Planning a complete kitchen renovation or simply a makeover of your current kitchen, this trend guide for 2025 will help you create a space that is not only super functional but also a true reflection of your style.
1. 2025 Colours
This year’s colour palettes reflect the earthy hues of our Australian landscapes: ochres, deep browns, eucalypt and mountain pepper greens and navy blues. These rich colours are balanced with softer neutrals: ivories, subtle greys and taupes, providing a timeless backdrop and enhancing a sense of warmth.
Accents of terracotta, mustard yellows, brushed copper, and burnished metals used in trims, fixtures, and hardware add contrast and life.
Painted finishes obviously provide infinite options in shades of colour. For those with a more restrictive budget, Laminex’s latest range includes gentle hues from our Australian landscape: Rocky Bay, Coolum Sand, Outback Clay, Platypus, Gumnut and Eucalypt. These palettes pair beautifully with our ideas on how to use colour in your kitchen without overdoing it.
2. Textures
In 2025, textured surfaces are adding depth, dimension and warmth to kitchens, complementing the in-trend colour palettes. Fluted doors, panels and glass, quarry-hewn stone and artisan ceramic tiles provide a more tactile, sensory experience. These textures add visual interest and a sense of craftsmanship and authenticity.
Juxtaposing rough textures with smooth surfaces creates a harmonious balance, adding a level of sophistication to the design. For example, consider setting a figured and veined rough-hewn granite against super matte finished cabinetry or pairing a fluted island panelling with an ultra-smooth Dekton benchtop.
3. Benchtops Selection
In keeping with the natural tones, 2025 has seen the return of natural stone for benchtops. Granites and quartzites provide hard-wearing surfaces with beautiful figuring – each piece unique and often with deep textural characters.
Sintered materials like Dekton and Neolith provide the ultimate in heat, scratch and stain resistance. Available in various finishes that mimic natural travertine and marbles, these options are covered in more detail in our guide to the best benchtop materials for your kitchen. Industrial finishes in these materials provide a striking contrast to the popular softer tones used in cabinetry.
Other trending materials are porcelain, which comes in an extensive array of colours, and low-silica engineered stone like Xeron from Cosentino, which has the added benefit of including recycled materials.
4. Splashbacks
2025 is seeing a tendency to utilise the benchtop materials as splashbacks. The sintered materials and porcelain provide a flame-resistant and stain-resistant backing to the cooking area whilst adding to the benchtop’s visual impact by continuing in a vertical surface.
Textured, rough-hewn tiles also provide a dramatic contrast and reinforce the earthy, natural design elements in this year’s on-trend kitchens
5. Sustainable Materials: Eco-Conscious Choices
Sustainability is a guiding principle for many Australian homeowners. In 2025, the trend is to use eco-friendly, durable materials with a low environmental impact. Inclusion of reclaimed stone particles in benchtops, recycled timber and eco-friendly composite materials is increasingly popular for cabinetry, benchtops, shelving and flooring.
Energy-efficient appliances and water-saving fixtures are standard in modern kitchens. Replacing gas cooking with state-of-the-art induction cooktops is being encouraged by building legislation.
Opting for long-lasting designs that age gracefully helps minimise waste and promotes conscious consumption.
6. Smarter Storage Solutions
Maximising space without compromising aesthetics is a key trend this year. Internal fittings that boost storage – think internal drawers, carousels and lift-up mechanisms that make for ease of retrieving stored items from what would previously have been a wasted corner space or an overly deep cabinet where things are obscured from view.
Consider a full-height appliance pantry with its own task-lit work top where the kitchen space doesn’t allow for a full butler’s pantry. If you’re working with compact areas, check out our small kitchen tips to maximise space and style.
7. Multifunctional Islands
In 2025, we find the kitchen island becoming a true hub of activity. No longer just a preparation area and a means of delineating the kitchen from the living area – it’s a dining zone, workspace and entertainment zone all rolled into one. Providing storage, seating, charging stations for phones and PCs, and even appliances like built-in multi-function ovens or wine fridges, this year’s island is all about functionality!
The island certainly becomes the focal point of a well-designed kitchen. Design trends see islands that stand out visually, setting the tone for the new kitchen. Use bold colour choices, sculptural shapes or contrasting timber elements to define the space.
8. Focus on Lighting
Lighting is a critical design feature in today’s kitchen. Statement lighting in 2025 is all about bold, sculptural fixtures that complement the kitchen’s aesthetic as well as providing essential illumination. Oversized pendants, linear light bars and layered lighting schemes add drama and sophistication to the space.
Strategic under-cabinet lighting, under-benchtop lighting or recessed LEDs create mood and functionality, allowing you to alter the atmosphere depending on the time of day or activity.
9. Bringing the Outside in
A noticeable trend in Australian kitchen design this year is biophilic design where homeowners seek to create more calming and nature-inspired spaces. This design approach enhances our connection to the natural world by incorporating organic elements in the kitchen. Large windows and skylights welcome natural light allowing lush indoor plants to add life and vibrancy. Herb gardens within the kitchen space can provide fresh cooking ingredients. Splashback windows provide a view of the outdoors allowing the kitchen to feel more open, relaxing and connected to nature.
10. Personalisation
In 2025, Australian homeowners choose bespoke features that reflect their unique style. Every detail, from custom cabinetry, hand-crafted tiles and one-of-a-kind hardware, is an opportunity to put their stamp on the result.
An antique light fixture, a reclaimed timber shelf, even bespoke handles found on a holiday somewhere, can make the kitchen feel unique and meaningful. Essentially, it makes it yours.
