The Concrete-Inspired Kitchen Trend That's Slowly Disappearing From Homes

It seems like just yesterday that you could walk into a slew of establishments flooded with industrial decor. You know the one: concrete walls and countertops paired with high, floor-to-ceiling windows that reach up to exposed ducts and beams. But this raw, utilitarian style decor wasn't just in millennial cafes or hipster restaurants — it was also heavily used in modern homes. Specifically, it wasn't uncommon to see this style in home kitchens, making them almost indistinguishable from commercial ones in appearance. You might've noticed that in recent years, though, this decor style seems to be disappearing from homes. That's due to a social and aesthetic shift toward warmth, character, and more organic shapes and textures when designing kitchens.

When you think of impactful modern interior decor trends, you may think of the ultra-refined and over-simplified minimalistic decor. But the industrial aesthetic, or the so-called "grit-chic" aesthetic, included sleek silhouettes as well as exposed and raw elements, such as brick walls and ductwork that echo a warehouse. Many urban lofts have been associated with this type of "young hipster" vibe, which some associate with modern elegance and sustainability. It's easy to see the shift away from this, with designers implementing ways to make spaces feel warm, especially the kitchen, where hosting, gathering, and warmth are often at the core of a cozy atmosphere. This involves softer lighting, traditional decor, and other elements that make a kitchen look lived-in and curated rather than sterile and utilitarian. 

The kitchen is where you prepare home-cooked meals, but it's also a place to entertain, connect, and create long-lasting memories. That said, it's natural to want your kitchen's aesthetic to echo the sentiment of warmth and comfort. However, achieving this type of environment can be hard with the industrial look.

Designers are well aware of the way the atmosphere of a space is defined by the decor style, lighting, textures, and aesthetics. Sure, refined textures, sleek silhouettes, and industrial lighting can look clean and tidy, but concrete-driven countertops, cold metal finishes, and other raw materials that exist in industrial-style kitchens don't exactly scream cozy. Even with some warm pendant lighting or styling choices that bring a touch of bright and airy ambiance to this industrial aesthetic, it can still strike a cold atmosphere.

For these reasons, designers favor a much brighter, cozier, and more collected feel to kitchens. This includes light, earthy color palettes, organic textures (like natural stone countertops and backsplashes or wooden flooring), and soft finishes and edges. As another example, you may see rustic finishes, like wooden cabinetry, kitchen islands with curved edges, or upholstered bar stools. Patterned wallpaper is favored to create a lived-in design over the cold, concrete wall, and charming cafe-curtains are picked over industrial roller shades. These styling decisions overall offer a relaxed, comforting atmosphere as opposed to the overly sleek and often sterile look of industrial design.