{"id":229250,"date":"2025-10-01T10:46:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T14:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/?p=229250"},"modified":"2025-10-01T10:46:28","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T14:46:28","slug":"6-trends-for-the-2026-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/design\/6-trends-for-the-2026-kitchen","title":{"rendered":"6 Trends for the 2026 Kitchen"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/h4>\n
\"Warm<\/a>
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Seventy-six percent of industry experts expect the kitchen\u2019s footprint to grow over the next three years and with that growth it will become a smarter, more personalized, and health-conscious room, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association\u2019s\u00a02026 Kitchen Trends Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe integration between the kitchen and whole home is a really exciting opportunity for the kitchen and bath industry,\u201d says Bill Darcy, global president and CEO of NKBA | KBIS. \u201cThe 2026 Trends Report further confirms this evolution, as homeowners desire connection and cohesive design between spaces for entertainment, functionality, and\u00a0wellness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experts surveyed, ranging from designers and architects to remodelers and manufacturers, were in 100% agreement that lifestyle enhancements will become a popular kitchen layout feature in the next three years. The report reveals many trends for 2026 including the six below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Jam-Packed With Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of the lifestyle enhancements, the top features include dedicated beverage areas (85%), pet feeding stations (64%), and eat-in kitchens (59%). Smarter storage<\/a> is also trending through floor to ceiling cabinetry with more drawers,\u00a0walk-in and butler pantries<\/a>, refrigerators with custom configurations (70%), and islands packed with storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Lighting Gets The Podium<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The kitchen is giving\u00a0statement lighting\u00a0the spotlight according to 87% of respondents. Experts also agree that homeowners want natural lighting (95%), quality lighting (93%), and task lighting for work zones (92%). A variety of lighting types will be trending for 2026 but under cabinet lights (82%), interior cabinet lights (72%), and pendant lights (63%) top the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Neutrals Are Top of Mind<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ninety-six percent of respondents say neutrals are most popular<\/a> with greens (86%) and blues (78%) trailing closely behind. Millennial pink (11%), bright orange (7%), and bright red (6%) were the least popular picks. Popular new statement colors will find their way to backsplashes (60%), wallpaper (60%), islands (57%), and decorative accessories (55%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Tech is Gaining Traction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the kitchen is known for technological advancements,\u00a0smart tech\u00a0is further embedding with additions like Wi-Fi-enabled, mobile-app controlled appliances and lighting, and built in wireless charging. As interest in the kitchen being a healthy-living space continues, steam cooking (66%), powerful vent hoods (85%), outdoor connection (71%), enhanced storage (72%), and smart, spacious refrigerators (72%) support the notion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Minimalism, Timeless Styles are \u201cTrending\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Transitional and timeless kitchens (72%) top the style list in the next three years followed by contemporary and modern (60%) and organic\/natural (58%) designs. Maximalism is taking the back burner as 60% say minimalism will be the most popular style for the next three years. Features like flat cabinet doors (69%), panel-faced refrigeration (72%) and dishwashers (69%), and slab\/solid surface backsplashes (75%) are increasing in popularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Natural Materials Lean Into the Trends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wood grain (59%) cabinets have surpassed painted cabinets this year with white oak (51%) being the most popular wood type. For countertops, quartz (62%) is the top choice followed by natural quartzite. Quartz also reigns for backsplashes while wood flooring (94%) was the majority vote for floors.<\/p>\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Despite homes trending smaller, the kitchen is getting bigger in new homes, with functional spaces, timeless style, and natural hues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":229252,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-10-01T14:46:27Z","apple_news_api_id":"b774622e-3be3-42f8-b43b-25bf43d782cf","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-10-01T14:46:27Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/At3RiLjvjQvi0OyW_Q9eCzw","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11115],"tags":[11483,11113,11314,11330,11162],"coauthors":[10696],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n6 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