What to Know When Choosing a Range Hood
Find out the types of kitchen range hoods available and the options for customized units
Sam Ferris
May 2, 2023
Houzz Contributor. I have more than seven years of experience in the design industry, including residential renovation, cabinet, and flooring design. I currently work for RVK Architecture, a professional design firm that delivers successful architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture solutions to public and private clients.
Houzz Contributor. I have more than seven years of experience in the design industry,... More
Whether you want a stainless steel chimney hood or a custom wooden creation on which to display art, a hood can either be a superstar of the kitchen or stay completely under the radar. While we can’t make up your mind for you, we can steer you in the right direction and get your creativity churning. Here’s an overview of range hoods to help you decide on the right one for you.
Chimney
Chimney hoods absorb fumes, hot air and odors, then funnel them outside of your kitchen. Aesthetically, stainless steel chimney hoods are an easy way to add a modern touch. With a focus on form and composition rather than color, they offer clean visuals in minimal designs.
Chimney hoods absorb fumes, hot air and odors, then funnel them outside of your kitchen. Aesthetically, stainless steel chimney hoods are an easy way to add a modern touch. With a focus on form and composition rather than color, they offer clean visuals in minimal designs.
When used without upper cabinets, chimney hoods can act as your kitchen’s pièce de résistance. The crisp, artistic design of this Blanco by Gutmann cooker hood is the only intrigue this contemporary kitchen needs.
Some stainless steel chimney hoods feature curved glass bottoms, which can prevent your hood from looking and feeling too bulky. This contemporary kitchen’s glass range hood keeps the island space airy and open for entertainment.
Undercabinet
A more traditional form of ventilation, undercabinet hoods can function as an exhaust pipe or as a filter, taking in fumes and grease and then recirculating clean air back into the kitchen.
These minimalist hoods don’t take away from the rest of your kitchen’s visuals. If you want a swanky paint or chic glaze (or even a bold backsplash) to get the lion’s share of attention, they’re the way to go.
A more traditional form of ventilation, undercabinet hoods can function as an exhaust pipe or as a filter, taking in fumes and grease and then recirculating clean air back into the kitchen.
These minimalist hoods don’t take away from the rest of your kitchen’s visuals. If you want a swanky paint or chic glaze (or even a bold backsplash) to get the lion’s share of attention, they’re the way to go.
This modern kitchen’s undercabinet range hood is nestled into the uppers above the range, which lets the design maintain a clean, uniform appearance.
If you prefer to direct the eye toward your stove, try a range shelf. You have the option to furnish it with decorations or store your herbs, oils and spices for quick grabbing.
Ceiling
These are ideal for homeowners who have an island range. They’re also a perk if you don’t want to see a hunk of stainless steel or other material protruding halfway down from the ceiling.
These are ideal for homeowners who have an island range. They’re also a perk if you don’t want to see a hunk of stainless steel or other material protruding halfway down from the ceiling.
Wall Mount
These versatile range hoods are similar to undercabinet hoods but are mounted to the wall instead of your cabinets. You can place them below cabinets or by themselves. Go retro with a midcentury color like this kitchen does.
These versatile range hoods are similar to undercabinet hoods but are mounted to the wall instead of your cabinets. You can place them below cabinets or by themselves. Go retro with a midcentury color like this kitchen does.
Metallic
From copper and iron to brass and bronze, it’s hard to resist the luster of a metal range hood. Better yet, there’s more than one way to rock metal cooker hoods. This Mediterranean kitchen uses its romantic red copper hood to fire up the cabinetry’s relaxed color palette.
From copper and iron to brass and bronze, it’s hard to resist the luster of a metal range hood. Better yet, there’s more than one way to rock metal cooker hoods. This Mediterranean kitchen uses its romantic red copper hood to fire up the cabinetry’s relaxed color palette.
If you’re looking to integrate vintage aesthetics into your kitchen design, a metallic range hood can bring old-world character to a rustic or farmhouse-style space.
Copper range hoods can also stand alone as an accent piece and give a kick of color to an all-white kitchen design.
Wooden
Whether they’re boxy, curved, paneled or have designer details, wooden hoods are all about style. They hide undercabinet or chimney-style range hoods within an intricate and decorative wooden veneer. Match it with the finish of your main cabinetry or use a complementary paint or stain.
Whether they’re boxy, curved, paneled or have designer details, wooden hoods are all about style. They hide undercabinet or chimney-style range hoods within an intricate and decorative wooden veneer. Match it with the finish of your main cabinetry or use a complementary paint or stain.
If you want to make a statement above your range, design an expansive furniture-style wooden hood. You can incorporate a mantel for picture-hanging and paneled doors for extra detail.
If you’re not keen on furniture-style wooden hoods, there are other ways to nab an impressive design. One way is to play with detail. The hood in this cottage-style kitchen has the same pastel paint as the main cabinetry, but it also adds dimension to the space with a Shaker-style design.
A beadboard wooden hood is another way to create visual interest if you’re opting for only one cabinet color. The homey, inviting lines work especially well in coastal and farmhouse designs.
Wooden hoods don’t have to look finished. This farmhouse kitchen gets creative with a hood that has an unfinished plywood look. It’s raw enough to pop without overwhelming the simplicity of the space.
Tiled
On the other hand, you can really give your wooden hood a finished look by installing tile over it. This can either provide contrast to your backsplash or create a flush look, as in this traditional kitchen. You can also mix the two textures by wrapping tile just around the base of the hood and leaving the rest of the wood veneer exposed.
On the other hand, you can really give your wooden hood a finished look by installing tile over it. This can either provide contrast to your backsplash or create a flush look, as in this traditional kitchen. You can also mix the two textures by wrapping tile just around the base of the hood and leaving the rest of the wood veneer exposed.
Circular
If the last thing you want is a range hood that looks exactly like your neighbor’s, you might want to go circular. This innovative, uber-contemporary look tosses simple square designs out the back door. The white Sorpresa Sphera range hood in this midcentury kitchen could double as a mod light pendant.
If the last thing you want is a range hood that looks exactly like your neighbor’s, you might want to go circular. This innovative, uber-contemporary look tosses simple square designs out the back door. The white Sorpresa Sphera range hood in this midcentury kitchen could double as a mod light pendant.
These double smokestack-style hoods bring efficient ventilation and balance to this midcentury kitchen. Their subtle circular shape doesn’t fight with the roundness of the pendant lights.
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coray I do not plan my kitchen or my life around extreme moments. I don't have a 4' stove because a bunch of people might visit. I don't have a giant oven for an annual holiday. If I'm concerned about ventilation on a (15) F day, I cook something that doesn't require airing out the entire house or even just the kitchen.
I am an accomplished Indian cook and probably cook a curry or dal a couple of times a week. I do not have any trouble airing out the house with cross ventilation even when the temp is below
@Nancy Herring That is wise, and something I think we are learning from minimalists. However you should know that it's not really about smells; recent studies have shown how bad for health the byproducts of cooking are. That's just compounds created when food is cooked and doesn't even include the effects of gas cooktops. Everyone should really have a good hood running whenever they cook, and that includes ovens and air-fyers and toasters in addition to cooktops. Unfortunately people only rely on cfm and capture efficiency of the hood depends on a lot more things than cfm. (The shape of the hood and distance from the cooking surface, for example.) For years they've been working on requiring measurements of capture hood efficiencies, but it hasn't happened yet.
Well, Nancy Herring, as the saying goes: to each his own. BTW…..we get down to -15 F here, so our winters are cold. When one spends $4000/winter on heat, one hesitates to open windows for cross ventilation….our money doesn’t grow on trees.