Today's modern kitchen designs combine sleek, streamlined style, with up-to-date technology. The result is a kitchen that not only looks and feels fresh and contemporary, but also makes cooking and cleaning more effective and efficient. When it comes to creating a kitchen, there are a few must-haves for achieving a modern style...
1. Task Lighting
Rather than having one or two large bright ceiling lights, the modern kitchen uses different styles of light to illuminate various work, or task areas. Spotlights, like the IKEA GRUNDTAL, are a great way to light up your work tops underneath wall cabinets, and pendant lighting, like the IKEA FOTO, over a kitchen island is both practical and stylish.
2. Self-cleaning oven
Modern technology can often seem a little baffling and pointless, but then every once-in-a-while something comes along that leaves us thanking the Techno-Gods for the truly wonderful gift they've sent down to us mere mortals. The self-cleaning oven is one such gift. All those hours spent scrubbing away inside your oven are no longer necessary and a quick wipe will now suffice. Marvellous!
See the FRAMTID pyrolytic self-cleaning oven
3. Monochromatic colours
An easy way to give your kitchen a modern look is to use monochromatic colours like greys, blacks, or whites throughout. The consistent use of monochromatic colour creates the clean, simple, minimal feel so sought after in the modern kitchen.
4. Unembellished cabinets
Cabinets take up a fair amount of space in the kitchen and are one of the first things that we see upon entry into the kitchen space. By using simple, unembellished cabinets in your kitchen, you can ensure that the first impressions are of a sleek and streamlined modern style.
Get ideas for kitchen cabinets
5. Stainless steel
When it comes to creating a modern style kitchen, if in any doubt, add stainless steel and you simply can't go wrong. Nothing feels modern quite like the smooth, shiny finish of steel. The use of steel for your work tops or appliances is a sure-fire way to modernise your kitchen.
6. Simple cabinet knobs and handles, or none at all
Over-elaborate knobs and handles fitted to your kitchen cabinets can disrupt the clean lines of a modern style kitchen. Using no handles at all is the ultimate in streamlined design, but in many cases it's not particularly practical. Use simple knobs and handles for a modern look, and choose contemporary materials to match your appliances.
Find out more about kitchen knobs and handles
7. Modern appliances
No modern style kitchen is complete without equally modern appliances. Have a think about the kind of cooking that you do and look out for contemporary features that will help to make your kitchen activities even more efficient and enjoyable.
8. Kitchen island
A kitchen island is rapidly becoming an essential feature of today's modern style kitchen. If you have space for an island, they offer a practical versatility - a space for cooking or eating - and a stylistic focal point.
Get ideas for kitchen islands
9. Stylish backsplash
There was a time when the kitchen backsplash was really just a practical afterthought, put up to protect the walls around the cooking areas from long term damage. Not so in the modern kitchen. Your backsplash is a chance to get creative and accentuate the overall style of your kitchen.
Learn more about kitchen backsplashes
10. Clean, uncluttered surfaces
A modern style kitchen must be seen to be appreciated, so keeping the surfaces clean and uncluttered will allow the sleek, modern style to shine through. If you've got a small kitchen, look into clever uses of storage, or put away kitchen equipment that is infrequently used.
See our range of kitchen appliances
Get ideas for kitchen design
Top 10s
See the full range of top tips from around the site
