The 7 Kitchen Trends That Will Define 2026

White kitchens have been on a steady decline, and both Masterbrand Cabinets and Houzz reported rising interest in stained wood cabinets. Light-toned stains lead the pack, Masterbrand reports, offering warmth and a more organic feel to the kitchen. Medium-toned stains are also popular, especially as people choose quartersawn red oak as a more affordable alternative to white oak.

Subway tile is timeless, but if you really want to make a statement—and not have to scrub grout lines—consider a slab of engineered quartz instead. Houzz reports that dramatic, full-coverage slabs that extend up to the cabinets or range hood are particularly popular right now.

No matter your kitchen size, you probably (a) wish you had more counter space and (b) hate seeing cluttered shelves. (As anyone who’s had to dust can attest, open shelving was a Pinterest daydream and a nightmare in real life.) It’s no surprise that Masterbrand Cabinets has had more and more clients request freestanding pantry cabinets—and they’re often placing them in dining rooms or spaces adjacent to the kitchen, as an alternative to a full-blown butler’s pantry.

Shop the Trend: Winston Porter Pantry Cabinet, $184

If you’re opting for color, consider a muted sage green. It has a soothing, serene quality and feels fresher than the dark blues and navy shades of the past few years. (Plus, it pairs well with those wood tones and sandy beiges that have replaced millennial gray.)

Drawer pulls and handles have long been compared to jewelry, but these days, things are skewing a bit more masculine. Taking a cue from high-end watches, designer Richard Anuszkiewicz dreamed up a line of handles for Monogram Appliances that look every bit as luxe as that Rolex you've been eyeing. Picture leather handles with stitching that mirrors a watch's wristband and brass ends that feature etchings reminiscent of a dial.

Shop the Trend: Monogram Column Handle Kit Brass Designer Collection, from $1,300

At-home coffee stations have been trending for a while now, and interest in them is steadily climbing—perhaps thanks to the flurry of content creators mixing up their own barista-caliber creations on TikTok and Instagram Reels. (Kudos to anyone making their own black sesame-ube iced lattes before work.) Houzz reports that “task-specific built-ins” are on the rise, with coffee bars leading the pack, followed by baking stations.

But you don't need a contractor to pull them off—a small cabinet can be repurposed to house an espresso machine, coffee grinder, cups, syrups and milk frother, especially when paired with a bar and S hooks to display your favorite mugs (while conserving counter space).

Shop the Trend: Anthropologie Fern Marble-Topped Entryway Cabinet, $1,298

Finally, if you have a dog, you already know who really runs the kitchen (hint: It’s not you).  Built-in pet stations are just the latest way to acknowledge the obvious—Bruno is the main character, and you are merely his sous chef. Designers are embracing this reality with chic, integrated setups that seamlessly blend into custom cabinetry. Think plush bed nooks, feeding stations with pot fillers and even tiled wash stations that rival your own shower. It’s functional, it’s elevated and it’s exactly what your four-legged dictator deserves.

Shop the Trend: Lisonu Pet Feeding Station with Storage Cabinet, $125