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What does 2026 have in store? In Design Psychic, our community of editors, experts, and tastemakers predicts the trends coming soon to a house near you.
You’ll rarely catch a designer repeating the same sofa fabric or shower tile in a project. Every house calls for its own unique source list. But that doesn’t mean the pros aren’t aware of trends that are bubbling to the surface, especially when it comes to the most-renovated room of the house: the kitchen. Every year, we poll interior designers to find out what kitchen cabinet color they think will be the next big thing. And it turns out, many of them had similar answers. Here’s exactly what they had to say about which swatches to reach for next year.
The Winner: Gray-Green
I’m anticipating a lot of deep neutrals in kitchen renovations in 2026. Think deep mushroom palettes and warm walnut style stains. They allow homeowners to still feel like they’re being bold and different without taking all the risk of vibrant gem-toned cabinetry. –Galey Alix, founder of Galey Alix Design
I see rich, grounded, and earthy tones as well as subtle greens. Think Farrow and Ball’s French Gray paired with Mouse’s Back. —Alexandra Azat, founder of Plaster and Patina
I’ve recently been loving Cromarty by Farrow & Ball. It is a subtle sage green that pairs timelessly with a creamy white wall. It’s not too bold, but it still makes a statement. For those who love cottagecore, this is the perfect “Cotswolds” green. –Chloe Legras, creator of Boxwood Avenue
In 2026, we expect kitchens will continue to move beyond bright white and into soulful, grounded tones such as sage, clay, and warm wood. These hues bring depth and emotion to a space and reflect the shift from sterile perfection to authenticity and character. —Claire O’Connor, cofounder of O’Connor Estates
I’m drawn to mossy charcoal, mineral greens, and warm bone shades with depth and patina. These colors feel like they’ve been touched by the natural world. –Anu Jain, founder of Atelier Oleana
The Runner-up: Dark Red
We all know red has been hot for the last couple of years, and although I have not seen it trickle into kitchens quite as much, I think 2026 is its year. I love the idea of a deep red or maroon kitchen. I just painted a room Sommelier by Sherwin-Williams and think it would look amazing on kitchen cabinets. —Drew Michael Scott, founder of Lone Fox
Deep taupes, putty, and earthy shades feel timeless but still fresh. We also love a deeper tonal palette that stays grounded…warm wood cabinetry, deep burgundy, and rich brown. They add atmosphere without feeling loud and pair beautifully with natural stone. —Amanda Leigh, cofounder of House of Rolison
My prediction is that deep reds, burgundies, and rich dark woods like walnut and smoked oak will be popular in 2026. After years of white and pale oak, homeowners want kitchens that feel soulful and have drama. —Sarah Tract, founder and principal designer of Sarah Tract Interiors
Rich, earthy color is the new neutral. A wine-toned plum feels warm, modern, and expressive. –Barrett Cooke, cofounder and principal designer of Arterberry Cooke
For a project we’re working on in Kentucky, we’re doing a full merlot kitchen. With a long, narrow kitchen, it felt like the perfect place to encapsulate the room and do something unexpected. I find that older historic homes lend themselves to more exploration with cabinetry and bold moves like this. –Ghislaine Viñas, founder of Ghislaine Viñas
The Honorable Mentions
Dark Green and Blue
I think we’ll see a shift toward deeper, moodier colors taking over from all-white kitchens. Rich forest greens, deep navies, and even layered maroon or wine tones feel sophisticated and grounding, and they pair beautifully with natural wood accents. –Mimi Meacham, founder and principal designer of Marian Louise Design
Expect to see more earth-inspired tones, whether soft tans that blend with the wall color or bolder shades like earthy greens, black-currant reds, and deep, slate blues. –Sarah Randolph, principal designer of Randolph Interior Design
Feel-good palettes with a hint of 1970s nostalgia are definitely on the rise. I’m especially loving deep, moody shades like Sherwin-Williams’ Dard Hunter Green. –Annie Obermann, cofounder and principal designer of Forge & Bow
Subtle Stains
We’re moving away from flat, painted finishes and toward warm, tonal stains that let the wood’s natural character come through. Think white oak with a soft driftwood wash, rift-cut walnut with subtle bronze undertones, or cerused finishes that highlight the grain’s movement. —Kimberly Oxford, founder of Kimberly Oxford Interiors
You cannot go wrong with stained woods, and mid-tone stains with warm honey notes are definitely making a comeback. It can feel heavy to do all one thing, so we like to mix up a medium or darker stain with warmer buttery whites for a nice contrast. —Evan Krenzien, cofounder of Shane & Pierce
Powder Blue
After lots of warmth in kitchen design, I think more powder blue hues are in our future. It’s a timeless color that works beautifully with rich wood tones, and both cool chrome and raw brass finishes. Powder blue is also lovely layered with chocolate brown, a pairing we’ll be sharing more of this coming year in our own project work. A favorite subtle variation is Benjamin Moore’s Gentle Gray. —Liz Hoekzema, cofounder of KLH Custom Homes
Brown
Dark chocolate brown acts like a neutral (and I love a neutral). It plays well with others and it is a nod to classic timber kitchens. —Leanne Kilroy, creator of Good Bones
We’ve been sitting in a quiet luxury movement for some time now. In 2026 I think it’ll be all about quiet richness. I predict we will see cabinets in the direction of rich taupes, browns, and muted colors with depth. –Gabriela Eisenhart, founder and creative director of Silo Studio Design
Cream and Off-White
As we move away from traditional white kitchens, cabinet colors are shifting toward creams, off-whites, and greige tones rather than bright white. Bold shades like deep blue and dusty rose will also be popular in 2026, and we’ll see more kitchens mixing materials, like painted cabinets paired with wood grain. –Karin Bohn, founder and creative director of House of Bohn
I think a timeless white kitchen will always prevail no matter the trend or the season; warm whites like Farrow & Ball’s Wimborne White is a personal favorite. I also think buttery yellow is coming back. —Ariel Okin, founder of Ariel Okin Interiors