By Jamie Gold,Senior Contributor
Copyright forbes
Natural light, less clutter and personalized design are all top 2026 kitchen trends.
What are the latest significant trends in kitchen design and remodeling? What should you be thinking about if you’re planning a project for this important space? The National Kitchen & Bath Association, a trade organization comprising 55,000 designers, dealers, remodelers, installers, manufacturers and other industry pros (including me) just released its 2026 Kitchen Trends Report last Thursday. Its findings are well worth considering for your home. One top takeaway: Survey respondents were in 100% agreement that in the next three years, kitchens will become personalized, multi-purpose hubs. What does that look like for your residence?
Trend 1: Personalization
Kitchens are becoming more intelligent, personalized and health-conscious to support modern lifestyles. This includes rethinking dining spaces for more customized configurations that address a household’s individual needs and habits. A family with toddlers is likely to have different meal patterns than one with teens or empty nesters. All will benefit from thoughtful, open layouts and technology integration to meet its users’ needs.
Trend 2: Size Increase
The survey reveals that three quarters of its respondents expect kitchens to get larger in the next three years, even as homes get smaller. This points back to their enhanced role as multi-purpose spaces, depending on the household’s uses.
Popular features for these expanded spaces include dedicated beverage areas (85%), which could be a coffee corner, wine bar or juice station (depending on the residents); pet feeding stations (64%); eat-in areas (59%). Notably, 94% of the respondents shared that mudrooms, flex office spaces are also sought by homeowners.
Trend 3: Technology Advances
Smart technology is gaining traction in the kitchen, as it is in homes overall. This includes app-controlled appliances and lighting and wireless device charging (often built into countertops or drawers).
Trend 4: Lighting Emphasis
In many kitchen projects of the past, lighting was an afterthought with whatever money was left over from higher priorities. This has changed dramatically — and for the better! The highest priority, according to 95% of survey respondents, is natural light. “Quality lighting” was cited by 93% and task lighting for work zones by 92%. Interior cabinet lights were named by 72% of respondents. The overall take was that “kitchens have become spaces for showcasing decorative, statement lighting,” according to 87% of respondents.
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Trend 5: Generational Differences
We are not all alike and our kitchens won’t be either. There is no single best kitchen for resale, but it’s worth noting your neighborhood trends if you’re planning on selling a home you’re remodeling. If you live in an area with many young families, it’s good to know that Millennials with children like multifunctional layouts and Gen. want smart, connected homes. Perhaps you’re in an area with more older owners. Gen X want kitchens with less clutter and smarter storage. And Boomers, unsurprisingly, want “easy and healthy living.” (Since only about 10% of American homes are aging-friendly, incorporating accessibility into your remodeling, with pull-out tables, lowered seating, pull-out cabinet accessories and ample task lighting can attract more future buyers and make multigenerational cooking safer and more functional.
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted online among 634 respondents, who are members of the NKBA community and targeted occupations including: designers (which make up 67% of responses), showrooms, dealers, specialists, manufacturers, kitchen and bath remodelers/contractors and architects. The self-administered survey was augmented with a third party sample interviewer-administered survey.
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