Kitchen Design Trends-2026... which ones to follow

Most homeowners would like their design choices to stand the test of time. Design trends come and go. Some are great; others leave us wondering, "What were we thinking?"  Let's first look at some trends that not only did not pass the test of time but were clearly mistakes.

1. 12" deep "Professional" sinks. Back in the late 90's the rage started by the up scale sink manufacturers was to make their higher end sinks 12" deep. I imagine the thought was "more is better". It did not take long for the sinks to come into use with less than flattering results. The users found the extra depth very hard on their backs. Today, it is difficult to find the "12" deep sink dinosaurs" offered for kitchen use. 

2. Avocado green and Harvest gold. Back in the mid 70's, Corian came out with the two aforementioned colors to coordinate with the appliances during that period. I, personally, do not see much of a comeback; hence, that was not likely a timeless design. 

3. Popcorn ceiling texture, especially in the kitchen. Wow, that was a huge mistake. Popcorn ceilings are impossible to clean, and they collect dust, and oils. Popcorn ceilings were invented to allow for imperfections in the sheetrock installation to become invisible. It was a time-saving trend that failed miserably. 

4. Trash compactors from the 70's and 80's! Yikes, what a mistake. I was a kitchen designer in the 70's and 80's and almost all medium to high end kitchens were designed to have trash compactors. As you likely already know, they never made a comeback. 

Dated kitchen design

5. Ridiculous hood designs. Nothing irritates me more than seeing a gorgeous kitchen with a hood design that makes it nearly impossible to use the cooktop. If you look at the photo, the columns come right down to the countertop on either side of the cooking area, making it difficult to have comfortable and safe setoff space on either side of the cooktop. Consider how you will be using your space so that you can create a kitchen that is both beautiful and functional. 

6. Open shelving for glasses and dishes. As you can see on the left of the photo, storage is open shelving for glasses and dishes. Unless you have a full time housekeeper, you will be removing everything at least 4 times a year to dust and clean thoroughly. Moreover, the glasses and dishes that do not get used regularly will be dusty. Please think this through before considering open shelving. 

7. Grey cabinetry. Oh my, the 2020s are the grey years, and it will be obvious in a decade when you remodeled or put in your new kitchen.

8. Triple and double bowl sinks. If you want to date your home, put one of these in your kitchen. Their utility value has been shown to be less than desirable. 

9. Last but not least... Black stainless steel sinks. There is no such thing as solid black stainless; hence, what you are seeing as a trend now is a thin layer of black over a silver colored stainless. I will bet my last dollar there is no way these sinks will hold up to the rigors of washing dishes, etc. Don't get trapped with a sink that may have to be replaced in a few years. The replacement will cost up to 10 times the original cost of the black stainless sink. Black stainless appliances, on the other hand, should be just fine. They typically are not subjected to the harsh conditions of a kitchen sink. 

Kitchen Design Trends

Let's talk about trends in general. I have been in the home remodeling and new construction arenas since 1977 and have noticed some interesting design trends. Most notable is the trend for design to become very modern during times when the economy is robust and very conservative when the economy is slower. I have also noticed that timeless trends tend to reappear every couple of decades. So, what is timeless design? From my perspective, it is a design where function is first and style is not too far outside of the norm. That might sound boring, but I believe being a bit conservative in design choices might just be the key to timeless design. Quality also has a role in timeless design. Good quality rarely goes out of style.

Now, let's look at some design ideas that might just be timeless. 

1. Consider white cabinetry/kitchen. White cabinetry has been around for generations and, if designed properly, will be timeless. What do I mean by that? Don't get too frilly with overly ornate moldings (as seen in the photo) Keep the frills to a minimum and use one or two focus points instead of throwing detailed moldings everywhere. Think of a white kitchen like a blank canvas. You can change out elements and accent colors as your mood or trends change, but having that quality base will prevent you from having to redo your whole kitchen. 

2. Invest in quality wood stained cabinetry. The word "quality" is the key word here. Make sure you are purchasing a cabinet that will stand up to your use over a long period of time. Replacing cabinetry is one of the most expensive aspects of a kitchen remodel. Investing in quality in the beginning will likely save you money in the end. 

3. Stay away from trendy colors. Trendy colors are great when they are accent colors, especially if they are on something that can be easily changed. Don't lock yourself into a color for something that will be expensive or nearly impossible to change. Consider wall colors as a way to introduce a trendy color. Walls can be fairly easily repainted if the trend dies down. 

4. Keep door styles to a rectangular shape. Remember back in the 70's when cathedral arched doors were the rage? A simple square raised or recessed door style will be timeless. 

5. Stainless appliances. Currently, brightly colored appliances and even black stainless appliances are popular. In my opinion, stainless goes with just about any color and will continue to be a timeless choice. 

6. The most enduring design choice is the farm sink. Farm, or farmhouse, sinks have been part of our design culture for generations. They never seem to go out of style. Their value in design is obvious to many; however, their functionality is often misunderstood. The farm sink puts the user closer to the work area as opposed to a drop in or undermount sink. Ergonomically, the farm sink is far superior to all other types of sinks on the market. 

7. Copper sinks. Copper sinks have been popular for a quarter of a century, and the demand is still fairly strong. A copper sink, depending on the shape and patina, can be at home in a contemporary kitchen as well as a traditional kitchen. Mixing metals in a kitchen is commonly done, and I believe it will be a trend that will be timeless.