Key Takeaways:
- Choosing one or two of the top kitchen design trends for 2026 is more than enough to give your kitchen a modern look.
- Many of the modern kitchen design trends we’re seeing have moved away from once-popular white backsplashes and open concept layouts.
- If you’re thinking of upgrading your kitchen, 5blox can help you visualize the layout, finishes, and materials with included 3D rendering services.
Every year, there are new trends, and kitchens tend to get swept in and out of the trend cycle more than other rooms. That doesn’t mean you should try to incorporate every popular interior design look you see on social media. Not only can that make the kitchen feel cluttered and directionless, but it’ll also get expensive.
Picking the right trends that both work with your style and won’t be on the way out by 2027 is key.
With that in mind, here’s a list of our favorite 2026 kitchen design trends, according to our award-winning interior design team. If one of the trends listed catches your eye, 5blox offers kitchen remodeling in Los Angeles and is happy to help you create the kitchen of your dreams!
1. Colorful Stone Countertops
We’re so used to seeing white marble countertops and speckled gray or brown granite countertops that the idea of incorporating something brighter with more personality seems out of this world.
But when you see the right slab paired with more neutral cabinetry, it’s easier to see why this is one of the top kitchen design trends in 2026.
Need some kitchen color design ideas? We’re big fans of sage or olive green quartz countertops paired with darker, more rustic-looking wood cabinets and dark brass accents. Blue-gray is another sophisticated yet timeless choice, especially with subtle veining.
2. Connected Outdoor Space
Southern California kitchens don’t need to stop at the back door.
A large remodel might use retractable glass walls, a flush threshold, a covered outdoor dining area, or a pass-through window to make serving outside easier. Now, obviously, this is a major kitchen remodel. But that doesn’t mean it has to be.
You can approach this indoor-outdoor living concept with smaller interior design moves as well, such as placing the dining table closer to the patio doors or using similar wood tones from your patio in your kitchen.
This is one of the modern kitchen design trends in 2026 that’s perfect for Los Angeles homeowners.
3. Sculptural Stone and Organic Materials
There’s something hypnotic about natural stone used in a modern kitchen. It pairs beautifully with wood cabinetry and adds a touch of biophilic design that so many LA homeowners are after, making it one of the top modern kitchen design trends in 2026.
And as with most organic materials, you can get creative with how you incorporate stone. Stone countertops with natural veining, stone slabs in place of tile backsplashes, or wraparound-style stone islands with natural texture left intact.
It’s the obvious choice for homeowners attracted to natural materials.
4. Striped Tile Backsplash
The idea of striped anything can scare some people away. It feels like more of a commitment than a blank slate. But like striped wallpaper, striped tile has never truly gone out of style, especially in softer, neutral kitchens.
It injects a bit of energy and personality. The idea is to work with your surrounding kitchen color design to choose the right tones, shapes, and shades. Some tiles come pre-striped, while others can be laid out in unique patterns to create stripes. A solid tile backsplash with hand-painted patterned tiles spaced in vertical lines? Absolutely.
The options are endless, which makes it one of the most versatile modern kitchen design trends in 2026.
5. Earthy Color Palettes
There’s a growing desire to bring interior design back to basics. And by basics, we mean earth tones such as taupe, clay, moss, mahogany, and terracotta.
Kitchen color design ideas that stem from natural shades feel timeless. When almost every material in your kitchen comes from the landscape, it’s an excellent way to pay homage to natural materials.
The trick here is to pair distinct earth tones with one another. You don’t want a brown floor-to-ceiling kitchen unless you’re going for that rustic cabin-in-the-woods look. Bring out olive and clay with natural tile, or pair dark cherry cabinets with cream-colored walls.
6. Statement Appliances
We’re not ones to shy away from a paneled fridge or dishwasher. But if you have a custom range that looks like it came out of a mid-century French bistro, why not spotlight it?
You use your appliances every day, so there’s truly no reason they should be a design afterthought. And you certainly don’t need every appliance to match.
Statement appliances are one of the biggest modern kitchen design trends in 2026.
Customize the front of your stove to match your cabinets for greater continuity, or go retro with revamped appliance collections that draw on early 20th-century styles.
We like to think of these pieces as jewelry for the kitchen. Your appliance can be just as much a conversation piece as anything else.
7. Open Display Shelving
For the continual curators and organized homeowners, open display shelving can add a wonderful element of personalization to your kitchen.
Open shelves give you the chance to display your favorite glassware, bowls, ceramic mugs, and anything else you feel is worth showcasing. The key to this 2026 modern kitchen design trend is to be purposeful about placement.
Above the cooktop, things can get quite greasy. But on either side of the stove, above the sink, or in the corner between cabinets, they can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
8. Islands as Furniture Pieces
Who says an island has to be just a rectangle with three stools and a sink?
There are hundreds of ways to get creative with the look of an island. Curved ends, stone waterfall sides, custom millwork, and fluted wood.
One of the main points of this 2026 modern kitchen design trend is to make the island feel less like something dropped in the room and more like something that’s part of the architecture.
If you can see your kitchen from the living room or dining room, it’s nice to have a cohesive look.
As more homeowners get creative with their kitchen color design ideas, it’s natural that islands follow suit. Just make sure you have clearance. A gorgeous island that leaves you with little room to move will end up feeling more frustrating than anything.
Upgrade Your Kitchen With 5blox
As professional interior designers, we often think just as much about functionality as we do about aesthetics. That’s why we chose to highlight 2026 kitchen design trends that also solve problems.
It’s easier to entertain with an indoor-outdoor living space, just as reaching for your favorite wine glass on an open shelf requires less effort than rummaging through your cabinet.
If you’d like to see how you can incorporate some of these 2026 modern kitchen design trends or color design ideas into your home, book a free consultation with the 5blox team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kitchen trends are going out of style in 2026?
Some of the main kitchen design trends that have gone out of style this year include:
- All-white kitchens
- Gray laminate flooring
- Tuscan-style kitchens (heavily glazed cherry cabinetry, tumbled stone countertops, tile murals, etc.)
- Builder-grade lighting fixtures
- Glass mosaic backsplash tile
What are some affordable ways to update a kitchen?
Paint your cabinets instead of replacing them, add a standalone island if your kitchen can accommodate it, swap out a characterless backsplash, or replace your lighting fixtures. Not every kitchen design job includes changing the floor plan.
How can I maximize storage in a small kitchen?
Vertical storage can be your best friend in a small kitchen. So can deep drawers and cabinets. While we are fans of open shelving in the right space, smaller kitchens tend to need more closed storage to keep from looking cluttered.