The Once-Luxurious Kitchen Cabinet Style That Screams 'Dated' In Homes Today

Cabinets are one of the most important elements in any design, considering they not only serve a functional purpose, but also set the tone for the heart of the home — the kitchen. But with so many styles and trends coming and going over the years, it can be hard to find a look that feels timeless. A simple cabinetry upgrade can do wonders for your kitchen's appeal and organization, but its potential impact can also go south if you commit to the wrong style. If you've been looking for some ideas for your kitchen remodel, try to avoid a certain style that feels incredibly dated in today's design world — overly ornate details.

Home design trends have been harder to follow these days, as homeowners have been trying to find balance between overly simplistic, minimalist designs, and maximalist looks that can feel too chaotic. Ornate kitchen cabinet details can often land on the chaotic side, but not in a good way. Once a staple of the Tuscan kitchens of the early 2000s, these ornate, detailed cabinet styles can immediately make your kitchen feel dated, so you may want to consider details that feel balanced and modern instead.

When picking your cabinets, it's important to choose a style that feels timeless. This will give you a solid foundation that can easily adapt to evolving trends and decor changes over time. Think of it like a classic white tee in your wardrobe that can be dressed up to align with any fashion trend, whereas a shirt with a popular pattern could look like a relic of fallen styles by the following year. It's the same with overly ornate cabinetry, because the extravagant details are too specific to align with the changes of modern trends. A simpler cabinet design, however, can be updated easily with some paint and new hardware. 

Some common signs of overly-ornate and outdated cabinet styles include raised center panels, heavy molding, rope trim, and busy embellishments. Designers have noted that these details often feel too hefty in modern kitchens, and tend to clash with the sleek, simple looks that are currently in style. Cohesion is key in modern kitchen designs, and cabinets with old-world elements and detailed carvings often feel out of place among modern appliances. Another downside to these intricate designs is their maintenance — they're quick to accumulate debris which can make them look even more dated.

Even though ornate cabinetry is now considered outdated, it doesn't mean that your cabinets should lack detail all together. You might see ornate styles as a way to refresh your kitchen by adding texture, but there are plenty of ways to accomplish this in a more modern fashion. For instance, shaker cabinets are a stylish alternative that offer a sense of depth through clean lines and subtle details. You can also create visual interest through your choice of material, like opting for rustic wood textures on a slab-style cabinet. On the other hand, you might consider using color to add personality and dimension to your cabinets with the popular two-toned approach. By choosing a light color for your upper cabinets and a darker shade for lower cabinets, it creates a layered look that feels bold and timeless, while giving you more opportunity to reflect your design style.

If you want your cabinets to feel truly contemporary and on-trend as years go by, designers recommend aiming for minimalist features like sleek, concealed cabinets with subtle hardware. Rather than ornate knobs and handles, geometric or hidden hardware upon flat cabinetry offers a clean, timeless appeal. Overly ornate hardware can be hard to align with the rest of your design, but simpler choices like sleek, brass handles can easily match with other fixtures in your kitchen like lighting, stools, and decorative elements.