7 Kitchen Designs In Arkansas Homes That Are Fading And 7 That Shine Bright

Arkansas kitchens are evolving with changing tastes and lifestyles. Some once-popular design choices are slowly disappearing from new homes, while fresh trends are taking center stage. Whether you’re planning a renovation or simply curious about what’s hot and what’s not in Natural State kitchens, this guide highlights the fading styles to avoid and the brilliant designs worth considering.

1. Fading: All-White Everything

The pristine all-white kitchen that dominated Arkansas homes for years is losing its sparkle. Homeowners are finding these spaces too clinical and difficult to maintain with everyday cooking messes.

White cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, and appliances create a space that shows every fingerprint and food splatter. Many families now prefer adding warmth through wood tones or pops of color for personality.

2. Shining: Two-Tone Cabinet Combinations

Arkansas homeowners are falling in love with kitchens featuring different colored upper and lower cabinets. Navy or forest green bases paired with cream uppers create visual interest while maintaining balance.

This trend allows for personality without overwhelming the space. The contrast between dark island cabinetry and lighter perimeter cabinets has become especially popular in Little Rock and Fayetteville homes, adding dimension to cooking spaces.

3. Fading: Tuscan-Inspired Kitchens

Heavy Mediterranean styling with ornate details and dark finishes is vanishing from Arkansas homes. These kitchens featured dark cherry cabinets, elaborate scrollwork, and busy granite patterns that now feel dated and overwhelming.

Tuscan kitchens also typically included bronze fixtures, faux painted walls, and decorative corbels. Modern Arkansas homeowners prefer cleaner lines and simpler aesthetics that don’t feel so busy or themed.

4. Shining: Warm Wood Elements

Natural wood tones are making a triumphant return to Arkansas kitchens. Homeowners are incorporating white oak, walnut, or pine through floating shelves, islands, or accent cabinets.

The warmth of wood balances cooler elements like stone countertops or stainless appliances. Many Ozark region homes showcase locally sourced timber for butcher block countertops or exposed ceiling beams, celebrating the state’s natural resources.

5. Fading: Over-the-Range Microwaves

The microwave parked above the stove is quickly disappearing from updated Arkansas kitchens. This once-standard arrangement blocks sightlines and creates an outdated look that new homeowners avoid.

Instead, Arkansas families are opting for microwave drawers tucked into islands or dedicated appliance pantries. The shift allows for proper ventilation hoods above cooking surfaces, improving both function and aesthetics in cooking spaces.

6. Shining: Statement Range Hoods

Custom range hoods have become the jewelry of Arkansas kitchens. Homeowners are installing dramatic copper, brass, or wooden hoods that serve as stunning focal points above cooking areas.

These architectural elements draw the eye upward and add personality. In Northwest Arkansas especially, metal craftsmen are creating bespoke hoods with local motifs or simple geometric designs that transform ordinary cooking spaces into showstoppers.

7. Fading: Granite Countertops

The speckled granite that dominated Arkansas kitchens for decades is losing popularity. These busy patterns with gold, brown, and black flecks often clash with today’s cleaner aesthetic preferences.

Particularly out of favor are the gold-toned Santa Cecilia and Uba Tuba varieties that were once builder standards. Arkansas homeowners now gravitate toward surfaces with subtler veining and more consistent coloration for a more streamlined look.

8. Shining: Quartz Countertops

Engineered quartz has captured Arkansas homeowners’ hearts with its durability and clean appearance. These surfaces resist staining from red wine or tomato sauce without requiring the sealing that natural stone demands.

The consistent patterns and wide color range allow for more design flexibility. Many Hot Springs and Bentonville homeowners choose quartz with subtle veining that mimics marble but stands up to family life without the maintenance worries.

9. Fading: Kitchen Desks

The dedicated desk area once built into kitchen layouts is vanishing from Arkansas homes. These small workstations often became clutter magnets rather than functional spaces.

Modern families prefer flexible layouts without these awkward nooks. The rise of laptops, tablets, and home offices has eliminated the need for these desk areas that often felt cramped and collected mail, papers, and household debris.

10. Shining: Walk-In Pantries

Arkansas homeowners can’t get enough of spacious walk-in pantries for food and appliance storage. These dedicated rooms feature adjustable shelving, counter space for small appliances, and sometimes even coffee stations.

The pandemic reinforced the value of ample storage for groceries and supplies. New construction in Conway and Jonesboro regularly includes these generous pantries with custom organization systems, allowing the main kitchen to remain clutter-free and focused on cooking.

11. Fading: Cabinet Soffits

The empty space between cabinets and ceilings is disappearing in updated Arkansas kitchens. These dust-collecting gaps created awkward proportions and wasted potential storage space.

Renovated homes now feature cabinets that extend to the ceiling, sometimes with glass-front display areas for special items. The change creates a more custom, built-in appearance while maximizing storage in kitchens of all sizes across the state.

12. Shining: Mixed Metals

Arkansas kitchens are breaking old rules by confidently combining different metal finishes. Matte black faucets pair beautifully with brass cabinet hardware and stainless steel appliances for a collected, layered look.

This approach feels more personalized than the matchy-matchy aesthetic of the past. Little Rock designers often recommend limiting the palette to 2-3 complementary metals, with one dominant finish and others as accents for balance.

13. Fading: Tile Countertops

Ceramic tile countertops with grout lines are rapidly disappearing from Arkansas kitchens. These surfaces, popular in the 1980s, create uneven work surfaces and harbor bacteria in hard-to-clean grout lines.

The dated appearance and impractical maintenance requirements have made them renovation targets. Arkansas homeowners now prefer seamless surfaces that don’t interrupt rolling dough or wiping up spills, relegating tile to backsplash applications instead.

14. Shining: Large Kitchen Islands

Oversized islands have become the heart of Arkansas kitchens, serving as prep space, dining area, homework station, and social hub. Families gather around these multifunctional centerpieces that often feature seating for 4-6 people.

The pandemic accelerated this trend as homes needed flexible spaces. New construction in Rogers and Springdale routinely includes islands 8-10 feet long with storage, appliances, and generous countertop overhangs for comfortable seating.