2026 Kitchen Trends: What’s In & What’s Out!
Just like every design trend, kitchen designs, kitchen cabinets also change in color and style. Wood cabinets are trending but their style is sleeker and lighter in color than before. Plus, we’re seeing lots of color in cabinets, and alot of two-toned cabinets!
The kitchen is the hub of the home. It’s where the action is. And let’s face it. It’s where most parties end up. It’s where the kids do their homework. It’s where we gather at the end of our work day & school day for the kids. Since we spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it’s important that we have kitchens that are not only functional, but they need to reflect our style and tastes for years to come.
1. Neutral Cabinet Colors are in! White is out!
Photo: The Ivy Kitchen
Photo: Sherwin Williams Alabaster
White kitchens are no longer the #1 color choice for kitchen cabinets! Surprised? Not really. We have been making this color shift from stark neutrals, specifically white, black and gray, to light neutrals, over the last decade or so. Lighter and warm neutrals will rein for kitchen cabinet colors for 2026 instead of the traditional white kitchen. We’ll also see earthy neutrals, rich chocolate browns, warm tans and creamy whites.
Second most popular choice in kitchen cabinet colors is green, specifically sage greens, with the third most popular choice being blue, from light blue to a deep navy blue.
Read: How to use Sage Green Paint Color + Most Popular
Read: Best Blue – Gray Interior Paint Colors
2. Wood Kitchens are back!!!
Wood kitchen cabinets are back!!! They have started creeping onto the kitchen scene the last couple of years but now are prominent in alot of kitchens.
Fortunately, they’re totally updated and much more sophisticated than the cabinets we saw in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. They bring warmth to a kitchen and make it very inviting.
3. More Color in Cabinets and Two-toned Cabinets
Currently white oat is the most popular choice of wood color for homeowners, but bolder wood colors are also a popular choice.
Photo: MasterBrand
You will frequently see wood cabinets paired with other colored cabinets or a different color of wood cabinet. And we’re also seeing bold color choices for wood cabinets as well as we see below.
Photo: Masterbrand
Picking the right color for your kitchen cabinet is not just about choosing a color you like. You also need to take into consideration the fixed elements of your kitchen like the backsplash, countertop, wall color, and yes, even the flooring. ALL the pieces need to work together to have a cohesive look and feel to your kitchen.
4. Kitchen Islands are Making a Statement
Some of the predictions for 2026 are that kitchen islands are out. Honestly, I’d be hard pressed to say that kitchen islands out. They’re far to useful to be out but how they look is definitely changing from the standard island!
The traditional style of kitchen islands may be out but we’re definitely seeing them in kitchens for 2026. Kitchen islands tend to be more like a piece of furniture OR a cabinet with feet on them to make it appear like furniture instead of standard traditional island.
Photo: The Ivy Kitchen
Kitchen islands are no longer the typical island where its matchy matchy to the kitchen cabinets. We’re going to see actual furniture pieces used as islands, and also cabinetry with feet like above so it doesn’t look like your typical kitchen cabinet island.
Photo: Bethany Adams Interiors/Kate Leichhardt Photography
5. Slab Backsplashes are also Making a Statement
Goodbye white subway tiles! They are definitely out! Hello slab backsplashes! These slab backsplashes are absolutely stunning and are becoming popular because they bring a sense of luxury and cohesion to a space. They also have no grout joints so its easier to clean. Slabs can be more expensive than tiling, but it comes down to the material that you choose. Quartz and quartzite are the most popular slab material choices for slab backsplashes because they are more affordable than marble.
Photo: Jennifer Hughes, Photographer; Design by Sydney Davenport Katz
Tiles are still popular for backsplashes because they are more affordable than slabs, but subway tiles are definitely out! Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most popular tile with the rectangular shape being homeowner’s favorite.
6. Kitchen Design Trend: Pantry Cabinets, Butler’s Pantries, And Prep Counters
Adding storage in a kitchen is a dominate trend for 2026. Adding pantry cabinets, and butler pantries are a priority if you have the room. One homeowner turned their unused dining room space into a butler’s pantry because of their lack of storage. Not everyone has that luxury of adding extra space. Some are opting to add more shelving in their kitchen, or add shelving on a back wall to add that much needed storage.
Photo: Masterbrand
Glass cabinets for elegant storage is on the rise. Some designers are predicting fully glass pantries for storage. To be honest, that seems like alot of maintenance to keep your pantry looking tidy while on full display.
Photo: The Ivy Kitchen
If you don’t have space for a separate pantry, adding beautiful glass cabinets not only gives you more storage, it can become a focal point in your kitchen.
Photo: Getty
Adding extra shelving on a back wall in your kitchen can be the answer to your storage issues if you don’t have room to add a pantry.
7. Standard Shaker Cabinets are Out!!!
Photo: Getty
The white shaker cabinets era is FINALLY coming to an end! Woo hoo! We were in the middle of a transitional era where the white standard shaker cabinets played a prominent role for years. Especially when homeowners wanted to play it safe with their property value in case they were going to move, but these standard white shaker cabinets with the white backsplash are out!!!
Photo: Davenport
Instead we’re going to see micro Shaker cabinets that are more minimal than the traditional style we’ve seen in the past couple of decades. Notice the slab backsplash! Isn’t it stunning? It compliments the minimal shaker styled cabinets perfectly.
8. European Styled Vintage Kitchens are coming into style. Are Farmhouse Kitchens taking a break?
Some designers are saying that the farmhouse kitchens are on there way out whereas others say they’re still in style. Personally, I think the farmhouse kitchens are evolving as you can see in these two pictures above and below. In the picture above, we’re seeing a European influence with the glass cabinets, and a furniture island. We also see the stylish and beautiful slab backsplash that ties the kitchen together.
Photo: The Kitchen Ivy
Personally, I feel we’re going to see the farmhouse kitchen evolve more to the style above. Gone is the clunky farmhouse sink. Open shelving, the wood beam ceiling, wood floors, rattan lighting and a furniture type of island is what is trendy in the kitchen for 2026.
9. Smart Kitchen Technology
Adding a control hub in the kitchen that can control lights, music and Wi-Fi will be handy centralizing it.
One trend that is increasing in 2026, is the popularity of using smart appliances, like a fridge or stove. These devices are connected to the internet and can learn our habits and preferences to customize our preferences. Smart fridges are expected to be able to determine when we’re running low on milk and order it for us automatically. Smart ovens in 2026 are expected to come with advanced AI capabilities, allowing them to recognize the type of food being cooked and automatically adjust temperature and cooking times.
We will also see hidden smart technology so those can plug in easily while hanging out with the family waiting for dinner.
Need help choosing the right cabinet color?
Want a professional to help you choose your kitchen cabinet colors? You have some ideas but you’re not sure if it will go with the rest of your room or the adjoining family room. Check out my Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color e-design package here.
Choosing the right paint color for your kitchen cabinets can be stressful. And painting your kitchen cabinets is alot more trickier than painting a flat wall in a room. You want to get it right the first time. My Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color e-design takes into consideration your fixed elements in the space such as your backsplash, countertop, paint color and furnishings. With this information, I provide you with 3 different options of paint color for your kitchen. Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color e-design
Read: How to Choose a Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color
SELLING OR RENOVATING YOUR HOUSE?
Kitchen color cabinet trends are similar if you’re renovating your kitchen to prepare your house for sale or renovating it to stay. Your choices may be different if your sole purpose is to sell your home for as much money as possible, whereas if you’re going to stay in your home for the next 10+ years, you may make different choices depending on your own personal preferences as opposed to trying to please potential buyers.
A kitchen can date a house faster than any other area in a house. If you’re looking at selling your house within 1 – 5 years, DON’T put in a design trend in your home that is on its way out! Choose one of the newer trends that are appropriate for your neighborhood and price range to ensure that it will be popular for years to come.
If you’re thinking of selling your house within the next few years, you may want to take into consider the color and type of kitchens that are trending in your neighborhood to appeal to what potential buyers want in your area and are willing to pay for. A GREAT indication of what the current kitchen color cabinet trend is to check out what is going on in YOUR neighborhood with regards to house renovations and new house builds. Go to Open Houses and check out listings online. Looking at what the builders and homeowners are putting into new houses, AND also just as important, what they are NOT putting into houses. A GREAT indication of what the current kitchen color cabinet trend is in YOUR neighborhood. Make sure your research is varied and not just one or two houses. Be careful to include houses in similar price ranges in similar neighborhoods in order to compare apples to apples.
Check out my online e-design + color consults here
Hi! I’m Debi Collinson. Designer. Color Consultant & Real Estate Investor.
I conducted my first color consult at the age of 7, for my father for one of his design | build projects. I’m an Interior Designer, a Double-Certified Paint Color Expert, with advanced training in kitchens + bathrooms!
Since 2006, I have helped hundreds of clients, just like you, to style their house to make it a stunning retreat, that is functional for the family AND that they love and enjoy their home. In 2020, I moved my design business online.
I have successfully flipped 9 houses and just completed a major coffee shop transformation. In my spare time, lol, I’m working on house #10 … our 1950’s river house.
Thanks for this article. There are some great ideas here. Especially for the non-interior designers out there like me haha I am in the process of getting my kitchen cabinets painted. And I want to make sure I do a color that is not only in trend but will stay in style for a while. I think Greige is the perfect option. It’s neutral enough it will go perfect with the rest of my house. Thanks!
Hi Rachel – Greige is popular but if you’re painting your kitchen cabinets, you also need to take into consideration the fixed elements in your kitchen like the countertop, backsplash and flooring. You can either pick up one of these colors from a fixed element, or choose a co-coordinating color. Good luck!