Are White Appliances Back in Style in 2025?
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White appliances are back in style! Here’s how to choose white appliances, mix with stainless steel, and why white appliances are better than stainless steel.
Are white appliances coming back in style? I say YES!!
I’ve never quite understood why people on house-hunting shows go through a house, talk about how much they like it, then get to the kitchen, pause, and say, “Oh no, it doesn’t have stainless steel appliances.”
I want to jump through the screen, shake them, and say, “YOU CAN ADD THEM!”
I know, I know, not everyone shares my affinity for DIY-ing all the things. Luckily for homes everywhere, however, white appliances are back in a big way and I LOVE it!
Want proof? I’ve got it!
Why You’ll Love White Appliances
The Best White Appliances to Buy
Okay, I have a lot of info below, but let me start off by showing you my favorite options if you are ready to jump right into team white appliances!
There is a variety of styles and price points here – you’re bound to find the right option for you.
White Refrigerators
White Stovetops and Ovens
White Range Hoods
White Microwaves
White Dishwashers
Other White Appliances
How to Style White Appliances in Your Kitchen
Ready to embrace white appliances? Here’s how to make them look intentional and stylish:
- Pair with Bold Cabinets – Deep blues, sage greens, or even black cabinets create a striking contrast with white appliances.
In fact, if you are a fan of bold, colorful kitchen cabinets, white appliances will be your best bet! They provide some nice contrast and a bit of a calm background for your cabinets to be the star.
- Use Warm Wood Tones – White appliances + natural wood = a cozy, inviting kitchen.
- Incorporate Fun Backsplashes – A colorful or patterned backsplash can add personality and make white appliances feel even more modern.
- Go All-White for a Seamless Look – If you love a bright and airy kitchen, white cabinets + white appliances = the perfect match!
- Go two-tone – Another fun idea I love is two-tone cabinets, meaning the top cabinets are one color and the bottom another.
I particularly love the green kitchen cabinet combo so much that I wrote an entire blog post about it!
Of course, you have to take your personal opinions and styles in, but these looks are great options that are getting a lot of attention these days!
LG Studio vs. GE Café Appliances: Which White Appliance Line is Best?
When it comes to high-end white appliances, two major players stand out: LG Studio and Café by GE.
Both offer premium features, stylish finishes, and cutting-edge technology, but they cater to slightly different needs.
While I don’t personally have these in my kitchen (yet!!) I have thoroughly studied them! Here’s what you need to know:
LG Studio is all about modern innovation—think sleek white glass finishes, smart tech, and pro-level cooking capabilities at a relatively affordable price.
Café Appliances, on the other hand, leans into customization and luxury, offering a sophisticated matte white finish with mix-and-match hardware options to create a designer look.
So, which one is right for you? Let’s break down the key differences in style, features, and pricing to help you decide!
Café Appliances (GE) – The Customizable, Designer Pick
Best for: Homeowners who want a stylish, customizable look without spending on ultra-premium brands like Viking or Sub-Zero.
- Signature Finish: Matte White with customizable hardware (currently in brass, copper, black, and stainless).
- Style: Modern yet warm—perfect for farmhouse, transitional, or high-end designer kitchens.
- Standout Features: Wi-Fi-enabled smart appliances, pro-style performance, convection cooking, and luxe finishes.
- Price Range: Mid to high-end, but still accessible compared to true luxury brands.
👉 Why choose Café? If you love the idea of custom hardware and a soft, fingerprint-resistant white finish, Café is a no-brainer.
Shop Cafe by GE
LG Studio – The Sleek, Minimalist Choice
Best for: Homeowners looking for cutting-edge tech, a seamless aesthetic, and ultra-modern white appliances.
- Signature Finish: Smooth white glass with a glossy, ultra-modern feel.
- Style: Sleek, minimalist, and contemporary—perfect for modern and high-tech kitchens.
- Standout Features: Features differ depending on which model you select, but a few fun ones include InstaView™ door (fun party trick: knock twice to see inside the fridge!), SmartThinQ® Wi-Fi compatibility, built-in sous vide settings, and linear cooling tech for precise temperature control.
- Price Range: The base models are more affordable than the Café line typically, but if you opt for the advanced tech, the prices will shoot higher.
(Notice: I didn’t say cheap…because neither is!)
👉 Why choose LG Studio? If you prefer a sleek, glossy white glass look with top-tier tech features, LG Studio is a fantastic choice.
Shop LG Studio
Which One is Right for You?
- Want a warmer, designer-style kitchen with customizable accents? → Café Appliances
- Prefer a modern, high-tech, seamless white glass aesthetic? → LG Studio
Both brands bring premium white appliance options to the table—it just depends on your style and priorities!
Are White Appliances Cheaper Than Stainless Steel?
Back when I originally wrote this post in 2014, the answer was absolutely YES.
Now, however, the masses have caught on to the trend I predicted. Accordingly, prices have gone up (by a lot). But, so have the options!
The quick answer is: sometimes they are cheaper, and sometimes they aren’t. It depends on the manufacturer and what features you are purchasing.
Modern white appliances have all the bells and whistles that their steel counterparts hold and often cost exactly the same.
If you are looking for a more affordable version, you can often find refrigerators that come in white for cheaper than stainless steel, but they are a bit more basic.
It truly just depends on what you pick!
Stainless Steel vs White Appliances
If you are debating between stainless and white, here are some pros and cons to consider:
White Appliances Pros 👍🏻
- Provides a classic, neutral look with staying power
- Easy to wipe down quickly, and hides fingerprints and smudges better than stainless
- Works in both an all-white kitchen as well as with colorful cabinets
- Can sometimes be cheaper
- White appliances blend seamlessly with cabinets and other finishes
White Appliance Cons 👎🏻
- Less popular than stainless, so you have more limited options
- Stainless tends to work better for resale purposes (generally)
- Easier to find deals on stainless if looking at clearance models, etc.
- Older white appliances (especially glossy ones) might show discoloration if not properly maintained.
Mixing White and Stainless Steel Appliances
If you already have some stainless steel ones but want a change, or if you have white appliances and want to figure out how to deal with them while you wait to upgrade your kitchen, here are a few suggestions:
First of all, don’t feel like you need to buy them all at once if you don’t have the budget.
Contrary to what you may believe, most people will not notice if all your brands are matching in your kitchen, so you can take your time to replace each as needed.
However, if you have the budget to replace all at once, you may be able to score a discount if you purchase around the major sales for appliances like Labor Day, 4th of July, and Black Friday.
This is one way you can mix things up – if you have colorless cabinets, try a white fridge with other stainless appliances.
In the meantime, try to work with what you can. It’s cheaper to change out the faucet or kitchen pulls to the color you want than to purchase all new appliances.
Remember, at the end of the day, it’s your kitchen, and you decide what you love! 🙂
What do you guys think? Are you team white appliances, or are you team stainless steel? Let me know in the comments!
More Home Decor Resources
If you enjoy dreaming up new home decor ideas as much as I do, here are a few more of my favorite interior design resources and ideas.
- Genius Bathroom Storage Ideas
- 10 Fun Accent Wall Ideas to Inspire
- DIY Sunroom (Tips & Tricks We Learned Along The Way!)
I think I’m still team stainless steel but you almost had me switched over by the time I finished looking at all those pretty kitchens.
I’ll get you there eventually, just hang with me! 🙂
I ALWAYS new white would come back. I just purchased all white appliances to go in my home. I’m with you…everyone seems to love the stainless steel, but I’m like you…it feels so cold to me.
White appliances with stainless accents! Beautiful.
I’ve decided to update all of my kitchen appliances but unfortunately I’m having a very difficult time finding them. I love Kitchen-aid and found the 5-burner, double oven gas range I want but it’s on back order until April at the earliest. The fridge I want has been discontinued but I’m still watching. The matching dishwasher has been delayed. I can get the microwave if I order. I just want all of them to match. Very frustrating but I’m still looking.
I agree as well about stainless steel appliances feeling cold and industrial.
I always purchase white appliances, trend or not.
Agree 100% (Although, I am having a hard time finding a white refrigerator)
In your commentary the word “new” Should be spelled KNEW.
Hello Donna
I’ve always had White appliances. I prefer the softer look and always felt the metal looked too industrial.
Nice to see I’m not alone
I just remodeled with top of line stainless. I love the function but am constantly cleaning them. If I could go back in time I would have bought easy care white. I hate the look and how difficult they are to clean. You are right! I was thinking of resale but they are so much work until we sale. Then I will buy white again.
Stainless steel ovens with white sink and tap which would have stainless steel accents. White metal fridge plastic is dated. White hood and customise with chrome leaf slashes or nail heads. White induction hob. Ovens would be eye level. Blue island and perimeter pale grey cupboards. White metal rod handles and white worktop. I may customise handles with splashes of silver leaf. That’s my kitchen I’m about to order. It was not a one stop shop . I had to order from 3 different kitchen stores. It seems they are all dipping into the trend, but not yet bitting. It was the same for black bathrooms now they are everywhere.
I’ve always had white appliances although for a while they were hard to replace. Stainless steel looks cold and industrial. Some people say they like stainless because it doesn’t show the dirt. I’m sorry, I want to see the dirt so I can clean it.
Back in the day – I noticed white was always the cheapest option. When you canged colors, often the price went up… Now, it’s almost the opposite.. It’s either the same $ or more expensive for white or white isn’t even available.
I just reno my kitchen. Cherry cabinets & Stainless Steel Appliances with Soapstone countertops. For last 49 years I have heard my pharmacist husband speak of his first pharmacy in the military….soapstone countertops with stainless cabinets. Finally a water leak gave me the ability to create an environment that we love. I almost put in white, he wanted stainless, I agreed & love them.
Oh, soapstone counters with stainless cabinets sounds so interesting! I LOVE soapstone counters, I saw so many pretty ones in Italy last year! i’d love to see your reno!
I am team stainless steel for the fact that is what most people think when they thing “upgraded kitchen.” I don’t hate white appliances though and it isn’t a deal breaker for me in a house….but for resale I believe stainless are better. I do love all the kitchens that you shared though, and the white appliances do look good in those specific ones! Usually they are cheaper too, which is nice if you have to buy new ones!!!
It’s very true. If you are trying to sell a house then you should probably still go with stainless (according to my realtor husband!) 🙂 And yes, cheaper by a hundred at least usually, so win/win!
We just got stainless steel appliances a few years ago & its not our favorite – ALL THE FINGERPRINTS! UGH!!!
I knowwww. That’s why I couldn’t deal with them at our last house. Who has time to wipe them down every time someone touches? 😛 Not me!
When we built our home in 2006 my husband talked me into SS, I wanted white. Now 15 years later it’s time to replace our old KitchenAid SS, I am going with white GE! For one reason, I can find them, and the second reason is they bring a lite bright look to our kitchen. I know they don’t have all the same bells and whistles as KitchenAid, but, I do not care for the new handles on KitchenAid.
I love the look of the white appliances with white cabinets! So clean and fresh and bright!
me too! 🙂
I am for all white appliances. I have a hodgepodge now, with black glass fronted dishwasher and stove and the rest of the stove is probably almond. So is the replacement fridge we bought. So when I say white, I guess I mean off white. Stainless steel has been in for several years, but even that has changed. There is a bumpy surface that hides handprints somewhat, and then there is the normal almost smooth surface that almost works as a mirror. Like Nadine said, people expect stainless steel, but part of that is, if the seller has got SS, the buyer doesn’t have to, even if you give them a SS allowance off the selling price.
Give me white or other true neutrals anytime. Then I can change my decor from mini churches to brown roosters to sunflowers to neon orange, just by changing accessories and curtainss, and not worry about whether something is too hard or soft to go with stainless steel.
But give me a new kitchen and I will take it, anyway it comes.
Hah! I agree, I’ll take a new kitchen anyway I can get it as well! 🙂 You’re right though, there are different types of stainless. I just like white! Right now our kitchen is hodgepodge too—the oven and stove top are black while the two things we brought/bought are white—dishwasher and fridge! 🙂
I love the white idea, but what if I have wooden cabinets? I’m not seeing pictures of white with wood. Stainless fingerprints drive me crazy.
I love to change my kitchen with the seasons/holiday too!!!
I’m SO happy to see this, because I have not tried in any way to hide my distaste for stainless steel appliances. I love white, and that’s what works for me. I will be SO glad to see them go away.
Brenda
Yay! So glad we are on the same team! 🙂
My old SS is leaving one piece at a time, I am not sorry to see them go… LOL!
I have never really been a fan of stainless steel appliances. I love the white you’ve shown appliances though!
Tania
Yay! Another Tania—spelled the right way 🙂
I do not love stainless. I feel it’s a necessary evil, really. I so t love white either. I think that I have childhood associations with white stoves and fridges, that are always dirty looking… But these are just my associations lol. I love coloured appliances but I can’t afford them sadly, so when we bough new things for our retro kitchen this year we ended up with stainless. I wanted a cream Smeg but I can’t get them where I live 🙁 anyways all this is to say, I don’t like stainless and I’ll be glad when more modern options include things that aren’t just stainless steel. (Nothing and I mean nothing beats a good old fashioned white enamelled oven 1940’s-1950’s!!)
Sara, I LOVE the Smegs. Except (of course) I want a mint one so bad! I do love the retro ovens and such but we have an older oven in our house (not a cute one!) and we had to get all new bakeware to fit in there since it’s sooo tiny! It works for now though! 🙂
Just bought a flipped house with a new oak kitchen. I will soon paint the cabinets white and had to decide on my new gas range. The ones place was electric.
I bit the bullet and choose a white slide in and I love it. One can not imagine how easy it is to clean. Stainless has a black top . The white shows a splat or spot – wipe it away. The other surface just sits there getting dirtier and dirtier.
And, the white just looks crisp.
That’s awesome Jane! We will soon be converting our electric stovetop to gas…I can not figure out how to cook on electric!
I agree that stainless steel looks very commercial, and I would rather have a more comfortable looking kitchen. And since white kitchens seem to be a trend that is sticking around, it only makes sense to have white appliances in them.
Woohoo! Team White Appliances! 🙂
Those pictures are all beautiful, and I love the idea of white appliances, that’s for sure. But they definitely wouldn’t work in our current kitchen. We’ll have to see if your prediction comes true!
It doesn’t work in all kitchens, that’s true! 🙂 I’m interested to see what the next trends are too.
Please tell me someone else has noticed that pink rug in the mint kitchen !!!
I HAVE to have that rug LOL –
I’ve had stainless in all my kitchens since it first came out but I agree it can be a little cold an commercial looking – just be thankful those Harvest Gold – Brick Red and Avocado Green stayed where they belonged ( the 70’s !!! )
Love the kitchens you’ve shown – now…………..where can we source that rug I wonder LOL ?
xxx
Oh my word. I just spotted this linked up to my weekly party and almost fell over. YES!!! We are in the process of buying a new home. The sellers are having to replace the dishwasher and stove for us and I think they thought it was weird that I specified white appliances instead of stainless. I’m a white appliance girl through and through…timelessness!! Love all of these. Thanks for linking this to Inspiration Monday!
I’m on Team White all the way, Tania! I think some people buy stainless steel thinking the “commercial” or “professional” look will make them better cooks! 😀 And I don’t worry about appealing to buyers — *I* live here now!
I am having a hard time selling my house right now because feedback says my high BTU, gas, 5-burner, double oven with convection range and 25 cu ft side by side fridge with door ice and water look “dated” because they’re gleaming white instead of stainless. Seriously WTH? I am not discarding perfectly good high end appliances just to conform to some stupid HGTV-generated rule book. So we’ll do an allowance so the lemmings can install their stainless. One realtor: “at this price point the kitchen is. SCREAMING for stainless.” When we build the new house, guess what? I’m buying white appliances again. If it weren’t a couple years out and I had a place for them now, I’d be talking those existing white appliances with me. Stainless – bleh.
Oh geez. I never understood that! Very soon, stainless will be out and people will only want the matte stainless or ice white and they will be complaining about stainless—watch and see!
I love white appliances because it gives a feeling of a fresh, bright and clean look and feeling. Stainless gives me a feeling of a commercial cold look. I want to live with what I like not have to conform to the present fad.
Agreed 100% Anna! You have to make your home enjoyable to YOU, no matter what the magazines say! Trends come and go, but style is forever! <3
Your white kitchen appliances are what I need in my life. And i was also thinking that all colours of stainless are not the same hmm. Thanks for sharing this post.
Well, yeah! You picked beautiful white appliances! They usually remind me of our cheap first apartments ?but the classy ones are pretty nice. Especially the dishwasher + navy cabinets. ?I have to admit though, a nice stainless gas range makes me feel like Gordon Ramsey. ?
I think white looks great with white lots of colored kitchens too, especially those with navy or dusky blue cabinets. I think it’s a shame people just have the idea that SS is mandatory.
Any ideas about what “white” to use for the white cabinets? We are white appliance / clean line people but I’ve only had them with other-than-white cabinets. I’m pretty sure I’d hate cool white appliance and warm white cabinets in combination…. anybody dealt with this recently? Thanks!
Hi Mary! Just seeing this but thought to chime in anyways in case you are still looking for this. It’s important not to use a white that will turn too yellow (unless you want that look!) so I always stick with one of two colors that I’ve loved every single time- Soft Wool from Valspar for Ace or Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White. 🙂
I am about to redo my entire kitchen and plan to install pale, butter yellow cabinets. My cabinets are currently this same color but they need replacing.
When I see pictures of stainless steel appliances in kitchens, they look beautiful. I have always had white and I’m trying to decide if I should switch. Ugh! Do you think that stainless steel would look good with pastel yellow cabinets? I just can’t picture it and don’t know if that is due to my lack of imagination or what I am used to.
Hi, Mindy,
You have exquisite color tastes (actually, mine are the same color:).!
I am desperately seeking better quality ( but not extravagantly costly) 30″ double electric wall ovens in white, but am finding only GE as an option. The LG is more attractive, and costlier, but is stainless. The number of technicians in this area is severely limited (2 companies…). I find the stainless cold and too contemporary or industrial for the look of my kitchen. I wish you luck!
Stainless steel appliances might be the in thing but I truly do not like them. We purchased them about four years ago when updating our kitchen. There are constant fingerprints and other smears, that daily or several times daily need wiped down. Not only that why are these stainless steel refrigerators so huge. Personally I think the stainless steel looks more commercial and, pardon the pun, but give the kitchen a cold look,. rather impersonal. I found this article because I googled, “I want my white appliances back”. I think the images in this post are very cheery looking kitchens.
Just getting ready to replace appliances. I have white and will be sticking with white. I love the white appliances that have the stainless accents. White is on the way back in and guess what; everywhere I’ve priced them, they are more expensive in the same model than stainless…go figure and just my luck! It’s not easy finding the combo finishes though.
I am an architect. Our new personal residence will be finished in two weeks. WHITE is on the way back. In general, stainless appliances and dark cabinets are starting to look dated. We are using white appliances with white cabinets. Countertops and backsplashes will add color contrast. Also we are using an *electric* range powered by solar panels. I can no longer justify natural gas for cooking as a result of significant environmental damage caused by non-renewable resources.
sorry that we bought a stainless fisher payroll counter dept refrigerator for our small galley kitchen. Thinking that I could get a GE Cafe white stove with the stainless handles as the handles will match the refrigerator handles. Add a stainless hood, with a white dishwasher, stainless handles and white porcelain sink with stainless faucet. We have white cabinets. Do you think this mix will work since all the handles will match in color and style.
Hi, Joan,
You may have already discovered that all shades of stainless are not the same. If you have the time, look at the new COVE dishwashers, which are available with customizable fronts (i.e.: white). Miele also makes a terrific dishwasher, but not sure if available in white.
There are other appliance parts stores that sell handles for appliances in different finishes/lengths, etc.
1961 rancher under reno will get all white appliances with a single stainless item…the exhaust hood and duct.
Counter top will be dark walnut wood.
Granite is cold and hard to see the tiny flecks of whatever which are revealed when running hands over surface.
Stainless is NOT necessarily the choice for resale unless immediate resale.Trying to predict FUTURE design trends is dangerous. In any event, white is on the up swing and stainless on the down swing.
PS Wood counters are supremely easy to clean and care for, I would say as easy or even easier that stone.
We’ve been waiting nearly a year for our white Kitchen Aid refrigerator. We were just informed Kitchen Aid isn’t making white at the moment because of covid, parts are scarce. We canceled and ordered a white Fisher Paykel because they said they had one in stock. Nope, just been told it’ll be another two months. If we went with stainless we could have it today. White must be popular!!!
My husband and I just bought the house and it has the white kitchen appliances! I thought in my imind said oh no white. I thought it was out of style until I read your article. I m so relieved that has them. Lol. But I m planning to buy the new white electric stove. I hope I will find it at the store! Thank you for explaining about the white and stainless steel. I didn’t realize that stainless steel looks cold and commercial. Until I saw your white kitchen appliances! They are so beautiful!
Team white. Love the pic with the combination , white Northstar frog and stsainless gas range. I know where to go for my frog now!
Stainless steel appliances look dated to me. They’ve dominated the market since the 90’s. That’s twenty years of constantly wiping up finger prints! The problem is finding matching white appliances of decent quality, without blowing the budget. We purchased a white KitchenAid fridge a couple years back, and waited on the range for gas to be installed. Now that it is, KitchenAid discontinued their drop-in dual fuel range in white. It’s a real bummer. The alternative is a much more expensive cooktop (in stainless) over a wall oven in white, or a free standing range, which I don’t want. You can still get the dishwasher from the same line in white at least… but we’re in a bit of a pickle for the range. I’ve even checked ebay, craigslist, and offerup to no avail.
I have a white fridge and stainless/black microwave. My can opener, food processor, toaster oven and utensil holder are black. I have a white counter top and when we first did the kitchen I had all white appliances too. I loved the white light look and was able to incorporate colors for dish towels etc. Now I see stainless steel color stoves everywhere or black. I would prefer white but not sure how a kitchen with black counter-top appliances, stainless microwave, clock and wall decor would look with a white stove. Basically, the kitchen will be black, white and silver with gray tile floor and oak cabinets. Not liking the reviews I’m reading about difficulty cleaning the stainless stoves. My white stove was easy to clean.
For the people that have stainless steel appliances and deal with smudges and fingerprints, try cleaning them with carbonated water. Many moons ago I worked at McDonalds and that is what we used to wipe all the stainless steel with.
I agree as well about stainless steel appliances feeling cold and industrial.
I always purchase white appliances, trend or not.
I’m trying to find a white refrigerator that has a bottom drawer freezer and a single door on top and is33” wide. No one can get them because they aren’t being made and no one knows when they will. I’m thinking of buying one in black and taking it to an auto paint shop and having it painted. What gives?