No matter where you call home, kitchens of 2024 are embracing some key tenets of interior design in Los Angeles to create airy, open, and optimized food prep spaces.
The kitchen is the heart of your home: the functional center where sweet and savory intertwine in tasty, nutritious dishes. But feeling at home in your kitchen is a must—if it’s time to reinvigorate your space, this is the guide for you.
Let’s dive into resituating your storage, optimizing your layout, swapping bar stools for expanded storage, and finding materials that are easy to keep clean.
#1 Optimize Storage for Clear Countertops
If you’re going for interior design Los Angeles style, storage is the name of the game. Why?
- More storage equals clear countertops – When everything in your kitchen has its place—from everyday objects like silverware to more niche appliances like your immersion blender—you can unlock the clutter-free, clear countertops you usually only see in magazines.
- More storage equals better quality of life – Let’s face it: when your kitchen counters are covered in last night’s dishes, stacks of mail, and trays from past potlucks you’ve been meaning to return, you’re less motivated to start chopping veggies for a hearty, home-cooked meal. Starting with a clean slate when it’s time to rinse your rice or whip up a curry is the first step to getting your cooking groove back.
- More storage equals better organization – We all strive to be organized. Most of us aren’t missing motivation—we’re missing systems. Storage is the backbone of any organization system; when your stuff has a home, you’re more likely to put it there. Whether you switch out all of your old-fashioned cabinets for extra-deep drawers or finally install that hanging pot rack, amping up your storage will change the face and function of your kitchen.
#2 Perfect Your Layout
Home staging experts—the people who know how to put things exactly where they belong—prioritize functional flow above all else. What does that mean for anyone looking to level up their kitchen in 2024?
Perfecting your layout for optimal, efficient traffic flow. That could look like:
- Moving your coffee mugs to a different cabinet—the one right above your coffee pot, Keurig, or kettle, for instance
- Keeping the plates and flatware right next to the stove: food comes right out of the oven and goes right onto your plates
- Storing food storage containers and food wraps (aluminum foil and plastic wrap) next to each other and next to the fridge (because that’s where your leftovers are headed)
Putting things in places that make sense is like adding salt to pasta water: it’s not required, but it just makes everything better.
#3 Skip Barstools; Opt for Storage
When was the last time you actually sat on those bar stools that adorn your kitchen island? If you do use your bar stools regularly, are you using all of them?
Especially in larger kitchens, barstools often don’t make sense: especially if you have a separate formal dining area or breakfast nook. Instead of making room for bar stools, expand your kitchen island cabinets out to all four edges of your countertop to extend your cabinet space.
But where will you sit for more casual meals? Sitting down to eat is a dining area activity—let the kitchen be the kitchen and eat in any spaces you already have for dining (like the formal dining room you only use for parties and special occasions).
If you’re tight on space, consider a European-inspired solution: a table attached to a wall that folds down when it’s not in use, for instance. If you’re looking for space efficiency, ditching the barstools will change your storage game for good.
#4 Prioritize Cleanability
If it’s time for a full kitchen remodel or you want to refresh your finishes, 2024 is all about balancing aesthetics with practicality—in other words, today’s interior designers are picking materials that are easy to clean. Let’s take a look at two sensible swaps to consider in your remodel process:
- Ditch the tiled backsplash – Whose idea was it to put mosaic tile behind the stove—the same stove where you simmer marinara and deep-fry chicken legs? Instead of adding even more grout to your home (because grout is the headquarters of tough stains and dust buildup), opt for a more seamless material: a slab that matches your countertops or a piece of vinyl, for instance.
- Ditch white cabinets – All-white kitchens were a staple of the 2010s—much to the chagrin of home chefs, parents, and people with pets. Opting for stain-hiding finishes in your kitchen may not lighten your cleaning load, but your kitchen certainly won’t look as messy when a good wipe-down has to wait until tomorrow. In 2024, work smarter, not harder, to keep your kitchen clean.
2024 Kitchens: Functional, Airy, and Simple
The tips above all embody a few themes of 2024 kitchens: they’re highly functional, clutter-free, and simple to use and maintain.
Creating as much storage space as you can, optimizing your storage layout, choosing the most space-efficient furniture and solutions (i.e., scrapping your bar stools), and opting for materials that are easy to clean are just a few suggestions from today’s interior design pros.
