Each year, when the new and emerging trends are revealed, there's always so much inspiration for adding style, interest, and personality to your kitchen, whether it's a new color, a playful material, or a new way to create zones.
And 2026's kitchen trends are filled with ideas that are surprisingly easy to achieve. While there are many up-and-coming designs to have on your radar, curves, eat-in areas, and kitchens that don't look like kitchens are three of the biggest.
They are also some of the easiest to introduce to your kitchen. Here's everything you need to know about these coveted trends, and the pieces to shop if you want to recreate the look.
Get The Look Of 2026’s 3 Biggest Kitchen Trends
We're by no means suggesting you should rip out your existing kitchen to fill it with a trend-led design, but there are smaller, more meaningful ways to let your scheme be inspired by them. Whether it's adding a small bistro set, introducing curved decor, or simply mixing cozy pieces into a utilitarian space, here's how to recreate them stylishly and timelessly.
1. Kitchens That Don't Look Like Kitchens
With the rise of more lived-in, cozy, and sociable kitchens, there's been a shift towards designing kitchens that don't look like kitchens. This doesn't mean losing out on the functional needs of your cooking space, but rather moving away from more utilitarian aesthetics.
There are a few different approaches to this trend. Some people go all in and remove their upper cabinets for an open, airy space, while others focus on how different furniture pieces and decor alter the atmosphere. And more freestanding, unfitted designs are one way of executing the look.
'The unfitted kitchen is more of a furnished room with appliances and kitchen items included, than a generic kitchen. It has the beauty of feeling much more atmospheric and unique because it will inevitably have some different styles and materials,' explains Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL Kitchens.
'We love the way it becomes a room that is beautiful and timeless, and not so completely different from the rest of the house. You can add vintage cupboards, you can change things around, and you can swap and reuse cabinets in different ways, giving you flexibility. Something which is not possible in a brand new fitted kitchen.'
You can also achieve the look in a fitted kitchen with integrated appliances and freestanding furniture mixed in for a less built-in look. It's also about introducing separate spaces, such as pantries and sculleries, so that your main kitchen becomes less reliant on functional needs.
But it's also about the way you decorate your space. Think large rugs, seating made cozy with pillows and upholstery, and layered lighting schemes that create varying degrees of ambiance. Even elevated kitchenware like this Antiqued Wood and Glass Oil and Vinegar Set from Magnolia, or this Rattan Fruit Bowl from Target.
Wall decor always brings a room to life, adding interest and personality, so art is a must-have if you want your kitchen to feel cozier. Avoid anything overly kitchen-related – this charming tulip design is perfect for creating a more livable, personalized kitchen.
If you want your kitchen to feel less like a kitchen, you need to add a large rug, much like you would in a living room. This vintage-inspired design comes in five colors, multiple shapes, and sizes, and it's machine-washable, perfect for high-traffic rooms.
As Helen mentioned, freestanding furniture is a great way to create a less built-in look, and this wooden cabinet is a chic, timeless choice. The shelving inside provides ample space for table decor, pantry staples, and extra flatware.
The kitchen counter lamp trend is here to stay, and it's perfect for creating a less utilitarian kitchen. Opting for a cordless lamp, like this design, means you can move it around your kitchen from your countertops to a side table next to a cozy armchair.
If you want your kitchen to look less like a kitchen, introduce a cozy seating area. You don't need a full sofa setup – this slouchy green armchair, which is also available in cream, is the perfect size to fill an empty corner to create a cozy nook.
Even if you want your kitchen to feel less like a classic kitchen, it still needs to function as one. Instead of walls filled with cabinetry, a vintage-style display shelf, like this one, is a chic alternative, creating space for kitchenware and decor in an unexpected way.
2. Cozy Eat-In Areas, Even In Small Kitchens
As we head into 2026, designers say we will be seeing the revival of eat-in areas in kitchens. These small but perfectly formed seating spaces reintroduce that sense of slower living and offer a more comfortable place to sit, dine, and spend time.
'I think people are hip to the idea that we need to have a few options sprinkled around a home for people to sit comfortably. The kitchen is such a central artery in every home, so extra seating is that much more important,' says interior designer Georgia Zikas.
The kitchen is becoming increasingly multi-functional, but it's also a room that does more than just provide a place to cook or perch at an island. It's about carving out a space to enjoy a morning coffee, for intimate dining, or for kids to use as you carry out everyday tasks. It's a trend that sort of brings everyone together again.
'I also think that we should always consider multiple uses happening in a kitchen, so having a smaller perch to have a quick meal, or a surface for kids to do homework, or to set up a laptop for a work call is great,' Georgia adds.
This 2026 kitchen trend is one of the easiest to create in your own home. There are so many ways to create a charming eat-in area, from adding a traditional bistro set in an unused corner to introducing a charming banquette framing a small table.
And it's a trend that you can really personalize to your style, budget, and needs. You can play with lighting ideas, upholstery, and decor that bring a sense of coziness and unique style.
A round table is usually the best option for a small eat-in area. It takes up less space, and makes it easy to slide in and out, especially if you have banquette seating. This design is a great choice – wood is timeless, and the pedestal adds a sculptural finish.
All of the most inviting eat-in areas feature a low-hung pendant light at the center, adding ambiance and a new layer of decor. This fabric and metal design from H&M is a chic choice, adding a softer, more tactile detail to the design without overwhelming.
Eat-in areas deserve to be cozy and comfortable, so why not introduce a throw pillow or two? This gingham design, which is the perfect size for seating, feels right at home in a kitchen, while adding color and pattern in a timeless and versatile way.
For most people, introducing an eat-in area to their kitchen usually revolves around a small table and chairs. It's always nice to go for something more comfortable, so an upholstered dining chair like this design is a great option and looks so chic.
No eat-in area is complete without decor, even if it's something small and subtle. A small vase, like this ceramic design, at the center of the table is a charming choice, especially filled with seasonal foliage and branches, or blooms from the garden.
This banquette is a great choice for a small kitchen eat-in area, as it's easy to customize to your space. You can introduce as many benches as you need, and add the matching corner piece if you want to wrap it around two walls.
3. Curvaceous Silhouettes In Architecture And Decor
Curves are back in the most versatile way. They offer a subtle yet sophisticated way to soften your overall kitchen scheme, where angular lines and hard edges are in abundance. And there are so many ways to introduce this trend to your kitchen.
Arches are still a timeless architectural detail, adding interest and style to doorways and cabinets. And while this approach is perfectly captured in this kitchen trend, there are plenty of more versatile takes as well.
Rounding the corners of your kitchen countertops instantly adds a softer, more seamless flow to your surfaces, while a curved kitchen island creates a striking focal point at the heart of your cooking space.
But for anyone who isn't undertaking a remodel, there are smaller ways to bring curves into your kitchen – and decor, kitchenware, and lighting are at the center.
Think curvaceous lighting fixtures, perhaps even the way the lighting is draped across your ceiling for a sculptural, dynamic look. Bar stools with a rounded silhouette instantly feel softer and more inviting, while curved decor (like vases, bowls, and even wooden cutting boards) adds visual interest and personality.
If you have a seating area, a round table simplistically adds curves while contrasting the angular forms elsewhere in your space. It's about finding small but meaningful ways to add curves to your kitchen that make sense for your space and lifestyle.
Small decor pieces not only add character to a kitchen, but they're also a great way to introduce the curved kitchen trend. This brass candle holder is a perfect example – it looks so chic displayed on open shelving or an island without taking up much space.
This Amber Lewis X Four Hands freestanding island is a perfect way to blend style, function, and the trend for curves in your kitchen. The design is a total classic – the cool-toned wood paired with minimal hardware is a truly timeless look.
Sometimes, the smallest details are the most impactful. And when it comes to the trend for curves, your kitchen shelving is the focus. This bracket, available in brass and silver, is a simple yet totally elevated way to introduce this softer silhouette.
Barstools are another easy way to introduce curves to your kitchen, and these stools are a stylish choice. The mix of burl wood and sherpa-style fabric feels truly luxurious and will tie in seamlessly to almost any kitchen scheme.
Keeping things simple, swapping out a rectangular cutting board for a round one is perhaps the simplest way to introduce curves. This mango wood option is a striking choice for displaying shelves and for use in food prep. A win-win!
Playful, unexpected lighting is another 2026 kitchen trend designers love, and this wavy chandelier is a fun choice to add a curvaceous feature. The way the bulbs are perched on each wave feels sculptural, offering the perfect blend of style and function.
Will you be introducing any of these trends to your kitchen? The most appealing thing about these looks is how easy they are to recreate, especially if you're looking for smaller kitchenware and decor pieces. Don't forget to consider functionality when introducing new trends – it's still a practical room at its core, even if you are making it warmer and cozier.
