Kitchen Trends For Autumn Winter 2023

By Hanna Stensland-Bugge

7 minute read

As the temperature starts to drop, it's time to think about how to make your kitchen feel cosy and inviting for the autumn and winter seasons.

As Summer fades into Autumn, let’s take a moment to refresh our homes and embrace the new season. Just like we update our wardrobes and drink preferences, spare some time to update your kitchen and make it vibrant and welcoming for the upcoming colder months. In this article, we’ll explore the biggest autumn-winter trends for 2023 that are sure to leave you smiling.

With a whole range of new colours and styles, there is something for everyone. Whether it’s something bold or classic neutrals, we’ll show you how to incorporate the latest kitchen trends with insider tips and trend forecasts from our designer, Jane Thyeson, who has over 20 years of experience in the kitchen industry.

Red Alert

Warm shades are trending in kitchens this season with a resurgence of brick, mulberry and damson taking centre stage. These rich and comforting hues are perfect for autumn, offering a cosy ambience to spend time with family and friends. This colour works well with darker woods and dark metal handles to add depth and drama. Team with stone colours for the walls, neutral grey, or if you feel brave, plaster pink.

Vard range in Crimson red

This crimson colourway has a touch of black, so it doesn’t feel too overpowering. Consider pairing it with a grey splashback to take some of it to neutralise the warmth of the cabinets.

Forest Green Kitchen Cabinets

Green in all its hues has become popular, taking over from navy blue in the style stakes. It’s a wonderful colour for Autumn, reminiscent of pine trees and foliage and takes us back to nature. Green looks particularly good with brass and gold cabinet door handles and hinges, adding a touch of shine and luxury. Or choose paler greens, such as our new sage tone, which has become neutral in its own right. Check out our recent feature on how to introduce green into your kitchen.

Hjerte range in spruce green

People are increasingly looking to use bespoke colours in their kitchen to make it truly unique. Having 3D drawings at the design stage lets you see how different greens will look in your kitchen before committing.

But what if you are looking for a particular colour? Maybe one to match your current wall colours or a specific teal green you had in mind? With our colour-matching service, we can help you create a completely bespoke colour. All you need to do is give us a reference, such as a paint reference or an RAL code, and we will help you create your perfect shade. Want to know more? Contact us, and we are happy to help!

Pet-Friendly Kitchens

With more people than ever owning pets, finding space for them has become an issue, and more often than not, they end up in the kitchen. By creating a designated area for your pet beneath the worktop or kitchen island, you can give them a cosy place to rest while keeping them out of the way.

A great solution for pet owners is to have a separate zone for their furry friend, away from the cooking and preparation space. Our designer, Jane Thyeson, came up with a practical solution for this.

Jasper in Doll

This design provides a place for your pet to rest comfortably underneath the worktop or kitchen island, away from the cooking areas, and gives them their own designated space. Additionally, the design includes a shelves above the designated area to store their food and treats, making it convenient to access and keeping the zones separate.

Modern White Shaker Kitchens

White kitchens are a perennial favourite and are always the top colour choice. White is ideal in a small kitchen to make the room feel roomier, lighter and brighter. In medium to large-sized kitchens, it is energising. White doesn’t date and always looks ‘clean’. It works well with paler woods, and colour can be added to the tiles, worktops, flooring and accessories to change it up later if desired.

Hambleton range in Chalk white

Our Hambleton kitchen shown above is one of our favourite white shaker kitchens this season. This range exudes elegance and sophistication, thanks to its understated design and clean lines. To enhance its luxurious features, we have teamed it with slim brass handles that add warmth and style to the overall look. Complete the look with off-white or cream walls and a pale wood floor for an inviting atmosphere.

The New Neutrals

While white is a popular choice for kitchen cabinets and units, it may feel too clinical for some. If you’re looking for a more forgiving and warmer option, a cream tone could be perfect for your kitchen. It’s a versatile shade that complements contemporary and traditional homes alike.

Opt for a contemporary look with off-white glossy cabinets: they reflect light and add more visual space, perfect for a smaller room. Team with brown coffee tones for the walls that soften the look for some Feng Shui.

Hampton range in Pearl

On the other hand, if you prefer a more traditional kitchen, matte-finish cabinets in cream could be better suited. Pair them with pale green or soft blue on the walls for that quaint countryside look. Complete with wooden worktops in solid wood and rustic splashback tiles in a warm-toned colour, as can be seen in our customer kitchen above. Explore David and Karen’s farmhouse kitchen to see how we achieved this.

Kitchen Island Worktops And Appliances

Plenty of countertop space is essential for our ever-growing reliance on kitchen gadgets and appliances to streamline our daily routines. The interest for air fryers has tripled in six months, as well as the popularity for coffee machines, blenders and slow cookers, that not only make cooking quicker and easier, but save us money in the long term by reducing our energy bills. Learn more reducing your energy bills with our guide to the best energy saving hacks.

As a brand partner of AO, all Smile Kitchen customers can now enjoy a 10% discount on all appliances. AO offers a wide range of appliances including ovens, ice cream makers and more to help you upgrade your kitchen.

Kitchen islands are a must-have for the majority of new kitchens and have also evolved, the latest designs include integrated display shelving and versatile split-level countertops offering a contemporary breakfast bar. Islands are also a good place for hidden plug points for your small appliances. But we are also seeing a trend for kitchen islands without sinks so that there is more room for preparation and it makes for a better entertaining space.

Vard range in Meadow

The Butler’s Pantry

Nowadays, it seems that having a pantry has become a popular choice. It serves as a designated storage area for kitchenware and food items, keeping everything in one place. Pantries can be configured in many ways with open shelving and door apertures, which help maintain a tidy space and open many opportunities. In addition, pantries can also function as breakfast stations, where you can store your kettle, toaster, bread tin, and other breakfast essentials. Not only does it help keep things organized, but it serves as a way to separate different areas, avoiding clutter in the rest of the kitchen.

Vard range in Onyx and Eden with pantry unit. It makes a great kitchen bar too.

Tile Trends

Tiles are becoming increasingly popular for adding a personal touch to your kitchen. This year, there is a strong trend towards using patterns and colours, with bold prints, organic shapes, and textures being particularly popular. Our partner, Baked Tiles, has an impressive boho design that is a great example of this trend.

Explore our ranges to see how you can incorporate these kitchen trends into your new kitchen, and book your design consultation with one of our design experts here.