metals and ceramics.
2. Wooden flooring
Wooden flooring is one of the most popular options for both traditional and modern homes. The beauty of a wood floor is that it suits every taste. You can blend old and new in a rustic kitchen using an aged hardwood floor set against contemporary units and appliances, or channel a country cottage theme with vintage wood cabinets and countertops. You could also explore options like wood finish flooring, laminate and vinyl. These options offer a less expensive and more practical alternative to solid wood flooring if you have children or pets, or you’re looking for flooring that is easy to clean and maintain.
Wood flooring comes in all kinds of colors and finishes so you can choose a shade, grain or material that suits your kitchen design. Some people choose to fit flooring themselves, but in some cases, it’s best to hire professionals. If you dream of a solid wood floor but you don’t want to pay a premium, look out for reclaimed boards at salvage yards and browse auction sites. Upcycling is a brilliant way to make your kitchen look amazing without breaking the bank.
3. Wood island
Kitchen islands look fabulous, but they’re also an excellent addition for homeowners looking to increase usable surface space and storage. Islands can provide space for preparing food, dining and drinking. They’re also a great option if you’re looking to create a new space to hang out with friends and family members or grab a quick snack or a cup of coffee. You can add stools or seats to make a breakfast bar, use shelving to add storage, or even use your island to stock cocktail supplies ready for a Saturday night Cosmopolitan.
Wood islands are ideal for rustic kitchens, but they also work well in more modern houses and apartments. To elevate the design and add a more futuristic feel to contemporary spaces, you could add details, such as a stainless steel range hood or industrial-style drawer handles or bar stools.
4. Wood worktops
Many of us choose wood for kitchen worktops and counters. Wood is a practical solution but it also injects instant warmth and charm. You can choose from modern styles or chunky, traditional farmhouse worktops to suit your kitchen design. Wood worktops are simple to clean, they are built to last and they come in a diverse range of colors. Popular options for a wood countertop include:
- Solid oak
- Beech
- Pine
- Walnut
You can also opt for wood finish worktops to save money and make cleaning easier. If you’re mixing and matching materials in a wood kitchen, why not add a copper sink to your countertop or hang a brass range hood over your stove?
5. Wooden furniture
It’s natural to think about wood when conjuring up images of kitchen furniture. Wood has been used for centuries to craft everything from tables and chairs to chests, cabinets and benches. If you’re looking for a simple way to introduce wood into your kitchen without changing the cabinets, flooring or counters, buying wooden furniture is an ingenious idea. Make a statement with a stunning solid wood rectangular table in the dining area, or opt for cool, rustic-style benches and chairs for an informal seating area.
6. Wood paneling
Paneling is a great way to design a statement wall in your kitchen and it can also add interest, depth, warmth and texture. Wood paneling is guaranteed to transform the look of plain, painted walls and it can also help you channel popular traditional kitchen trends. You can choose from different shades and grains to suit the size and feel of the room. You can also decide whether to panel the entire kitchen, make a feature wall or fit panels around the bottom half of the walls.
7. Accessories and decorative details
If you’re looking for a simple, quick and affordable way to enhance the look of your kitchen using wood, why not update your accessories? From natural planters and wooden shelving to bread boxes, storage crates and chopping boards, there are all kinds of options to choose from. Simple touches and details can elevate your kitchen and help you design a bespoke, personalized space.
Wood kitchen trends: Inspiration for your kitchen renovation
The hottest wood kitchen design trends include:
- Dark wood
Dark wood is everywhere in 2023. Adding instant coziness to even the brightest kitchens, dark wood works for traditional and modern kitchens. You can combine dark and light to create distinctive zones within your kitchen, or carry the same shade throughout the room. Dark wood flooring and cabinets look smart and chic but they also create an inviting, comfortable feel. You can accessorize with steel cabinet handles and knobs, range hoods and backsplashes for a contemporary vibe or opt for gold or brass to add warmth.
- Mixing old and new
We often associate kitchen wood designs with old houses, cottages, rustic retreats and farmhouses, but modern wood kitchens have become more popular. While aged wood has an inimitable timeless quality, you can use wood cabinets, flooring, paneling and islands to add a modern feel. Mixing old and new is a brilliant way to celebrate the natural beauty of wood while creating something unique. If you’re lucky enough to have original flooring or wooden beams, for example, contrast them with modern cabinets, a contemporary island or luxurious, on-trend countertops. Channeling the industrial trend is a popular way to blend new and old. Add metals like copper, brass and stainless steel or hang a statement-making light made from oversized bulbs to draw attention in a rustic wooden cabin-style kitchen.
- Embracing sustainability
Using wood is not just advantageous for designing beautiful-looking, functional kitchens. It’s also an effective means of embracing sustainability and promoting recycling, upcycling and repurposing. A survey conducted by the Global Economic Forum revealed that almost 90% of us want to live in a more sustainable world (source). Reusing products and prolonging the lifespan of natural materials is a simple way to reduce your carbon footprint and generate less waste.
The best ways to make your wood kitchen design more sustainable include:
- Upcycling wooden furniture
- Using sustainable, ethically-sourced materials
- Buying recycled or reclaimed wood
- Using leftover wood to make new items, such as furniture
- White wood kitchens
White is among the most popular color choices for kitchens, particularly in modern houses and condos. White is clean and fresh and it creates the illusion of bigger, more spacious rooms. It’s also very easy to accessorize a white kitchen and add details and accents to customize your design. One increasingly common trend is to combine white paint, counters and cabinets with wood. You can choose to keep things simple, elegant and understated with light wood furniture and shelving, or create a striking contrast with a dark wood table or cabinets set against pristine white walls. Adding finishing touches like a wooden fruit bowl and a set of chopping boards to the worktops will help to prevent the room from looking too clinical or cold.
- Wood with monochrome
Monochrome kitchens are modern and chic and they often have a minimalist vibe. While some homeowners may love the simplicity and cool aesthetic of a black and white kitchen, others may prefer something a little warmer and more welcoming. Using wood with a monochrome colorway is an effective tactic to create inviting kitchens, which retain a trendy, contemporary aesthetic. You can experiment with and embrace this trend by adding wooden floorboards, replacing a granite or marble worktop with a solid wood counter or adding a wooden island.
- Wooden shelving and statement storage
Storage is key when it comes to designing a practical, functional kitchen. While hidden storage can be beneficial for items you don’t want on display and clutter-free countertops, there are some fantastic ways to make a feature out of wooden storage solutions. Examples include open shelving, floating wood shelves and beautiful wall-mounted units.
- Natural wood
Natural interior design trends are not going anywhere in 2023. Natural finishes, textures and grains work perfectly for flooring, countertops and furniture. They add warmth, character and charm in an instant. They also work brilliantly with other features of natural design trends, including organic fabrics, exposed wood beams, plants and flowers, living walls and oversized windows and doors that flood the room with natural light.
Tips for choosing wood kitchen cabinets
Wood kitchen cabinets are an integral feature of many wood and wood finish kitchens. Many people love the look of wood units and cabinets and they are also a practical, cost-effective investment. If you’re remodeling your kitchen, or you’ve decided to replace the kitchen cabinets, here are some top tips to help you decide which wood units to go for:
Explore different types of wood
Choosing the type of wood is the most important decision to make when buying kitchen cabinets. Wood cabinets come in a huge range of designs, styles and colors, depending on the materials they are made from. The most popular wood cabinets include maple, oak, walnut, pine, cherry, hickory, ash and birch.
There are several factors to consider when deciding which type of wood will work best in your kitchen, including:
1. Your budget: pine, birch and oak are less expensive than hickory and maple
2. Your aesthetic preferences: some types of wood are naturally richer, warmer, deeper, darker or lighter than others. Compare finishes and tones to see which cabinets you like best.
3. Durability: hickory, oak and maple are more durable than pine and birch
4. Availability: some types of wood are more widely available than others, which may mean that prices are lower and there is a wider range of design options. Oak, pine and walnut are among the most popular cabinet options.
5. Grain pattern and finish: the finish plays an important role in the overall look of the cabinet. Some people prefer clean lines and a polished aesthetic while others love natural, rustic grains.
6. Color options: wood cabinets come in a range of colors. You can opt for organic honey, golden or dark wood shades or choose painted wood cabinets to inject color into your kitchen.
Discover design ideas
There are so many options to consider when upgrading your kitchen with wood cabinets. From different colors and shapes and sizes to textures, finishes, patterns and grains, it’s a brilliant idea to look for design ideas and search for inspiration. Look at online galleries, flick through design magazines, scroll through social media feeds and take ideas from personal experiences or places you’ve visited. Perhaps you loved a color you saw when you were on vacation, or you want to recreate a stunning kitchen you’ve seen in a glossy magazine, for example. Be open to new ideas and concepts and choose a design that fits with the look of the kitchen and your personal taste. You don’t have to opt for certain shades or shapes because they are on-trend now. Customize your design plan to suit your style.
Set a budget
The cost of buying new kitchen cabinets can vary hugely according to the size of the kitchen, the design of the cabinets and the wood used to make the units. Before you start shopping, set a budget for the project. This will enable you to narrow down the range of options in terms of the wood you choose and the number of units you buy. If you’re looking for ways to save money on replacing your cabinets, consider using reclaimed wood or upcycling existing units. It’s worth looking online for reclaimed cabinets or visiting salvage yards and antique stores.
Consider the cabinets as part of the overall design
Whether you are revamping the entire kitchen or fitting new cabinets, it’s crucial to consider the cabinets as part of the overall design. You want different elements to work together to turn your vision into a reality. It’s beneficial to think about using different colors, materials and design themes and trends to make sure the finished article checks all of the boxes. You may want to run with one trend and use the same colors and materials throughout, or you might want to mix and match themes, materials and tones to design something quirky or unique, for example. Create a plan before you start making changes or buying new furniture, cabinets or worktops.
What are the advantages of creating a wood kitchen?
Wooden style kitchens offer several advantages for homeowners. If you’re thinking about upgrading your kitchen and you want to introduce wood, here are some of the key benefits:
- Versatility
Wood is one of the most versatile materials you can use in your kitchen. You can use wood to create all kinds of design features and channel different trends ranging from rustic cottage kitchens to ultra-modern living spaces. There are endless ways to use wood in a kitchen and you can select different materials, colors, products and designs to suit your remodel project. We often associate wood with rustic kitchens and farmhouses, but it works for modern homes too. Whatever your taste, you can customize your plans to create a spectacular wood kitchen.
- Functionality
Wood has been used to fabricate furniture, internal and external structures and building materials for centuries. It is a functional material, which is also strong and durable.
- Beautiful aesthetics
For many people, the main draw of a wood kitchen is the aesthetic appeal. Wooden kitchens look stunning no matter whether you’re designing a kitchen for a rustic country bolthole or a loft apartment in the center of the city. Wood has a natural warmth and it adds character to any space. It also comes in a vast array of colors, shades and textures to cater to all tastes.
- Budget options
Designing a solid wood kitchen can be expensive, but the versatility of wood means that there are budget-friendly options. If you are on a budget, you can save money by opting for cheaper materials, using reclaimed wood for your kitchen or upcycling existing cabinets or wood furniture. You could also consider a wood effect kitchen. Modern materials are incredibly lifelike and they are often easier to clean and maintain.
- Sustainability
Many of us want to be more sustainable. We are looking for ways to celebrate and make the most of natural materials, reduce waste and lower emissions. Wood kitchens are a sustainable, eco-friendly option. You can use recycled or reclaimed wood for your kitchen and recycle materials you don’t use further down the line. You can also enhance sustainability by buying from companies that use wood taken from sustainable forests.
- Design styles to suit every home
One of the best things about a wood kitchen remodel is the scope to have fun with different trends and combine design ideas. You can use different types of wood, create new focal points with wooden furniture, flooring or paneling, or add a traditional vibe to a modern space and vice-versa. One of the best ways to make wood shine in your home is to contrast wood with other materials, such as metals. Make a style statement with a copper table set against a hardwood floor or a brass sink set in a rustic countertop, for example.
- Adding value and enhancing saleability
For most people, a standout kitchen is one of the most appealing features of a property. Updating and revamping your kitchen can help you add value to your home and make it more saleable. As wood kitchens are so popular, embracing kitchen wooden design styles is an excellent way to attract buyers.
Steps to execute a seamless wood kitchen remodel
Remodeling your kitchen can help you to create the kitchen of your dreams, but home renovation projects can be stressful. To minimize stress and execute a seamless wood kitchen remodel, here are some simple steps to follow:
- Establish a maximum budget
The cost of remodeling a kitchen can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. It’s exciting to start shopping for flooring or furniture or choosing wall or cabinet colors, but try to establish a budget first. Once you know how much you want to spend, you can decide how to allocate money to different elements of the project. If you are on a tight budget, there are lots of ways to save with a wooden kitchen. Examples include using recycled or reclaimed cabinets and furniture, upcycling, opting for less expensive types of wood and using accents and accessories rather than large swathes of solid wood.
- Create a thorough plan
The best way to avoid stress when renovating any room in your home is to create a thorough plan. Spend time looking for inspiration, exploring ideas and researching different types of wood. Think about how you want to use wood in your kitchen and how new features will fit in with existing design elements or the structure of the building. If you’re renovating a barn, for example, and you have wood beams and posts, you may want to opt for rustic wood with a natural finish rather than modern, wood finish cabinets or countertops.
During the planning process, it’s helpful to discuss ideas with designers, architects or builders, depending on the scope and scale of the project. If you’re not naturally creative, or you want your kitchen to be unique, experts can help you to conjure up ideas and explore different concepts.
- Work with trustworthy, reliable companies and providers
If you are hiring building firms, contractors or kitchen designers and fitters, you are buying furniture, or you’re looking for bespoke flooring, make sure you work with reliable, reputable companies and providers. Research businesses online and ask for recommendations from people you trust, including friends and neighbors. It’s also helpful to ask for advice in community social media groups. Before you buy products, such as wooden tables or chairs, for example, check the materials to ensure quality and ask about guarantees and warranties.
- Search for value over low prices
It’s tempting to snap up offers and low prices when you’re remodeling your kitchen, but try to search for value for money. Spending a bit more on high-quality, durable wood furniture, flooring and worktops, for example, will save you money in the long term while also enhancing aesthetics and functionality. Compare quotes and see what you can get for your money. It’s often wise to pay more for the best materials and levels of craftsmanship.
Summary
Wood kitchen designs are hugely popular. Wood kitchens are timeless and elegant but they can also be modern and cool. If you’d like to use more wood in your kitchen, or you love the idea of a wooden style kitchen, it’s important to explore design styles and create a plan. There are multiple ways to use wood, and current trends reflect the versatility and diversity of wood kitchens. You can celebrate wood in all its splendor and glory, or combine materials and old and new trends.
At CopperSmith, we specialize in stunning, high-quality kitchen furniture, finishing touches and sustainable products for your home. If you’re looking for inspiration for a kitchen remodel, we can help you turn a vision into a viable plan. You can use the innovative 3D configurator at worldcoppersmith.com or get in touch for a custom quote.