Top Kitchen Trends for 2026
- Published on
- 7 min read
-
Jedda Fernandez Associate EditorClose
Jedda Fernandez Associate EditorJedda Fernandez is an associate editor for HomeLight's Resource Centers with more than five years of editorial experience in the real estate industry.
Personalization, smart appliances, and intuitive features will define kitchen design in 2026, according to top interior designers. The kitchen’s role as the home’s central gathering place is growing, influencing layout and feature choices expected to gain prominence next year.
Kitchen upgrades offer strong ROI for homeowners, with kitchen remodels adding an average $28,826 to resale value, say top real estate agents surveyed by HomeLight. Aligning these upgrades with prominent 2026 kitchen trends is a strategic move, especially if you plan to sell.
To get you started, we spoke with Liz McCarthy, a real estate agent with 21 years of experience, and Janet Lorusso, a professional interior designer with over 30 years of experience. With their expert insights combined with industry predictions, you can gain some ideas to implement in your own kitchen and prepare it to sell for top dollar.
Considering a Kitchen Upgrade? Check Your Home's Value
If you’re considering upgrading your kitchen in anticipation of a home sale, start with an estimate of your home’s value with our Home Value Estimator. It only takes two minutes to answer a few questions, and you’ll receive a detailed analysis of your home straight to your inbox.
Focus on people-centric layouts
“Kitchens are the true heart of the home. I’m drawn to trends and designs that invite people in,” says designer Shea McGee. Some of McGee’s trend favorites include kitchen islands that double as homework spaces, storage that supports real life, and layouts that make everyday living easy.
Generational trends also reveal different purposes for different life stages. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), smart and connected homes will be popular for Gen Z homeowners, while Millennials with children are looking for multifunctional layouts for living. Millennials without children want high-end convenience, Gen-X look for smarter storage solutions that decrease clutter, and Boomers are looking for easy and healthy living.
Go for finishes that give that lived-in look
All-white kitchens have been around for years, largely because they’re timeless and easy. For 96% of respondents surveyed by the NKBA, neutrals remain the most popular colors, followed closely by greens and blues.
To update a classic kitchen for 2026, add elements that create a warm, lived-in feel without sacrificing the timeless appeal that 72% of homeowners prefer.
Think natural woods, metals that develop patina over time, textured stones, and soft finishes. “It’s about depth, warmth, and character – kitchens that feel lived in, not just styled,” McGee adds.
Color blocking and bold monochrome palettes stand out
When it comes to color, McGee doubles down on layering natural elements. A flat white kitchen can be enhanced with a minor touch-up in the form of marble accessories or natural wood decor.
Cabinets can be used to create visual interest. “The easiest way to update existing cabinets is by painting them,” says Lorusso. “Paint hides a multitude — from the ubiquitous dated honey oak that builders dumped in every home in the late 20th century, to fussy glazed finishes.” A fresh coat of paint can add an average of $10,184, according to HomeLight’s recent agent survey.
Last year’s color-drenching trend gives way to color blocking and monochromatic designs in 2026. Sherwin-Williams’ 2026 Colormix Forecast Anthology Vol. II features cabinet colors that add character, such as Frosted Tints, Sunbaked Hues, and Restorative Darks, but don’t remove neutrals from your options just yet. Foundational Neutrals lend warmth without overwhelming the space.
Curves bring elegance
Cabinet details make a marked difference in 2026. While flat slab doors remain favored by 69% of NKBA’s respondents, incorporating curved and softer lines creates distinction and character in kitchen design.
“I love how soft, rounded lines bring elegance and ease to a kitchen. They break up all the straight edges and make the space feel more custom and collected – less modular, more designed,” McGee explains.
Worried about changing too much in your streamlined kitchen design? Adding details such as round lighting or curved stools can go a long way in modernizing your kitchen on a budget.
Modulars are still in — but leave room for customization
Modular cabinetry remains relevant, but 2026 trends move toward customized solutions that maximize awkward spaces and personalize layouts beyond standard modular designs.
There are more modular options that can be configured to stack, slide, or transform to make unused spaces more functional. You can also opt for semi-custom pieces specifically tailored to your unique kitchen concerns. The best part about modular pieces? They present a solution without needing a major kitchen demolition.
Customized pantries will also be everywhere — but hidden in plain sight. What looks like an unassuming wall could be hiding sliding doors leading to the pantry, or transitional spaces that conceal small appliances to avoid visual clutter.
Bring in cozy, natural wood accents
Complement airy cabinetry with natural wood features like white oak, a leading choice in 2026, to add needed visual weight and warmth to the kitchen.
Thicker vertical panels can be used for cabinet fronts or island bases. While adding visual appeal to your kitchen, don’t forget that functionality still trumps aesthetics.
Almost 50% of HomeLight’s surveyed agents also said making additional home repairs and renovations can help timid buyers decide on a home purchase. Lorusso shares a few other simple replacements that can make a big impact in your home:
- Order new cabinet doors and drawer fronts
- Remove select doors to create open storage
- Replace doors with glass or obscured glass, or mirrored doors for an airier look
- Upgrade cabinet hardware to shift the mood in the room
Extend the use of wood to the flooring as well — an overwhelmingly popular choice, according to NKBA.
Choose expressive countertops
Marble countertops offer enduring appeal by supplying each kitchen with a unique visual identity — whether subtle, dramatic, or contrasting — making them a cornerstone in 2026 kitchen design.
Quartz is another popular choice for countertops thanks to its low-maintenance nature. “Quartz is a nice alternative to get the marble look without the maintenance,” says Lorusso.
Whatever you choose for your countertop, never underestimate the quality of installation. Natural veining should flow seamlessly from one corner to another. Although waterfall countertops are still in, consider adding curves to one end to soften the space.
Bolder backsplash
Incorporate bold backsplashes and statement colors, especially since 60% of NKBA respondents see the backsplash as the top area for new hues in 2026.
A monochromatic palette that carries the color of the countertop to the backsplash and the cabinetry can lend elegance to your kitchen. Consider saturated hues, but don’t shy away from visual tension by varying textures from glossy to matte finishes.
Work With a Top Agent to Help Prioritize Kitchen Projects
Real estate agents have seen it all, and if you’re wondering which projects will help your kitchen add the most value to your home, lean into their experience to get your house in great shape before you sell.
Our Agent Matching platform will introduce you to top agents in your area with a track record of selling homes faster and for more money.
Add visual friction
You don’t have to stick to just one metal in your kitchen or just one color. Mixing metals and colors within the kitchen is still a common choice. This can mean simply using different finishes of the same metal throughout or using completely different metals on different fixtures.
“We’re seeing a lot of mixed metal currently,” McCarthy shares.
Lorusso confirms, “In terms of finishes, mixing metals is perfectly acceptable and even desirable. Often gold-toned cabinet hardware and lighting are paired with stainless or polished nickel faucets. I don’t see the warmth of gold finishes going anywhere for a while.”
Aside from mixing metals, visual friction can also be added through contrasting elements, such as composite cabinets crafted from recycled materials paired with natural wood.
Kitchens as responsive environments through intuitive AI features
Countertops in 2026 aren’t just surfaces — they integrate AI to create adaptive workspaces for dynamic kitchen use.
McCarthy confirms that a charging center in countertops, paired with some organization, can be a good selling point. “You can have all your cell phone and charging things in a drawer with outlets to kind of keep it more clean-lined.”
Almost every aspect of the kitchen can be WiFi-enabled or controlled via a mobile app, allowing it to adapt to your working patterns. Touch-control cabinetry, motion-sensing lights, voice-controlled systems, and even custom temperature and lighting settings can be easily added to a kitchen remodel — features you can enjoy and turn into a central selling point when it’s time to sell.
Smart appliances — like induction cooktops, steam ovens, smart refrigerators, and multifunctional vent hoods — define kitchens built for efficiency and wellness, evolving the heart of the home for 2026. Lorusso adds, “The new multifunctional features in ovens are desirable as they can replace many countertop appliances like microwaves and air fryers, freeing up space and efficiency.”
For McCarthy, it’s high-end appliances such as “a beverage center for coffee machines, high-end coffee machines, a place for easy grab beverages, cold beverages” that make an impact.
Aside from smarter appliances that assist in cooking, decking out the kitchen in tech makes it a multi-functional space. Automated pet-feeding stations have risen in popularity in recent years, and many are incorporating mudrooms and flex-office spaces into their kitchens.
HomeLight’s survey reveals that 46% of agents believe appliances to be an enticing incentive for buyers, and 15% consider smart home features as an appealing upgrade when selling a home.
Make a statement through sculptural elements
Quality lighting and task lighting are top considerations when renovating a kitchen. Under-cabinet lighting, interior cabinet lights, and pendant lights offer more than just functionality. “LED recessed ceiling fixtures and under cabinet lighting remain popular,” Lorusso says. “Lighting technology means the warmth of these lights can often be adjustable to change the atmosphere and vibrancy.”
As kitchen islands remain popular, they should include seating and can be decorated with lanterns, orbs, or pendant lights. “In general, island lighting has moved away from the mini pendant lights in favor of more substantial and decorative fixtures,” Lorusso explains.
Glass adds contrast and functionality
With the myriad of ways glass can be incorporated into a kitchen, there are endless design possibilities, from decorative tinted panels to fully functional frosted sections as cabinet fronts that hide unsightly clutter. Adding illumination behind glass takes the design of your kitchen to the next level, giving it an ambient glow that adds warmth and makes the space more inviting.
A perfect pairing with glass is the addition of everything green. Bring the outdoors in by adding plants to the kitchen, whether they’re hanging pots of trailing pothos or a large fiddle leaf fig in a standing pot. These natural elements are another way to add softer curves to your space.
Return to minimalism
While timeless design endures changing trends, NKBA says there is a move back to minimalism in the next three years. If you haven’t renovated in a while or are coming from a maximalist kitchen design, consider panel-faced refrigerators and dishwashers, and slab or solid surface backsplashes.
Before committing to any changes in your kitchen, it’s important to visualize how it will look after renovation. According to HomeLight’s recent agent survey, 10% of sellers use AI to generate staging or renovation visualizations. We also created this list of home improvement apps to help you get started.
If you have a longer window before you plan to sell your house, HomeLight can also connect you with top agents in your area who know the latest design trends in your local market.
Writer Erika Riley contributed to this story.
Header Image Source: (Sonyachny / Unsplash)
- "NKBA | KBIS Releases Annual 2026 Kitchen Trends Report," NKBA (September 2025)
- "Fresh Kitchen Trends 2026: A Recipe for Style and Innovation," Decorilla (October 2025)
- "Countertop Veining: How to Choose the Perfect Veining Patterns for Your Countertops," Natural Stone City (July 2025)
- "How to Mix Metals in Your Home: 5 Tips to Decorate With Metals Flawlessly," Better Homes & Gardens (June 2024)
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
