8 Kitchen Trends Designers Say Will Define 2026

Kitchen design in 2026 is shifting toward spaces that are more functional, expressive, and connected to natural materials. Below, design pros highlight a growing interest in smarter storage, softer finishes with warmer tones, and features that support everyday comfort and well-being. It’s clear that this year, people want more color, personality, storage, and performance. Read on to discover the top eight kitchen design trends of 2026 and how you can implement them into your existing space.

1. Hutch Cabinets

According to the 2026 Kitchen Trends Report from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), “demand for smarter storage” is a top kitchen design desire. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and pantries are among the specific elements they expect to see. 

Along these lines, designer Denise Merbeth of Denise Merbeth, LLC, predicts hutch cabinets (upper cabinets that extend down to the countertop) will really have a moment this year. “I often use them in areas just outside of the kitchen work zones. While they eliminate the countertop landing space, they make use of that prime, easily reachable space for accessible storage,” says Merbeth.

Popular uses for this cabinet include appliance garages and beverage centers, allowing items to be concealed behind doors when not in use. Merbeth says they can also be more decorative. “Sometimes the doors are glass, showcasing pretty dishes and drinkware,” she adds. 

2. More Color

A notable shift in NKBA trend reporting over the last four years is an increase in color. Each survey, pros weigh in on the various places to incorporate bold color in the kitchen (from specific surfaces to appliances, lighting, etc). In 2023, far fewer areas of the kitchen were considered appropriate for color; today, we’re expanding our ideas about where to use it. 

“What once felt bold—like choosing fringe color—has evolved into a design-forward decision grounded in richness and sophistication,” says Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends at MasterBrand Cabinets. “Trends are leaning toward dusky, adaptive hues that shift depending on the accents around them,” says Pierce. 

We’re also changing the colors we use. Even though earthy neutrals are still dominating kitchen colors, white and gray are losing ground to shades of brown and off-white, according to the 2026 NKBA Kitchen trends. Even green is becoming a foundational hue in the space, according to Pierce. “Sage and other subdued greens are increasingly replacing gray, mirroring the rise of blue tones a decade ago,” says Pierce. 

3. Colorful Appliances

Building on the momentum of the trend above, appliances are a growing avenue for color as customization takes the lead in kitchen design, according to Chelsea Bothe, brand and marketing manager at True Caliber. “We’ve seen a significant number of designers leaning into highly personalized kitchen elements, from statement appliances in vibrant hues to hardware choices that feel like jewelry,” says Bothe.

True Caliber offers an array of colorful finishes and hardware styles, and Bothe has seen the trend toward colorful undercounter appliances such as refrigerators, beverage centers, beverage dispensers, and wine cabinets. “They’re typically placed in obvious, design-forward areas such as outdoor kitchens, wet bars, and entertainment areas,” says Bothe. She adds that these types of gathering places have become more critical with the rise of at-home entertaining, a significant current influence in home design. 

Wine columns, beverage columns, and full-size refrigerators are also popular color opportunities, “especially when they sit in prominent, frequently used entertaining spaces where aesthetic cohesion, cabinetry matching, and/or the creation of one show-stopping focal point is important,” says Bothe.

4. Curves

“Curves, arches, and fluid silhouettes are reappearing across faucets, lighting, furniture, and millwork,” says Chris Wilson, luxury category manager at Newport Brass. “Curved profiles introduce movement and a sense of ease, complementing the cleaner, more linear aesthetics that have defined the past decade.” 

These softer forms are not entirely replacing sharper edges and straight lines, but they are supplementing them. “This isn’t a shift away from precision or modernism; rather, it’s an expanded design vocabulary that gives designers and homeowners more ways to build spaces with dimensionality and flow,” says Wilson.

Wilson recommends introducing rounded edges, gentle arches, and sculptural profiles with an eye toward cohesion (rather than a curved design element that stands out against an otherwise strictly linear backdrop); Wilson’s suggestions for incorporating these forms include furnishings, lighting, and fixtures.

5. Natural Stone 

“Homeowners are increasingly selecting natural stone for their countertops,” says Merbeth. Visual variations and an organic genesis give natural stone an individual look and history, which Merbeth says is one of the motivations behind this trend. “People are looking for something unique and with a story,” says Merbeth. Though natural stone selection can be aesthetically driven, Merbeth adds that its popularity stems from another broader trend: “the desire for authenticity in products and materials.”

Natural stone (especially quartzite) is an increasingly popular surface choice for countertops and backsplashes. “Many of my clients are drawn to quartzite as a natural stone option for its durability, heat resistance, and beauty,” says Merbeth. In particular, she says these stone surfaces are being used for full-height backsplashes, where countertop material is continued up the wall. The NKBA trend report noted the rising popularity of this installation, which results in a seamless, cohesive design. Merbeth adds that this continuation of countertop to backsplash allows the stone’s natural flowing patterns to become a focal point of the kitchen. 

6. Warm Accent Colors and Finishes 

Things are heating up in the kitchen, and it’s not just leftovers—everyone is noticing a gradual shift toward warmer tones in kitchen accents. “There’s a renewed interest in warmer tones and color within the kitchen: richer woods, earthy neutrals, and fixtures in brushed bronze or aged brass,” says Wilson. “Warmth doesn’t come only from color; materials play an equally important role. Brass is a great example: its character and depth can introduce a subtle warmth that enhances the surrounding textures and tones.” Cabinet hardware, faucets, and light fixtures are great opportunities to use these types of finishes and materials. 

“Nature continues to be one of the strongest design influences because it brings balance, calm, and a sense of comfort,” says Pierce. “Just as blues and greens gained traction in previous years, the red family is now becoming more prominent,” says Pierce. Both Pierce and Bothe have noted the rise of earth-inspired reddish hues—specifically saffron and terra-cotta—as accent colors to blues, greens, and warm neutrals of current kitchen color trends. 

“As these color groups grow in popularity, people are experimenting with a wider range of shades. Dusty pinks and rich, dramatic reds are gaining momentum, and this interest is expected to broaden in the coming years,” says Pierce. While major surfaces like cabinetry and walls are starting to warm up, decorative accents from fabrics to tableware are an easy way to embrace the trend.

7. Wood Grains

History often repeats itself, and wood trends are no exception. “There is a trend to embrace the texture and grain of wood, possibly because white painted kitchens had been so prevalent for so long,” says Merbeth. “White oak has been particularly popular, especially in rift-cut and quarter-sawn, where the grain is more linear, and often in natural or light beige finishes.” 

As highlighted in the trend above, woods are also becoming warmer and richer. “I am starting to see deeper wood tones enter the market, and walnut is often the wood used to achieve that, with its natural warm undertones,” says Merbeth. “In contrast to rift-cut white oak, walnut, while smooth, has a high degree of grain and variation that designers and homeowners are embracing.”

While cabinetry is a natural outlet for wood, flooring is also a popular place to use the material, according to both Merbeth and the 2026 NKBA kitchen report. But if kitchen floors and cabinets aren’t in your future, furnishings like chairs, tables, and even light fixtures are smaller opportunities to embrace the trend.

8. Health and Safety Appliance Features 

Among the other 2026 NKBA kitchen trends, we see a deepening interest in features that enhance the quality of life around the kitchen: air quality, water quality, and acoustics are among important design considerations for kitchens, while technology geared towards safety is getting attention in appliances. If you’re in the market for new appliances in 2026, these features should be key.

For example, designers anticipate prioritizing vent hoods that powerfully (and quietly) filter smoke, steam, and odor, and dishwashers that provide a quiet, not just effective, clean. Automatic water or gas leak detection and power outage alerts are in-demand features for appliances like refrigerators and ranges. To get in on the trend without investing in a new appliance, simpler improvements like under-sink water filtration systems and water-leak detectors offer peace of mind and improve quality of life, too.