Top Modern Kitchen Ideas For Your Stylish New Build Home

Moving into a new build home gives you the perfect opportunity to create your dream kitchen. You can design your new-build kitchen with you and your family’s needs in mind, as well as making sure that it looks just right.

A new-build kitchen is a beautiful blank canvas. You can go crazy with colour, stylish with storage, and add every kitchen gadget you can think of. If you’d like some inspiration to kick you off, here’s the Hopkins Homes guide to creating the perfect aesthetic and practical modern kitchen.

Optimising Your Layout

How do you make the most of your new kitchen’s layout for a smooth and seamless cooking experience?

Open-plan kitchens

This is a popular kitchen layout for a new build or modern renovation. The easy transition from cooking to dining to relaxing area creates a sociable and family-friendly space that’s perfect for today’s informal living. If you want some sort of delineation between the cooking and living areas, try a breakfast bar or island counter.

L-shaped kitchen

These classic kitchens give you that bit of extra space beyond the cooking area, while keeping your sitting room separate. This layout is great if you love the idea of a family kitchen with an informal dining section.

Galley kitchen

A narrower galley kitchen is a great option for smaller spaces, and the chef has everything they need to hand. This layout can be easily adapted for any aesthetic, modern or traditional.

Incorporating modern aesthetics into your design

Once you know your layout, you can focus on the look and style of the cabinets, worktops and tiling. What are the latest looks for a modern kitchen?

For cabinet doors and worktops, sleek and minimalist designs are still popular, and we love the clean feel that these give. Features such as handleless doors and integrated appliances enhance this effect.

However, we’ve seen more colour creeping in recently, a trend that we really like here at Hopkins Homes. A new-build kitchen is the perfect opportunity to choose bright or contrasting tiles and splashbacks, adding personality as well as colour. Royal blue and warm terracotta have been popular recent options.

The materials and finishes you choose are also important. Wood creates a natural feel that works equally well with contemporary and traditional designs. Team with sage green and cream accents for a Scandi feel, and think about using wooden or stone worktops. 

Gloss finishes bring a light and modern feel to your kitchen and are a great choice for a minimalist modern look. The high-gloss finish reflects light, making smaller kitchens feel bigger. A smooth matte finish is equally stylish, but has the advantage of hiding fingerprints and smudges (just the thing for a family kitchen!).

For more aesthetic inspo, read some more of our contemporary kitchen ideas.

Innovative kitchen storage solutions 

And speaking of space…Maximising storage is crucial in any kitchen, and you can introduce solutions like pull-out cabinets and corner drawers to extend your space and help to keep surfaces clear.

When you’re thinking about designing your kitchen cabinets, go upwards to maximise storage. Floor-to-ceiling cabinets are an effective way to extend your cupboard space, especially in smaller galley kitchens.

Introducing lighting

A well-thought-out lighting plan is essential. Combine task lighting, ambient lighting and accent lighting to create an inviting atmosphere while making sure you can see well for chopping and dicing! For example, under-cabinet lights illuminate work surfaces effectively.

Pendant lights over the dining area, breakfast bar or island unit are a decorative feature as well as a practical feature, and are a great way to add personality to the space.

Technology in the modern kitchen

A new-build kitchen gives you the opportunity to install all sorts of exciting modern features. Smart appliances, lighting and sound systems make cooking and entertaining both more efficient and enjoyable. From integrated sound systems to charging stations, there’s lots you can do to bring your kitchen right up to date.

Make sure there’s room for all your smaller appliances. A few years ago, we only had to worry about the kettle and toaster taking up counter space. Today, fabulous appliances like air fryers and slow cookers need room.

Sustainable features in a new build kitchen

New-build homeowners can incorporate the latest energy-efficient appliances into their designs, as well as opting for sustainable and responsibly sourced materials. Introducing extra measures such as water-saving fixtures will reduce the kitchen’s environmental impact from the start and potentially save you money on your bills.

To find out how sustainable features can make cooking (and other household activities) greener, take a look at our zero energy bills homes in Suffolk. We’re increasing sustainable features across our new developments, helping you to live a cleaner, greener life.

Personal touches

From cabinet handles to pot plants to artwork on the walls, individual touches like these will make your new kitchen truly yours. Pictures, plants and quirky little details help soften the practical feel of the kitchen, which needn’t be a solely functional space. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and as such, is the perfect room to personalise.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best layout for my new kitchen?

Firstly, work with the space you have, as that determines whether your kitchen can be open-plan, L-shaped or galley style. Think about how you like to cook, eat and entertain: do you want your kitchen to be a multi-purpose space?

How do I choose my kitchen cabinets?

For a modern kitchen, sleek gloss cabinets work well, while wooden doors look good with both contemporary and traditional aesthetics. Aim to maximise storage space by choosing over-counter and floor-to-ceiling cupboards. Use shelves as well as cupboards if you like to have items on display.

What’s the best way to light a modern kitchen?

A combination of ambient, task and accent lighting will give you a welcoming atmosphere while still making sure you can see to chop! Switch between different lights for different tasks: for example, switch off the task lights and have a softer, warmer light for dining.

What are the most popular accent colours for a modern kitchen?

Rich terracotta shades complement grey or pale cabinets, and look fabulous with potted plants. Royal and dark blue are popular if you want a more dramatic contrast. If you have wooden units, try a sage green or grey-blue for a calm Scandi effect. In the end, the best colour is one that you love – that way, your new-build kitchen will reflect your personality. 

Suggest some quick ways to add character to a new build modern kitchen

There’s lots you can do to personalise your new kitchen. Try pictures, plants and ornaments and have key pieces such as brightly coloured pots and serving dishes on display. Introduce a book shelf for your favourite cookery books, or try an indoor herb garden. Add quirky practical details such as unusual cabinet handles, brass taps, and colourful kettles and toasters.