Modern Minimalism: Contemporary Kitchen Design Tips

Thursday, 27th March 3:33pm 2025

Minimalism often conjures bleak images: one set of clothes; empty rooms; influencers with more cameras than spoons. That said, modern minimalism isn’t just for outliers. A minimalist contemporary kitchen design can actually help anyone – even you – live a freer life, as you’ll discover today.

 

What is Minimalism?

Minimalism’s definition has U-turned in recent decades from its origins as a form of art developed in the 1960s. Its pioneer Frank Stella, famously said of it, “What you see is what you see.” It rejected the idea that art should contain deeper meaning. To art’s minimalists, a chair was a chair.

That was until the minimalist movement, which started gaining momentum at around 2010. Since then, a chair no longer represented a chair. Depending on the style, it symbolised clarity or a life swamped with clutter.

An Ashbourne Highland Stone range by Sigma 3 Cardiff East

Indeed, minimalism removed meaning from objects then re-introduced it. While the definition might have flipflopped, however, the goal remains consistent: everyone wants simplicity.

A H-Line Sutton range by Jones Britain and a Kensington range by Sigma 3 Swansea

Kitchens are a challenge for modern minimalists because they attract clutter. Plus, newcomers worry minimalist kitchen design ideas are boring. But fear not. Done right, it can actually breathe life into a kitchen, giving extra space and time for activities. Want this utopian vision? All you have to do is follow a simple playbook outlined in today’s article.

 

Modern Minimalism Colours

Browse minimalist décor ideas on Pinterest and you’ll quickly realise that one colour scheme reigns supreme. Think neutrals: off-white; beige; grey; brown – occasionally black.

A H-Line Sutton Burnt Umber range by New Forest Designs

Take, for example, this H-Line Sutton Burnt Umber range. Sporting neutral colours, natural materials and understated, rustic touches, this modern design kitchen oozes personality. What’s more, it accesses a lot of natural light. The matt-finish doors create the desired effect: fresh rather than sterile.

 

Minimal Kitchen Fittings

Should you go with knob or t-bar handles? We offer a full range at Masterclass Kitchens. Any can work in a minimalist kitchen. The key is to opt for a simple version of your preferred style, mounted on a Shaker or – ideally – a flat slab door. You can even forego handles altogether.

If you’re worried you’ll create an overly simple kitchen design, marble- or wood-effect worktops can counteract those concerns by adding a touch of texture without overcomplicating the design.

 

Organised Kitchen Storage

Fewer items means less to clean, mend and maintain. As a result, hardcore minimalists sometimes audit their possessions and aim for the smallest number of possessions. What’s the smallest number you can manage? Influencers have reduced their lives to 100, 50 – even 30 items!

Guess what they never include, though: food. No matter how ardent you audit, you’ll always need ingredients, especially if you have kids, unless you plan to dine out for every meal. In that situation, the best you can hope to achieve is clutter-free worktops and floorspaces.

A Hawksmoor Breakfast Dresser by Kingswell Kitchens and a Lansbury pantry by Sigma 3 Swansea

Clever storage can help. Reverse engineer what you need and it’s easy. Consider, for instance, our roomy Breakfast Dressers for coffee, tea, cereal and toasters, or our Lansbury corner pantry for T.A.R.D.I.S.-like storage capacity. Both enable you to keep surfaces minimalist.

A H-Line Sutton MagnaSpace by Howard Oliver Design and a Hatfield MagnaSpace by Sigma 3 Esher

Alternatively, how about a pull-out larder unit? Our largest can hold a whole weekly shop and are ideal for utilizing kitchen corner space, the pull-out runners helping you avoid clashes with other doors. Similarly, our smallest model, featured here in a cozy minimalist kitchen, is perfect for hiding spices.

 

Sleek Kitchen Appliances

It also pays to integrate kitchen appliances and other features into cabinets. Doing so minimises details you would normally need to keep clean. Appliances like ovens, microwaves and wine fridges are easy targets, all of which our retail partners can source for you.

A Kensington Highland Stone VelaBin by Sigma 3 Cardiff East

At Masterclass, our VelaBins are luxury, integrated kitchen bins that include odour-suppressing lids, and prioritise simple elegance. Available in combinations of one, two or four bins, they hide waste and cleaning supplies in a way that’s easy to access. Simply lift and go!

 

Mindful Living, Not Scarcity Living

Modern minimalism isn’t dogmatic. You don’t have to “live with less” at all costs. The point is to live intentionally, bypassing needless purchases to make room for things Marie Kondo would say “spark joy.” Hence, even as a minimalist, you’ll want kitchen areas that feel abundant.

An Oxwich Farringdon Grey and Madoc Henley Oak range by Kingswell Kitchens

Open shelving and Display Dressers are fantastic ways to do so, showcasing the possessions you want to see every day. Just remember, when it comes to minimalist kitchen accessories, the “minimalism” part is vital. Accessorise sparingly. That’s how you own objects rather than letting them own you.

 

Digital Minimalism in a Kitchen

What’s your daily screentime? For many people, it’s more than they’d like to admit. That’s why digital minimalism – the idea of simplifying your devices to minimise digital distractions – has also hit the zeitgeist. One way to do this is making spaces more fun in the real world.

Adding a kitchen island can offer you more space for offline fun, whether it’s baking, flower arranging or origami. All that space means more potential to live in the moment. Mix in wood minimalist kitchen elements and you can easily turn your space into a haven for tech-free fun.

Use a Modern Kitchen Expert

If you need more help achieving a minimal kitchen design, find your nearest showroom and book a consultation slot, or become a Masterclass Insider for free. As a Masterclass Kitchens Insider email subscriber, you’ll get exclusive design tips, plus welcome guides and resources.

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