Concrete-look matte quartz countertops in a modern kitchen
Guide

Kitchen Trends 2025-2026: What's In, What's Out, and What Actually Lasts

If you are planning a kitchen remodel right now, two big datasets are worth knowing. The National Kitchen & Bath Association's 2026 Kitchen Trends Report (released September 2025, surveying 634 industry professionals, two-thirds of them designers) and the 2026 Houzz U.S. Kitchen Trends Study (1,780 renovating homeowners, surveyed July 2025) tell a remarkably consistent story: the stark all-white, all-gray kitchen of the 2010s is fading, and warmth has taken its place. We watch these reports closely — they predict what lands on our template schedule about a year later — so here is the tour, with our read on what it means for your project.

The headline: wood beat white

For the first time in the Houzz study, wood is the most popular cabinet finish in renovated kitchens — 29% of homeowners chose it, up 6 percentage points in a single year, while white slipped 5 points to 28%. Medium wood tones lead (15%), followed by light wood (11%). The NKBA's professional survey agrees: 59% of designers say wood-grain cabinetry is now growing faster than paint, and white oak is the species of the moment, named most popular by 51%.

What this means for you: white cabinets are not "wrong" — they remain the second most common choice and the safest resale play. But if you want your remodel to feel current, warm wood (or a wood island paired with painted perimeter cabinets) is where design is heading.

Color: warm, green, and much less gray

Neutrals still dominate — 96% of NKBA respondents ranked them most popular — but they have shifted warm: cream, putty, mushroom, and greige instead of stark white and cool gray. Gray cabinets have fallen to just 5% of Houzz remodels, and gray walls to 10%.

The statement colors with real momentum:

  • Greens (86% in the NKBA survey) — especially the soft herbal end: sage, olive, and eucalyptus. Valspar named a warm eucalyptus its 2026 Color of the Year.
  • Blues (78%) — with designers steering toward smoky teal rather than the navy of five years ago.
  • Emerging deep tones — burgundy and wine shades that designers describe as behaving "almost like a dark neutral," plus mocha browns following Pantone's 2025 Mocha Mousse pick.

Designers also agree on where statement color belongs: backsplashes (60%) and islands (57%) — the spots that are cheapest to change later. Wall-to-wall color commitment is much rarer.

Countertops and backsplashes: quartz still leads, but the ground is shifting

This is our corner of the report, so a little extra detail. Engineered quartz remains the single most-installed countertop at 32% of Houzz remodels — but that is down 7 points since 2025. The share is going to natural stone and newer slab formats: quartzite (marble-like veining, better scratch and heat performance, but it costs more and needs periodic sealing — we tell every quartzite buyer that up front) now ties quartz in the NKBA professional survey at 62%, and porcelain slabs are gaining for heat and stain resistance with minimal upkeep.

Two pattern shifts stand out. Veining is nearly universal — 75% of Houzz homeowners chose veined countertop patterns, versus 13% speckled and 12% uniform. That matches what leaves our shop. And the full-height slab backsplash (running countertop material up the wall) has gone mainstream: 75% of NKBA respondents flagged slab and solid backsplashes as gaining, and 28% of Houzz backsplash installs were slab rather than tile. Fewer grout lines and a high-end look; the honest trade-off is buying more slab material — we will tell you exactly how much more when we quote it.

Hardware: warm metals, mixed on purpose

Brass in its softer forms — unlacquered, aged, champagne bronze — leads 2026 hardware. Unlacquered brass develops a living patina; if you want the warmth without the upkeep, brushed or satin brass keeps its finish. The old "one finish everywhere" rule is gone: designers now deliberately pair two metals (brass pulls with a matte black faucet is the classic combo) but recommend stopping at two. Also returning: polished nickel, cup pulls, and textured hardware with knurled or fluted detailing. What reads dated: shiny builder-grade chrome and tiny knobs on oversized drawers.

Layout and storage: the hardworking kitchen

The fully open-concept kitchen is giving way to "broken-plan" spaces with defined zones. At the luxury end that means prep kitchens and sculleries; in typical homes it shows up as pantry walls, appliance garages, and floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with deep drawer banks. Storage is now non-negotiable — 94% of renovated kitchens include specialty storage (pull-out trash, at 64%, is the most common) — and pantry cabinets are the most-added built-in at 47%. Islands keep growing: 52% of upgraded islands exceed 7 feet, 80% are simple rectangles, and 53% integrate appliances.

Appliances: quieter, smarter, more electric

Panel-ready appliances that disappear behind cabinetry are strongly favored — 72% of NKBA respondents see panel-faced refrigeration gaining, 85% for dishwashers. Induction cooking is moving from niche to mainstream as brands expand their lineups. Steam cooking (66%) and powerful ventilation (85%) round out the wellness-driven wish list, and smart features are now table stakes rather than a differentiator.

Using trends without regret

Our practical rule: put trend energy into reversible layers — paint, hardware, lighting, faucets, stools — and keep the expensive permanents (cabinet boxes, countertops, flooring) in proven, neutral territory. And remember that the most durable "trends" are really function upgrades: better storage, better lighting, better ventilation. Those never go out of style.

Sources

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