How Your Clients Can Love Their Kitchen More: 5 Trends to Watch

Feb 24, 2026

Smarter layouts, warmer finishes and flexible features are redefining what’s usually considered “the heart of the home.”

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey

In 2026, loving your kitchen isn’t about chasing the latest look—it’s about creating a space that works harder, feels warmer and better supports everyday life. Today’s kitchen renovations are driven by function, customization and thoughtful storage.

That mindset shows up clearly in Houzz’s 2026 Kitchen Trends Study, based on a survey of more than 1,700 homeowners who recently renovated their kitchen. Kitchens that feel adaptable and intentionally designed appear to be resonating most with today’s buyers.

Here are five kitchen trends shaping how homeowners—and buyers—are learning to love their kitchens even more in 2026.

1. Storage Is Prioritized

Smart storage has become the backbone of kitchen design. More than three-quarters of renovating homeowners say they’re adding specialty storage features, led by pantry cabinets (47%), walk-in pantries (16%) and butler’s pantries or prep kitchens (7%). These additions help reduce visual clutter while making daily tasks easier.

Credit: Builder: Pike Properties / Photographed by: Joe Purvis Photos (via Houzz)

Kitchens also are being divided into task-specific zones—beverage centers, coffee bars and baking stations.

“When storage is thoughtfully designed, from customized drawers and pull-out shelves to walk-in pantries, it reduces clutter and improves efficiency,” Misty Callaway of Callaway Homes notes in the Houzz report. “It makes the kitchen easier to use every single day.”

2. Warm Materials Replace the All-White Look

The era of the all-white kitchen is cooling. Wood cabinetry has overtaken white for the first time in years, with medium-toned woods leading the shift, followed by lighter finishes. The move signals a return to warmth, texture and natural materials.

Credit: Builder: OC Builders Group / Designed by: Studio Willow / Photographed by: Leigh Ann Rowe (via Houzz)

Also trending in the kitchen: Shaker cabinets, followed by flat-panel designs, and hardware choices of bar pulls over knobs—most commonly in brushed nickel, black or brushed gold.

3. Contrast Can Add Character

More contrasts are popping up in the kitchen, whether through the cabinetry or the countertops, in adding a more custom look.

For example, white and off-white countertops have remained popular, but more homeowners are adding contrast—especially at the island. They’re choosing island countertops that differ from the rest of the kitchen, with wood lately trending as a popular island surface.

Two-tone cabinetry also is gaining traction, with different shades used for upper and lower cabinets to add depth, without overwhelming a space.

Photo credit: 3D Render / Kitchen Design Created Using Houzz Pro

4. Islands Become True Workhorses

Kitchen islands are doing more than ever. About half of renovated islands now exceed seven feet in length, with rectangular designs the most common. More than half of homeowners also are integrating appliances—such as dishwashers or microwaves—into the island. Islands are functioning as prep zones, cleanup stations and casual gathering spots all at once.

Credit: Designed by: Mister + Mrs. Sharp / Photographed by: Robert Peterson with Rustic White Photography (via Houzz)

5. Kitchens Designed for the Long Haul

More than half of renovating homeowners are incorporating features that support aging in place or long-term adaptability. That includes pull-out cabinetry, wide drawer pulls, rounded countertop edges and nonslip flooring.

Customized storage—such as pull-out waste bins, spice drawers or corner solutions—also are increasingly becoming standard, helping kitchens remain functional through every stage of life.