The kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the home — and thus, some of the most impactful interior design choices you make can be found in this space. From paint colors and materials, to flooring and light fixtures, the look and feel of your kitchen informs so much of your daily activities. And just like fashion trends, kitchen design trends tend to come and go — they always mimic how lifestyles change day to day.
Luckily the 2026 kitchen trend report from the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA) sheds some invaluable insight into which kitchen design trends are gaining momentum, which ones are holding strong, and which are on their way out for the upcoming year.
To find out which kitchen design trends are bound to be everywhere in 2026, the NKBA surveyed 634 members of its own community, which includes a wide range of design professionals from manufacturers to architects. Before you make any major decisions to update or refresh your kitchen, consider what the pros had to say about the trends we can expect to see in 2026.
The Biggest Trends Designers Say Are In (and Out) for 2026
Green Isn’t the Kitchen “It Color” Anymore
While it’s true that white kitchens aren’t as highly sought-after as they once were, that doesn’t mean that neutrals are entirely off the table. There are plenty of other neutral shades to choose from for your kitchen color palette, including beige, gray, black, and brown. According to the report, a whopping 96% of design pros found neutral tones to be the most popular, although greens (86%) and blues (78%) are also pretty desirable. Even though bold, splashy colors can be fun and playful, they are now less commonly used on major kitchen features and appliances than their more soothing counterparts.
Painted Cabinets No Longer Reign Supreme
Natural materials, like wood, quartz, and quartzite, are among the most highly requested in kitchens, which isn’t entirely surprising given how well they complement neutral colors. People are saying goodbye to painted cabinets and replacing them with wood-grain finish, as evidenced by 59% of those surveyed pointing out its increasing popularity. The leading wood type? White oak, according to 51% of design pros.
As for kitchen countertops and backsplashes, quartz and natural quartzite take the lead, at 62% and 61%, respectively (marble and granite are finally losing their stronghold!). And get ready to see wood flooring everywhere you look, because 94% of respondents said it was the most popular.
Sorry, Maximalism — Minimalism Is Back in a Big Way
At any given time, either minimalism or maximalism takes center stage. And while maximalism has been trending in recent years, NKBA’s report suggests the pendulum is about to swing back. In fact, 60% of design pros said that minimalism will gain momentum over the next three years, citing classically minimal features, like solid-surface backsplashes, panel-faced appliances, and flat cabinet door styles as examples of trending styles increasing in popularity in 2026.
Unexpected Color Is Everything
Despite the popularity of neutrals, color still has a place in the kitchen — it’s just being incorporated differently than it has been in the past. According to the designers surveyed, the most popular places we’ll begin seeing statement colors are in backsplashes, wallpaper, kitchen islands, and in decorative accessories.
What do you think about these 2026 design trend predictions? Let us know in the comments below!