Trends come and go, but your kitchen should be designed to withstand the test of time. From color selections to appliances and plumbing fixtures, there are several key decisions that kitchen designers help address during a kitchen remodel. Keep reading to learn what kitchen trends you may want to avoid (or simply not over-indulge in), with beautiful, practical alternatives from real The Designery projects.
Key takeaways:
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Most kitchen trends to avoid address safety, cleaning, or resale.
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White cabinets and open shelves are great design choices, but they last longer when incorporated with intention.
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Features like pot fillers and microwaves don’t make the best use of the area around your range.
Kitchen trends to avoid in your 2026 remodel
“Avoid” may be a strong word. With a strong vision, you and a designer can pull off practically anything. Still, exercise caution around these features.
1. All white kitchens with matte black hardware.
This is a particular type of black and white kitchen, not merely the sum of two parts. It’s stark, with barely any deviation from its monochrome color scheme. More importantly, it doesn’t stand up to real life well and lacks the authenticity of a personalized, kitchen design.
Try this instead: Warm up whites and add texture.
White is a timeless cabinet color. To prevent it from aging like a bygone trend, try some warmth and texture. A unique piece of stone, a brass fixture, and a warmer undertone set things up nicely for the next decade or two.
2. Integrating the microwave into the cabinetry above the range.
This was a trend years ago that many of us simply got used to. Installing the microwave above the range was a custom, even upscale, feature at one point. However, this might reduce what we get out of our ventilation system. And as we’ll continue to explore, reaching over burners in use isn’t the best option we have when given a choice.