The kitchen trends to watch out for in 2026

When you’re looking to invest in a bespoke kitchen, it’s all about getting the balance right between a design that will stand the test of time, expert craftsmanship and materials of enduring quality. But it’s also important to make sure that, if you wish, you can incorporate trend-led touches. Here is our take on the kitchen trends of 2026.

At Davonport, as designers and cabinet makers of distinction, we’re firmly focused on crafting timeless kitchens, that are tailored to your home. But we also keep a close eye on the trends. This ensures that our handmade kitchens offer the ‘of-the-minute’ design details you demand, whether your taste is traditional, classic or contemporary. So what’s coming up in 2026?

“Kitchen design in 2026 will be defined by a shift away from obvious trend statements and towards intelligent detail, material depth and a quieter sense of refinement,” summarises Richard Davonport, Managing Director at Davonport. “The most influential schemes are moving beyond minimalism yet avoiding ornament for ornament’s sake. Instead, we are seeing a return to crafted cabinetry, expressive natural materials andarchitectural form that feels tailored and measured.”

So what does this look like when it comes to bringing your kitchen to life? Let’s look at some of the key trend directions for next year.

The Fluting Evolution

The fluted trend has made its mark – with fluted glass in cabinets, for example, already a firm favourite. Fluting is not disappearing, but instead, it’s evolving. Linear ribbing is moving towards a more sculptural look.

Richard explains, “ Bespoke and handmade designers are turning to concaved and curved fluting to create movement and three-dimensional interest, seen on islands with softened edges and wraparound contours that catch the light beautifully. It signals a rise in bespoke joinery and texture-led design that honours century old cabinetry making techniques.“

Versatile Neutrals

One of the easiest ways to make sure your bespoke kitchen won’t date too quickly, is to go for a neutral palette. So the good news for those seeking a trend-inspired look is that neutrals look set to dominate kitchen design in 2026. These colours are a perfect blend of practical and long-lasting, and have the ability to adapt as your taste evolves. Neutral tones really come into their own in open plan spaces, where kitchens must work tonally with adjoining spaces. This palette is equally at home in a traditional design as it is it in a modern-look kitchen, too.

 “Instead of bright white and cool grey, which can feel flat and unforgiving in domestic light, designers are moving towards warmer, mineral-based tones that are easier to live with. Colours such as putty, flint, mushroom, stone, oatmeal and warm taupe provide a stable foundation for a kitchen because they sit comfortably alongside a wide range of materials including oak, walnut, stainless steel, travertine and porcelain.”

Characterful Timber & Bold Stone

Pale Scandi oaks have been the darling of interior designers for some time – and while they won’t vanish completely, timber for kitchens is taking on mid- and dark-tones and richer character. Finishes similar to Truffle Oak, with its appealing warmth, are coming to the fore as homeowners seek depth and atmosphere – perfect paired with 2026’s neutral tones. “Looking ahead,” continues Richard, “we expect to see a shift further into walnut and smoked finishes, used across full cabinetry runs or contrasted against painted doors for visual layering.”

In a similar way, stone will remain a key design statement but with a bolder, more expressive look. “Smooth marbles are giving way to stones with intense veining, dramatic movement and thicker profiles. And full-height slabs and waterfall ends are being used to sculpt islands into monolithic forms.”

A Move Towards Micro Shaker

But what about the profile of the cabinetry? Whatever door colour or worktop finish you yearn for, those with design-led interiors will embrace the move towards a new Shaker look and feel.

The new Micro Shaker trend takes the familiar framed door but slims down its proportions. The result? A cleaner, more architectural line that sits comfortably in both classic and contemporary settings.

Make More of Moulding

At the other end of the spectrum, moulded doors are coming back – predominantly to the upper end of the market. Traditional in-frame Shaker kitchens are still popular but their labour-intensive construction is pricing them out of the budget for some. This is where deeper moulded lay-on doors come into their own – delivering a sense of craftsmanship at a more reasonable cost.

“They are built with precise rail-and-stile profiling that creates definition through shadow lines rather than applied ornament. This achieves visual depth and architectural clarity at a more accessible cost than classic in-frame construction.” Richard explains, “We think this is the most interesting of the trends we expect to see in 2026. This is an area we are already developing in the workshops at Davonport, with a micro shaker lay-on concept set to be introduced later this year.”

So whatever your preferred look, the good news is that kitchen trends for 2026 have something for everyone. Whether you’re looking towards maximising the innate beauty of natural materials, finding cost-effecting ways to get a luxury look, focusing on versatile tones so your investment will last – or a mix of all of these – Davonport will work with you to make your dream bespoke kitchen a reality.