Italian Kitchen Trends — 5 Emerging Ideas From the Chicest Italian Designers That I Predict Will Go Global in 2025

When it comes to kitchens, the Italians have a reputation for innovation. Not only are their designs sleek, design-forward, and always elegant, but they're pushing boundaries in what's achievable, too.

That's why, when it comes to the most exciting kitchen trends, Italy is a great place to look. With Milan Design Week coming to its conclusion, while everyone else might be focused on their favorite furniture finds, as a renovation editor, I've always got my eyes on kitchens and bathrooms, and the innovative ideas surrounding them.

We've seen a whole lot of brilliant installations this week from Italian kitchen brands, and I'm here to talk about them. As Livingetc.com's editor, Hugh Metcalf, who's currently in Milan tells me: "Milan is a preview of some of the major trends that are going to sweep the world in the months and years to come, and that includes in the kitchen. I've seen some really creative ideas in both cabinetry and surfaces this year, from Cesar's creative use of glass for kitchen islands, to Iris Ceramica, which managed to create a seamlessly hidden TV in a huge slab of its surface. Also, Officine Gullo's 'yacht kitchen' was a highlight — I may not have a yacht, but it really set the tone for what's possible without outdoor furniture right now."

And that's just a small insight. Want more? Here are five Italian kitchen trends that will be making waves in homes around the world.

1. Curved Countertops

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Kitchen countertop trends are no longer about straight lines, flat textures, and plain materials; it's all about embracing the allure and difference, and in Milan Design Week, curved countertops have made their much-anticipated appearance.

Much like Italian furniture brands and kitchen makers like Boffi, they're breaking the mold and going bold with the shapes and curves in their designs. This year, Boffi highlighted its Cove Kitchen design, developed by Zaha Hadid Design Studio. Its unusual shapes, curves, and monolithic design are what we're seeing across Milan Design Week in different forms.

Curved countertops add a soft and more organic feel to a space. The rise in saying goodbye to sharp edges and harsh corners has arrived, and it's a design trend we're seeing more of in 2025.

2. Terracotta

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We're seeing a shift towards natural colors, textures, and elements — a nod towards a sustainable kitchen. Ceramic surfaces and the natural hues of terracotta echo in design this year, and with good reason. At Italian brand Florim's exhibition, we're seeing natural stones take form in the most beautiful light through its SensiTerre by Matteo Thun. The installations explore the concept of The World of Clay with a focus on Italian craftsmanship. From kitchen flooring to sinks and outdoor use, there is so much more to this collection.

"The mood of today’s kitchen is welcoming, refined, and deeply inspired by nature," the team at Florim explained to me. "Ceramic surfaces that replicate the look and feel of stone, raw earth or wood provide a strong sense of comfort, wellbeing and authenticity, while still offering outstanding technical performance."

Sustainable kitchens are the new modern kitchen. There's a shift happening, and as they explained to me: "Today’s consumers are far more conscious of the environmental impact of their choices. Certified surfaces, produced with respect for the environment and ideally carbon neutral, are becoming the norm rather than the exception."

3. Creative Glass

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It's time to say goodbye to boring and minimal design and hello to a sleek, creative, and defining use of glass. This year at Milan Design Week, Scavolini has expanded with its Moda line-up. Designed by Vuesse Design, the clean, sharp lines add dimension to the space.

The particular standout piece for me is the use of glass beneath the extended countertop. It evokes the feeling of creativity and effortless flow within the kitchen. The use of glass removes any feeling of clutter and bulky materials and welcomes a flow-state that brings in a simple and elegant feel to the space.

We've seen the rise in glass-fronted cabinets this year, but this artistic use of glass embraces the material's many facets and unique elements.

Meanwhile, at Cesar, we saw even more creative takes on glass in the kitchen. The brand's centerpiece at the showroom was an ethereal, ombre kitchen island, its N_elle composition in a finish called Nuance Verde. With acid-etched glass-fronted doors and counter, and the soft, gradient finish, it makes the island feel light, never imposing on the space.

4. Glossy Lacquer

Gloss is back, baby, and it's better than ever. First making waves in the 1970s/1980s, the gloss finish has arrived once more, and best of all? It's in every form possible. From kitchen cabinets to dining tables, designers use this finish to create an elevated and glowing look within different parts of the home.

"Glossy lacquer finishes are making a return, marking a revival of the retro 70s look, a trend seen throughout the new Poliform collection presented at the Salone," the team at Poliform told me.

It's a look designers and homeowners alike are gravitating towards and one that Livingetc's editor Hugh Metcalf says is going to be defining for the next few years. "I don't just expect to see these glossy lacquers in kitchens, it's the clearly-emerging finish for the likes of sofas, and dining tables, too."

5. Appliances That Don’t Look Like Appliances

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Enigmatic, sleek, and seamless. Could it be drawers, cabinets, or a simple piece of decor? Nope! This stunning piece, created by renowned designer Elena Salmistraro, is more than meets the eye. It is a vision that captures the beauty of kitchen appliances.

We're stepping into a world where appliances are no longer boring, lifeless, and space-consuming. Instead, the Elena Salmistraro x Signature Kitchen Suite Dual Code collections prove that appliances can indeed be beautiful.

For this collection, Elena created two exclusive graphics for the brand that wrap around the custom-made cabinets of the wine cellar and convertible refrigerator.

"Together with Signature Kitchen Suite, we have transformed a highly functional object into a purely decorative element. The versatility of the technology allows users to customise the appliance's function, while Supernova and Vector encourage the same from an aesthetic perspective, inspiring interior design solutions through graphics and colour combinations," says designer Elena Salmistraro.

The striking design captures the bold and vibrant feel of the 1980s with its unique shapes and bold hues. There is an underlying energy and character that is amplified within these pieces, and of course, we're obsessed.

6. Home Bars

Okay, so it's not technically a kitchen, but it was hard to ignore the rise of home entertaining as a major theme through Milan Design Week this year. While the sofas were low-slung and wide, and every room set was furnished with a games table, it's the rise of the home bar that's the most interesting trend, perhaps.

While not everyone has room for a full-on bar, ideas like this closet bar from Officine Gullo present a charming way to introduce the idea. Beautifully finished and appointed with a discreet ice bucket within one of the drawers, it's the sort of piece you can just imagine congregating around at parties.

Now that you've gathered all you need to know about Italian kitchen trends this year in Milan Design Week, why not look for inspiration from the Milan Design Week apartments that will spark your sense of creativity and awaken your passion for all things design?