10 Timeless Kitchen Design Ideas

Harriet Goodacre

November 15, 2023

Grey shaker kitchen units with an oak wood worktop and ink blue crackle tiled splashback

Kitchens are an important investment in our homes, not only are they a space that we need to use multiple times a day, but they also add value to our home when we eventually come to sell it. They are also a pricey investment so it’s key not only to buy a style that suits you and your home but will also appeal to future buyers.

Here at Topps Tiles, we are champions for making your home your own and not thinking about a future buyer so with that in mind we’ve come up with a few timeless kitchen design ideas that can suit both worlds! Here’s our top ten ideas to create a timeless kitchen.

1. Real Wood Cabinetry

Although quite expensive, wood is by far the most versatile option for cabinetry and will definitely stand the test of time. Solid wood that is properly crafted, assembled and looked after will far outlive cheaper MDF, veneer and plastic alternatives. The material can also be repaired, dissembled and reused if damaged or a style change is required and for small, more regular changes you can re-stain or repaint at minimal cost!

Recreate the look with: Novene

Dark Walnut sleek kitchen units with a white marble splashback and feature ceiling pendant

2. Stone Worktops

Real stone worktops that have minimal surface detailing are going to be the most timeless option; hardy enough to withstand the wear and tear of every day use and a classic material, working with any colour scheme and which never dates.

Recreate the look with: Pellier

Marble kitchen work top against a black wood kitchen, white panelled wall and dark stone floor tile

3. Classic Kitchen Design

When designing your kitchen layout, maximise the space available but also make it a little generic, like a fitted traditional kitchen design, this will tick the box of what you need but also the next buyer too. It’s important to go for standardised fixtures and fittings, especially if you’re integrating appliances. There’s nothing worse than investing in a specific size cabinet only to find it can’t be reused if your appliance needs replacing!

Recreate the look with: Diamante Mushroom & Prossimo

Fitted kitchen in a forest green hue, wood effect herringbone floor tile and mirrored splashback

4. Hidden Storage

Kitchens of bygone eras were adjacent to a pantry or larder cupboard and as our homes have modernised this element of storage has often been lost. Carving out a dedicated pantry space will maximise your unitary and your workspace. Opt for a mix of open shelving and drawers for tins, jars and loose bits and bobs. You could add a little personality here too by opting for a surprise inside, like a bold wallpaper, tiled background or simply a different paint colour. Simply opt for recyclable drawer liners to make cleaning easy!

Recreate the look with: Berkeley Essence Sky

A concealed pantry cupboard with a patterned tile behind open shelving

5. Durable Flooring

Sometimes the temptation is to cut corners and to save money but as a long-term investment opt for a durable floor that is neutral, easy to clean and is installed to a high quality. We’d also recommend opting for underfloor heating as it’s a lot more cost effective than conventional heating systems and the kitchen is a place you’re often standing for longer periods of time, so why not do it in comfort! The flooring style should suit the period of your home to truly feel timeless (rather than the style of your kitchen). We’d recommend a classic looking stone effect tile if you have an older property and/or wooden cabinetry and wood effect tiles if you have a more modern property and/or coloured cabinetry.

Recreate the look with: Prossimo

Herringbone wood effect floor tiles underneath a glass topped dining table and wooden chair

6. A harmonious colour palette

Now lots of people will tell you to opt for a neutral kitchen for longevity, however if you’ve opted for a more versatile kitchen in the first place then you don’t need to worry about the colour. What you should focus on is how the chosen colour feels in the space and creating a timeless interior design. If you’ve got a smaller kitchen then opting for similar shades on the wall, ceiling and cabinetry will help blend the space and make it feel bigger. If you’re lucky enough to have a larger kitchen, then you can go for a bolder colour on the units to make them pop as an accent or feature.

Recreate the look with: Briks

Beige kitchen units, wall tile and oak furniture to create a harmonious colour palette

7. Quality Hardware

The finishing touch to any kitchen is its hardware. Investing in quality handles, knobs and switches will make a kitchen feel instantly luxurious and more expensive. They’re also something you can change up to transform the identity of the space!

Recreate the look with: Blossom

8. Useful Technology

Although using the latest technology can quickly date in other areas of the home, the kitchen moves a little slower, so think about what makes your life easier, your chores quicker and what is most aesthetically pleasing. Is it having a dedicated space to store an air fryer so it doesn’t clog up the counter, is it a boiling water tap so you don’t have the arduous task of cleaning out the kettle or is it investing in a hidden extractor hood which is not only efficient and more aesthetically pleasing but easier to clean too!

Recreate the look with: Metro

Gold boiling water kitchen tap in front of a blush pink metro tile splashback

9. Fun splashbacks

A lot of work tops now come with the option of a backboard for a seamless finish, however we think these are rather dull! The splashback is a small area that is full of possibilities. It’s a great place to stamp your personality onto your kitchen, to enliven your cabinetry and make your stone worktop sing; it has the ability to pull the entire space together. So, why not go a little wild? Think about contrasting colours and textures to the rest of your kitchen to create intrigue and depth and consider the laying pattern, they can transform the look of your tile, create the illusion of space and even connote an interior style!

Recreate the look with: Flute

Bright blue fluted wall tile in an orange and slatted wood kitchen

10. Sustainable Choices

The key to being timeless is quality, the embodying concept of quiet luxury is to not follow trends, to invest in quality and as long as you create a harmonious space that is in tune with your property, the kitchen will become a welcoming hub over many years to come. This longevity means fewer investments over a short period of time whilst investing in materials from renewable sources and avoiding landfill.

Recreate the look with: Hemsworth

Sage green wood shaker kitchen with a grey stone effect floor and fan shaped wall tile

So, how will you transform a traditional kitchen design into something of your own? Show us your timeless kitchen ideas over on Instagram by tagging us @toppstiles.

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