Where Should I put my Microwave?

Kitchen design trends are constantly evolving. Specific design choices will forever date a kitchen to its remodeled decade. For example, avocado green appliances belong in the 1970’s, cathedral style cabinet doors installed under soffits in the 1980’s, orange-y oak cabinets to the 1990’s, granite countertops to the early 2000’s. Do you know what else is firmly stuck in the late nineties early 2000’s kitchen design? Microwaves installed over the cooktop. 

Cathedral style cabinet door with microwave over cooktop.

Where Should I put my Microwave?

If you are considering a kitchen update, I’d put relocating the microwave high up on my priority list. Today’s updated kitchen designs are calling attention to beautiful stove hoods placed over the cooktop.

Statement stove hood

I like to call these “Statement Hoods”. The beautiful stove hood is the focal point in today’s updated kitchen design. So, if you have to move your microwave, where should you put it? Here are some places we have been able to relocate microwaves: 

1. Move it into the island- This works best if it’s a drawer microwave. 
   

   Kitchen before update

   

   Kitchen after update

   

   Microwave drawer in island

2. Move it to the desk area that has been re-imagined. 
   

   Kitchen before update

   

   Updated kitchen with new cabinet doors and new stove hood

   

   Before- the desk area

   

   New microwave/coffee station with deep drawers.

3. Recess the microwave into a cabinet under the stairs. 
   

   Modern maple kitchen before update

   

   Tuscan Modern Kitchen after update

   

   New microwave drawer

4. Get a countertop microwave and put it on a shelf. They sell trim kits to make these look built in. 
   

   Countertop microwave with trim kit installed makes it look built in.

5. Put it in the walk in pantry. 

Do you know one design trend that has held steady throughout the decades? Painted cabinets. Especially white painted cabinets. Always classic, always on trend. 

If you still have your microwave over your stove, don’t panic. We can help.

Do you have a kitchen that needs an update? We would love to help you fall in love with your kitchen too. Whether you are ready for a full kitchen update or just in need of cabinet refinishing, we would love to help. We do everything from custom cabinet refinishing and painting to full kitchen project management and design. Fill out the form below if you’d like more information. 

Final photos by Geinger Hill.