Even the most well-loved kitchens can start to feel dated over time—especially if the finishes no longer reflect your taste or how you use the space. In Newfoundland, where the kitchen is often the heart of the home, a tired design can take away from its comfort and charm.

If you’re planning a kitchen update, staying on top of the latest cabinet trends can help you design a space that feels both stylish and timeless. Whether you’re building new or renovating, the trends for 2025 focus on warm, grounded tones, natural textures, and thoughtful material choices.

This blog explores the most popular colour trends in kitchen design, including cabinetry, finishes, and hardware, with design inspiration tailored specifically to elegant Newfoundland homes.

Warm Neutrals Are the New Classic

Gone are the days of stark grey and cold white kitchens. Today’s neutrals lean warmer: creamy beige, soft taupe, warm greys, and muted greens like sage. These tones create a calm, inviting feel that works beautifully with natural wood accents, stone countertops, and brass fixtures.

For a refined look, consider two-tone cabinetry: warm neutral uppers paired with soft green or woodgrain lowers. It’s a subtle way to introduce contrast and depth while keeping things timeless.

Bold Cabinets, Used with Intention

If you prefer a little drama, deep navy, forest green, or matte black cabinets are back in style—especially as feature colours on islands or lower cabinetry. These bolder hues add richness and elegance when paired with light counters and warm metal finishes.

The key to pulling off this trend is balance. Use bold colours on a single zone, like an island, and complement them with white or neutral cabinetry to keep the space feeling open.

Matte and Low-Sheen Finishes

When it comes to the finish on your cabinets and other surfaces, matte is winning hearts. High-gloss cabinets had their moment in ultra-modern designs, but for most elegant kitchens today, a matte or satin finish is preferred. This trend toward lower sheen finishes extends to countertops, hardware, and even appliances, and has become a defining element in much of today’s kitchen design inspiration.

Modern Matte Cabinets: Matte-painted cabinetry offers a subtle, contemporary elegance. Without the glare of gloss, colours appear richer and more consistent. Plus, matte finishes tend to hide fingerprints and minor imperfections better—a practical bonus for busy family kitchens. Whether you choose a matte charcoal grey or a soft matte ivory for your cabinets, the effect is clean and upscale. Many Newfoundland homeowners appreciate that a satin or eggshell sheen on cabinets provides a smooth look that’s easy to wipe down, combining beauty with everyday functionality.

Honed and Leathered Countertops: This matte trend shows up in countertop choices, too. Polished granite or glossy quartz is timeless, but there’s growing interest in honed (matte) stone finishes. A honed marble or quartz countertop has a silky sheen rather than a mirror shine, lending a more natural, low-key luxury feel. Some are even opting for leathered granite, which has a soft texture and matte finish that hides smudges and adds tactile interest.

Balancing with Texture and Shine: An all-matte scheme could fall flat, so designers balance finishes for contrast. For instance, if you have matte cabinets and a matte counter, you might introduce a bit of shine with a glossy backsplash tile or reflective pendant lights. The idea is to create layers of texture: matte surfaces against a pop of gloss or metallic sparkle keep the kitchen from looking dull. The overall trend, however, leans toward muted sheen rather than high shine. Matte black fixtures (from faucets to light fixtures) are extremely popular, and they pair beautifully with the softer cabinet colours and wood tones we mentioned above.

By choosing matte and satin finishes for large surfaces, you achieve a modern elegance that feels effortless. These finishes photograph beautifully—great for showing off your kitchen on Instagram—and more importantly, they create a comfortable and inviting environment to enjoy in person.

Natural Wood Finishes for Warmth and Texture

Colour trends aside, one of the biggest kitchen cabinet trends in recent years is a renewed love for natural wood finishes. After a long era of painted white kitchens, homeowners are rediscovering the beauty of wood grain. Introducing wood, whether in all your cabinetry or as an accent, instantly adds warmth, texture, and a touch of nature to your kitchen.

Wood Cabinet Comeback: Light and mid-tone woods are especially popular for achieving that elegant-yet-inviting look. Locally, we see many Newfoundland kitchens featuring white oak, birch, or walnut in their cabinet designs. White oak with a clear or light stain brings a soft, modern, organic feel (its grain is subtle and sophisticated). Walnut, with its rich brown tone, can create a striking contrast in a lighter kitchen and has a classic high-end appeal. Even budget-friendly woods or wood veneers with quality finishes can emulate this trend, bringing the warmth of natural texture to your space.

Mixing Wood with Colours: A great strategy is to mix wood cabinets with painted cabinets for a two-tone effect that’s full of depth. For example, upper cabinets or a section of lower cabinets in a light wood tone can be paired with painted units elsewhere. Wood islands are also on trend. Picture a beautiful woodgrain island base against a backdrop of off-white cabinets, tying in perhaps with wood floating shelves or ceiling beams. The combination of painted surfaces and wood finishes makes the kitchen feel custom and layered, as opposed to a one-note look, while complementing many of today’s kitchen storage ideas designed for real-life living.

Natural wood finishes also align with a desire for sustainable and durable choices. Wood (or realistic wood-look materials) tends to age gracefully if cared for, often developing more character over time. In a place like Newfoundland, where the climate can be humid, opting for engineered wood cabinets or high-quality wood veneer with proper sealing ensures you get that wood look without worrying about warping. The result is a kitchen that feels grounded and timeless, exactly what elegant design is about.

Statement Countertops and Backsplashes

While cabinets take up a lot of visual real estate, we can’t talk about kitchen colour and finish trends without mentioning countertops and backsplashes. These surfaces are prime opportunities to introduce bold materials or cohesive colours that tie the whole kitchen together. The trend in elegant kitchen finishes is to treat countertops and backsplashes almost like pieces of art or focal decor, all while maintaining practicality.

Natural Stone with Character: For an upscale, elegant look, natural stone countertops are a top trend. Materials like marble, quartzite, and granite with striking veining are highly sought after. Homeowners love the unique patterns and the luxe statement these stones make—a flowing grey-veined white marble or a dramatic dark soapstone countertop can define the kitchen’s personality. If maintenance of real stone is a concern, high-grade quartz in patterns that mimic marble or terrazzo is a popular alternative, delivering both beauty and durability.

Waterfall Islands: In modern, elegant kitchens, you’ll often see large kitchen islands where the countertop material continues down the sides in a “waterfall” effect. This showcases the stone or quartz’s pattern and gives a very clean, contemporary finish to the island. It’s a show-stopping feature that highlights the quality of the material and adds to that high-end look.

Trendy Backsplashes: Backsplash trends are evolving beyond basic subway tile (though a classic white subway tile is never truly out of style). Here are a few elegant backsplash ideas making waves in 2025:

• Full-Height Stone Slabs: Using the same material as your countertop for the backsplash creates a seamless, cohesive feel. A slab backsplash in marble or quartz has minimal grout lines and maximum impact—it looks lavish and is also easy to wipe clean.
• Handmade Texture Tiles: If you prefer tiles, consider textured or artisanal tiles. For example, zellige tiles, which are glazed Moroccan clay tiles, have a subtle variation in tone and a glossy sheen that adds character. In a soft neutral or pale blue, zellige tile gives a splash of colour and a lot of texture, making the backsplash a jewel-like feature.
• Bold Pattern or Colour: Some elegant kitchens incorporate a bold patterned tile or a pop of colour on the backsplash to complement neutral cabinets. A deep blue or emerald green tile, or even a floral or geometric motif, can infuse personality. The key is to use high-quality tile and keep the rest of the design relatively streamlined so this detail stands out without clashing.
• Backlit Backsplash: For those who want a conversation piece, backlit backsplashes are an ultra-luxury trend. This involves using a translucent material like thin onyx or certain quartz and installing LED panels behind it. When lit, the backsplash glows and reveals the stone’s patterns—a dramatic feature best suited for contemporary kitchens or home bars.

Choosing Between Timeless & Trendy: If you’re unsure how far to lean into trends, here’s a helpful tip: go timeless with large investments (like cabinetry and layout), and try trends in accents like hardware, wall paint, or tile. This approach gives you flexibility as styles change while keeping the core design grounded.

Finishing Touches: No matter what backsplash you choose, tying its colour scheme into the rest of the kitchen makes it feel intentional. If you have navy lower cabinets, maybe your backsplash has a hint of blue in its pattern. If your overall palette is warm neutral, perhaps a backsplash with cream, soft white, and sand tones will blend in elegantly. Many designers also use grout colour as a subtle accent—for instance, a white tile with a light grey grout can echo other grey elements in the room.

Your Partner in Kitchen Design

At Elite Kitchens + Design, we specialize in creating kitchens that blend the latest kitchen cabinet trends with functional, timeless design. Our team will guide you through every step—from planning your layout to choosing materials, colours, and finishes that reflect your style. Ready to begin your kitchen transformation?

Get a quote or visit our showroom to start your journey. Let’s design a space that’s as beautiful as it is practical.