these outdated kitchen trends are coming back
Outdated kitchen trends can make a home feel behind the times. This guide explains which design choices are of the past, why they once worked, and how to update these features for a new modern look:
- Appliance Garages
- Glass Block Accents
- Tile Countertops
- Thermofoil Kitchen Cabinets
- Tambour Door Cabinets
- Honey Oak Kitchen Cabinets
- Cherry Kitchen Cabinets
- Beige and Brown Granite Countertops
Can a Kitchen Be Timeless?
Every design ages, even the ones we call timeless. What matters more is how your kitchen adapts. To your life, your taste, and the materials available today.
If you’ve ever wondered whether truly timeless kitchens exist, take a look at our post Timeless Kitchen Cabinets Are a Myth. It explores why “timeless” design isn’t about avoiding trends but choosing details that evolve gracefully over time.
Certainly, some features are clear telltale signs of the decade they came from. But design, much like fashion, has a way of coming back around.
It can be exhausting trying to keep up with outdated kitchen trends. Some blogs are predicting what will be out of style in 2030!
Good Design isn’t about chasing every new look but finding the balance between what feels familiar and what feels fresh.
Outdated Kitchen Trend #1: Appliance Garages
Modern kitchens prioritize open counters and clean sightlines. Appliances garages help achieve this look buy hiding away bulky toasters or unsightly coffee pots.
Once considered dated, these hidden storage solutions have evolved. They’re no longer clunky or overly traditional. Instead, they’re sleeker, more integrated, and more thoughtful than ever.
Outdated Kitchen Trend #2: Glass Block Accents
Glass blocks had their moment in the 80s and 90s, often used for dividing walls or backsplash designs. Today, they can read as heavy and outdated when styled in a dark cramped kitchen.
With reeded glass and black frame glass cabinets becoming popular, glass block accents may make a comeback as well. When paired with slab front cabinets and bright natural light, this outdated kitchen trend can act as a design accent that breaks up the visual weight of cabinetry and brings in light and texture.
Outdated Kitchen Trend #3: Tile Countertops
Tile countertops were once popular for their color options and affordability. But with grout lines that aren’t smooth, they’ve fallen out of favour.
Homeowners now choose quartz, granite, and solid surface materials for their durability and easy upkeep. However, tile countertops may make a comeback for high impact, low footprint applications. For example, a beautiful tiled island, a coffee bar, or section around the stove.
Tile countertops in now allow designers to explore colour and texture in a new bold way.
Outdated Kitchen Trend #4: Tambour Door Cabinets
Tambour door cabinets are often seen as a nod to retro design, which can make them feel dated at first glance. The slatted texture and rolling mechanism were popular in mid-century and early 2000s kitchens but eventually fell out of favour as smoother, simpler cabinet styles took over.
That said, tambour doors aren’t gone from design, they’ve just found a new place in today’s kitchens. When finished in soft paint colors or light wood tones, they bring texture and movement without overwhelming the space. In traditional or transitional kitchens, a subtle tambour accent can bridge old and new, adding warmth and character in a modern way.
Outdated Kitchen Trend #5: Thermofoil Kitchen Cabinets
Thermofoil cabinets had a strong run in the 90s and early 2000s because they were affordable and easy to clean. Over time, though, they’ve been known to peel, yellow, and warp when near heat.
Thermofoil is part of the outdated kitchen trends club, but the modern, low-maintenance look it offered is here to stay, just with better materials behind it. Thermally Fused Laminate offers a better, more durable choice for cabinets. Painted HDF is another durable, modern choice for colorful cabinets.
Outdated Kitchen Trend #6: Honey Oak Cabinets
Honey oak was once the hallmark of a warm, inviting kitchen. But the orange tones can feel dated when paired with other features from the 2000s, like warm flooring, brown wall colours, and equally warm countertops.
You don’t always need to replace them. Many homeowners refinish or paint honey oak cabinets in softer whites or greige tones to modernize the look while keeping the solid wood construction.
There are also new ways to style natural or honey oak to feel current again. Pair it with light countertops, neutral walls, and cooler-toned flooring to create contrast. Keep hardware simple and finishes matte to let the wood grain stand out in a clean, modern way.
Oak is still a great cabinet material, here are 5 modern ways to design with honey oak cabinets.
Outdated Kitchen Trend #7: Cherry Cabinets
Cherry cabinets were once a symbol of luxury and craftsmanship, especially through the late 90s and early 2000s. The rich red undertones and polished finishes made kitchens feel formal and traditional. Over time, that deep, glossy look started to feel heavy next to today’s preference for lighter, more open spaces.
Still, dark wood isn’t out of the picture. There are many ways to style cherry cabinets for today. It’s just being used differently than it was before. When paired with lighter countertops, matte hardware, and modern lighting, cherry cabinets can look grounded and sophisticated instead of dated.
Outdated Kitchen Trend #8: Beige and Brown Granite Countertops
Beige and brown granite countertops used to be the go-to choice for a high-end kitchen. They were everywhere, especially paired with dark wood cabinets for a cozy, traditional look. As design moved toward lighter, more open spaces, people started choosing brighter stone and softer colours instead.
While this style of stone isn’t leading the trend cycle, they’re far from outdated. When used thoughtfully, beige and brown granite can still feel timeless, warm, and inviting. If you’re choosing granite today, look for soft, neutral tones with subtle veining or movement.
5 Trends We Are Saying Goodbye To...
Some design trends simply need to go. While many trends evolve or make their way back in new forms, a few have reached their natural end.
These are the five kitchen trends we’re saying goodbye to for good:
- Overly matching finishes
- Themed kitchens
- Cheap finishes
- Upper cabinets on every wall
- Word signs and labels
Some kitchen trends were never meant to last. You can read more about these outdated kitchen trends in the full article here.
Finding What Works for Your Kitchen
Design trends always change, but that’s what keeps kitchens interesting. What once felt outdated can often be reimagined with the right mix of colour, texture, and function. The best spaces aren’t about following every new look — they’re about creating something that feels personal and works for how you live.
Every kitchen has potential. Whether you’re keeping a few retro touches, updating old finishes, or blending eras together, thoughtful design never goes out of style.
