5 Kitchen and Bath Trends to Inspire Your Designs in 2023

Metallic black finishes, kitchens with heritage, plus rose-colored hues – and so much more – will be setting the tone for this year’s kitchen and bath trends.

We’re fresh out of the most well-attended KBIS of all time and are feeling positively giddy about the fresh and colorful kitchen and bath trends that are rapidly taking hold. In this roundup, we’ve gathered input from editors and designers around the country to identify five of the most definitive design elements to look out for right now.

Here’s what you can expect to see in the kitchen and bath in 2023:

1. Metallic black finishes

After attending KBIS, Cozy Stylish Chic designer Jeanne Chung noted “rich, darker and in some cases weather-worn metal finishes” trending. “[It’s] not a goodbye to matte black just yet, but a softer, more sophisticated finish,” she writes. “Some call it soft black. Some call it titanium, but I just call it gorgeous!”

In a recent wrap-up of KBIS trends, Architectural Digest calls it “graphite nickel,” citing Native Trails’ new Gunmetal finish, the most recent addition to our Precious Metals Collection of fireclay sink basins, as a prime example of this look. According to AD, “We love the line’s ability to pick up soft, ambient light from the space around it—a point of differentiation from the matte blacks of yesteryear.”

AD also cites Baldwin’s new Graphite Nickel finish, soon to be available in more than 5,000 styles of the maker’s hardware, and Brizo’s expansion of its Brilliance Black Onyx finish, while Chung points, too, to our Gunmetal finish. She also references Monogram Appliances’ Titanium Collection of appliances in dark-charcoal muted tones, Belwith Keeler’s darker, moodier hardware finishes, and Grothouse Inc.’s Anvil line of wood surfaces that imitate metal countertops.

2. Kitchens with heritage

Pinterest’s annual trends report is an excellent indicator of what’s to come for kitchen and bath trends because rather than casting predictions at-will, it looks at what people are increasingly searching for to shape its report. Among its interior design trends for this year, it predicts the rise of the “hipstoric” home, based on the fact that searches for “eclectic interior design vintage” are up 850% while “mixing modern and antique furniture” searches have jumped by 530%.

House Beautiful content editor Rachel Edwards says, “Heritage is a trend that very much began in our kitchens—we’ve seen traditional design details like farmhouse sinks, pantries, sweet ruffled curtains, and classic shaker cabinetry come to the fore.” Edwards also references age-old design elements like herringbone floors, scallop-edge details, ticking stripe and ruffles for this year’s kitchen and bath trends to watch.

3. Dopamine decor

The concept of “dopamine dressing” has its origins in fashion and encourages us to ditch the black-on-black uniforms and instead wear clothes that make us feel happy and confident. This trend is also translating to the home, where playful wallpaper and bright colors are selected specifically to be mood-boosters, making this one of the most cheerful kitchen and bath trends for the coming year.

We see this trend play out in powder rooms in particular, but the kitchen has also become a playground for color, as KBIS certainly highlighted. Cabinetry, appliances and fixtures were all awash in color.

“Dopamine décor can be interpreted as using color, pattern and tactile furnishings in your home as a way to make you feel happier,” says Suzy Chiazzari, a color and design consultant in the U.K. “You might start off small—by introducing a print here and a colored piece of furniture there, or you might fully commit to vivid colors, such as zesty yellows, punchy pinks, and brilliant blues to dress homes and evoke feelings of happiness.”

4. Rust and rosy tones

When it comes to adding color, we’re obsessed with this year’s kitchen and bath trends favorite, rose (aka rust). Pantone’s pick was Viva Magenta, which it describes as “brave and fearless, a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration.”

Benjamin Moore named Raspberry Blush its color of the year. “Raspberry Blush 2008-30 embodies an infectious optimism, full of hope and joie de vivre,” say the experts at Benjamin Moore. “More subtle than scarlet, with just the slightest hint of orange, Raspberry Blush is an energizing color with the impressive ability to completely change the mood of a room, injecting a positive, vibrant feel for a fresh new look with flair.”

As for Sherwin Williams, it selected a hue for 2023 that mixes blush and beige (Redend Point) while Dunn-Edwards’ Terra Rosa color of the year is a deep, rosy pink. Even KitchenAid’s color of the year fits the scheme: It’s an eye-catching fuschia called Hibiscus.

When Vogue asked designers to forecast 2023 paint color trends, earthy pinks, reds and rusts abounded in their responses. “Mauve, peach, corals—I’m loving shades of pink right now,” said Jake Arnold. “It feels feminine and a softer way to incorporate color.” Meanwhile, Kathryn Ireland said, “Pink and mauve are next year’s colors.” And Danielle Colding said, “Earth tones continue to dominate as we all recover from years of all-gray-everything PTSD. Earthy browns were my prediction last year, and that continues. But now red is coming back in spades. From rich oxblood to earthy terracotta red, these nature-inspired hues will continue to dominate design.”

5. Wellness bathrooms

2023 brings us “the wellness bathroom.” With post-pandemic howmeowners looking to recreate the spa experience at home, wellness-enhancing features are a top pick for bathroom remodels.

Soothing soaker tubs are for many the perfect recipe for relaxation, and then there’s the allure of rejuvenating in a tech-forward bathroom. Attracting all-day crowds at KBIS, Brizo’snew Mystix Steam System shower comes in two experiences: The standard Elemental steam shower with temperature control and an upgraded version called Transcendent with therapeutic options including chromatherapy, aromatherapy and audiotherapy. Delta’s SteamScape series offers similar features. And Kohler’s Sprig line infuses your shower water with scent blends from pods such as eucalyptus and mint, clary sage and patchouli, and lavender and vanilla.

Besides steam showers and chromotherapy, other trending elements of the wellness bathroom include at-home infrared saunas, cold plunge tubs, rain showers, and bidet/toilet hybrids.

See all of Native Trails’ new products for 2023 here.