So many materials are available to use in kitchen design. Selecting the right choices to achieve your desired results isn't always easy. With so many possibilities and requirements both practical and aesthetic, it can take some careful thought to find the right materials.
When you're considering what's best for your kitchen, or a kitchen design for a client, stainless steel should definitely be in contention. This versatile, sustainable material has long been used in professional kitchens, but there's no reason it can't be used in the home too. In fact, there are many ways to make use of stainless steel in kitchen design. It can be employed as a primary material or serve as an accent throughout the kitchen, used in more subtle ways.
Whether you make stainless steel the main attraction or blend it with other elements, there's plenty of inspiration to help you make the right choices.
Why Use Stainless Steel in Kitchens?
Stainless steel is just one of many materials that you can use in kitchen design. So what makes stainless steel so attractive? There are several factors that attract designers and homeowners to stainless steel, especially for kitchens. Its affordability, sustainability, and style all offer benefits that make it a top choice for kitchens in a range of styles.
Sustainable
Sustainability is a priority for many homeowners and designers today. Everyone is more concerned with where materials come from, whether they are naturally sustainable, how long they last, and if they can be recycled. In this respect, stainless steel is an excellent choice. This sustainable material is the perfect choice for green projects, for a number of reasons. Steel is a natural resource, but one that isn't limited in its availability. It is endlessly recyclable and lasts for a long time with the proper care. The average recycled content of stainless steel is 60%, making it ideal for creating a sustainable kitchen.
Affordable
Not only is stainless steel sustainable, but it is also affordable. It can be the more cost-effective choice compared to other types of metal while still offering many of the same benefits. And while it can be more affordable, it certainly doesn't look cheap. It provides a lot of value and can enhance any kitchen for a reasonable price.
Hygienic
Stainless steel is a popular choice of material for commercial kitchens. One of the main reasons for this is the hygienic properties of stainless steel. When it comes to food safety, stainless steel is one of the best materials you can use. Stainless steel can be easily and effectively cleaned and its resistance to corrosion also makes it a safe and healthy choice for kitchens. Home kitchen designs can benefit from the use of stainless steel to help make them more hygienic too, creating surfaces that are easy to clean.
Durability
Any kitchen design needs to take into account the durability of the materials and how long the kitchen can reasonably be expected to last. This is another major benefit that stainless steel can offer. It's resistant to rust and corrosion, helping it to last longer than some other metals and materials. Cared for properly, it will remain as shiny and bright as the day that it's installed in any kitchen. Naturally, stainless steel is tough and won't sustain damage easily.
Style
Of course, style also matters when it comes to kitchen materials. Stainless steel may be a practical choice, but it's also far from boring. There's so much you can do with it, and many ways to create a stylish kitchen using stainless steel. The beautiful shine of stainless steel looks amazing when chosen for all kinds of kitchen features. Plus, there are different finishes that can be achieved, such as brushed stainless steel and even colored steel.
How to Use Stainless Steel in Kitchen Design
There is no limit to the ways stainless steel can be used in kitchen design. Whether you look at timeless design ideas or the latest trends, there's a lot of inspiration out there. Keep reading to discover some of the most popular ways to employ stainless steel in the kitchen.
Stainless Steel Countertops
Your first thought when choosing countertops for the kitchen might be natural stone, composite, wood, or other popular options. Perhaps metal countertops are not your first thought, but they could be your last. Stainless steel can make a stylish and durable choice for this purpose. They look clean, modern, and eye-catching, and they can be paired with cabinets.
and other features in a variety of materials.
Stainless steel counters could be paired with steel cabinet fronts for maximum shine. Or if you wanted to soften them a little, sticking with wooden cabinets in a natural finish or with some color could be an interesting option too. The silver of the stainless steel could be combined with all kinds of colors, from deep blue or bright red to more neutral shades like white or even pastel hues.
If you choose stainless steel countertops, you benefit from hygienic surfaces that are easy to clean. They're extremely durable and require less maintenance than some other materials that you might consider.
Sinks and Accessories in Stainless Steel
Stainless steel has long been a popular choice for kitchen sinks. Because it's easy to clean, lasts a long time, and is affordable too, it makes a great material for sinks and draining boards. Stainless steel sinks can be made in a broad variety of styles and sizes, from the most basic options to more lavish designs. You might think of basic stainless sinks that are often used in kitchens, but you also have other options, such as beautiful farmhouse sinks. A farmhouse sink gives you plenty of space and can offer features such as a double basin or attached draining board. Other styles could tempt you too, including round vessel sinks or under-mount sinks for a subtler profile.
As well as the kitchen sink itself, any sink accessories and hardware could also be made from stainless steel. Stainless steel faucets to match or perhaps contrast with the sink are a hygienic and stylish option. You can explore different shapes and styles to find the right match. Stainless steel sinks have traditionally been a popular choice for family kitchens, but that's not the only place where they can be at home. Even if you're designing a luxury kitchen with a glamorous style, a stainless steel sink can look incredible.
Stainless Steel Appliances
Appliances offer another way to introduce stainless steel into a home kitchen. Finding stainless steel appliances of all kinds is easy, so there are plenty of options. In fact, it's the metal you will probably find used most often in the fabrication of kitchen appliances. Any kitchen appliance could feature stainless steel as a main component or as a decorative element. Its hygienic nature and affordability, as well as sustainability, make it a ubiquitous material.
You can consider stainless steel for large appliances such as your oven and stove top, range hood, dishwasher, and refrigerator. As it's simple to maintain, it's the perfect material for kitchen appliances such as these. It can look fantastic too, and you don't have to go with the plain steel finish. There are ways to customize your steel range hood, for example, whether it's by choosing a brushed steel finish for the body or selecting contrasting straps or rivets.
Smaller kitchen appliances look stylish in stainless steel too. From stand mixers to coffee machines, stainless steel is both a practical and aesthetic choice. You can explore both large and small appliances in a range of styles. Whether you are looking for something vintage or retro, or you want to design a more modern kitchen, stainless steel appliances are a fantastic choice.
Cabinets in Stainless Steel
Stainless steel might not be your first choice for kitchen cabinets. You might be more likely to consider wood and other traditional materials first. But stainless steel cabinets can have a strong impact on any kitchen design. They really stand out and can give your kitchen a unique appearance. While you might think they will give the sterile look of a commercial kitchen, there are actually plenty of different ways to style stainless steel cabinets. They can be combined with plenty of different materials and colors to create a final look that you love.
Designers are choosing stainless steel cabinets not to make sterile commercial kitchens but to design luxe kitchens for the home. They love stainless steel for its practicality, as well as the feeling of modernity that it can deliver. Stainless steel cabinets offer a bold look that can't be ignored while creating a sleek and stylish kitchen. They can be combined with stainless steel worktops and other elements for a strong impact. But stainless steel cabinets look equally good when contrasted with another material, such as marble or perhaps a different metal. They can bring a lot of light into the kitchen with a polished finish, or create more warmth with a brushed finish or a patina with some character. If a lot of stainless steel is too much for you, it's easy to soften the look through other materials or different finishes.
Kitchen Hardware in Stainless Steel
There are different types of hardware to consider in kitchen design, all of which can be in stainless steel. Faucets, cabinet handles, door pulls and even hinges are just some of the types of hardware that you might need to consider when designing a kitchen. Some of these things might be small, but that doesn't make them insignificant. They can still have an important impact on the overall look and feel of the kitchen. Your choice of cabinet door handles can change the complete effect of the cabinets.
Handles for doors and cabinets, as well as drawer pulls, are some of the most important pieces of hardware that you need to choose. They need to be chosen not just for what they look like, but also for how they feel in the hand, how easy they are to use, and whether they are easy or difficult to keep clean. Stainless steel is great for these pieces of hardware because it can be used to make different shapes and styles, it's durable, and it's generally easy to clean and maintain. There are so many shapes to explore for handles and pulls, from rounded, softer shapes to sharper edges and clean lines.
Stainless Steel Kitchen Lighting
There are two main factors to think about when planning lighting for a kitchen design. Firstly, there's the light that will actually be given off by your chosen lighting. Making the right choices on what type of lighting to install and where to put it is especially important in the kitchen. Then there's also the look of the lighting fixtures to consider. It's easy to hide away some recessed spotlights, but there are also plenty of other options if you want to make a feature of the lighting that you choose. Stainless steel lighting fixtures give you a variety of styles for this to help you find the best fit for your kitchen design.
There are various types of light fittings you could consider for your kitchen, many of which look fantastic in stainless steel. Pendant lights, for example, can make a great statement, especially when hanging over an island or kitchen table. They come in all shapes and styles to result in an eye-catching feature in your kitchen design. Other style options could include spotlights, wall fittings, or even modern chandeliers to really give your kitchen that wow factor. Stainless steel lighting fixtures have the ability to bring warmth to a room while still remaining contemporary, and even offering some more vintage styles.
Stainless Steel Kitchen Decor and Accessories
For those who might not be ready to design an entire kitchen in stainless steel, there are plenty of subtle design ideas you can employ. Kitchen decor is more than just the big ticket items; there are multiple smaller features or accessories that can be made in stainless steel too. Mixing stainless steel with different materials can help to soften it and give you the benefits of steel without having to go too big and bold.
If you want to keep things more subtle or explore a range of kitchen accessories, think about how to use stainless steel as an accent. It could be a decorative trim on an appliance or another kitchen feature. It could be accessories such as a towel rail or pot rail, or other storage options. You can even make the most of your stainless steel pots, pans, and utensils by putting them on display. Instead of storing them away in cabinets, proudly hang them above your stove or your kitchen island. Other decorative items such as vases for flowers or utensil pots on your countertops could add a pop of shiny stainless steel without dominating the space.
Some General Tips and Rules for Stainless Steel in the Kitchen
If you're not sure where to start with using stainless steel in your kitchen design, there are a few things that you might want to keep in mind.
Mix Stainless Steel with Other Materials for a Softer Look
Stainless steel can definitely be bold, but it also has the potential to be a little cold. If you want a softer look for your kitchen, mixing stainless steel with some other materials is your best bet. It will help to create more of a balance so that the whole kitchen is overwhelmed with steel.
Choose Stainless Steel for Different Kitchen Elements
You can use stainless steel across your kitchen, with numerous possibilities to explore. Choose stainless steel for appliances, surfaces, cabinets, lighting, or other elements that strike your fancy. If you don't want to make stainless steel the primary material, you can still pick out several different features to create a pop of metallic shine.
Be Confident with Your Use of Stainless Steel
There are more subtle ways to use stainless steel, but if you want to really embrace it, you need to be confident and bold. Really make the most of the benefits and the strong look of stainless steel by taking risks. Whether it's a kitchen where stainless steel is the main material or you use steel as a primary accent, do something daring and different. You can find ideas in our gallery, as well as in many other places.
Caring for Stainless Steel Kitchens
Remember to think about how to care for and maintain stainless steel when using it in kitchen designs. Fortunately, stainless steel is easy to care for in terms of its ability to be wiped clean. Make sure to go along with the grain when cleaning or polishing to prevent scratches. Be sure to dry after cleaning too, to help prevent streaks and other problems. Use natural cleaning products and avoid anything abrasive.
The possibilities for stainless steel in your kitchen designs are endless. If you are looking for stainless steel range hoods or sinks, CopperSmith can help you to find the perfect products.