This Soon-to-Be Modern Home Trend Is Exemplified in Reese Witherspoon’s Impeccably Designed Kitchen – It’s a Prototype for How to Design in 2026

‘Cubicle chic’ coffee stations are set to change the way we enjoy our coffee every morning, and Reese has already shared the perfect blueprint

reese withersppon on a white background
(Image credit: Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic via Getty Images)

There's something about making the perfect cup of coffee that's almost as therapeutic as drinking it, but in 2026, this experience is expected to get even more enjoyable. According to Pinterest's Fall Trends Report, searches for the term ‘cubicle chic’ have increased by +1543% as more people look to elevate small corners around their home – starting with a coffee corner.

Reese may have posted on Instagram hints of her Christmas tree, but in the footage, we caught a glimpse of her impeccably curated cafe corner, and it's a reminder of how easy it is to follow this emerging design trend.

Reese Witherspoon's spacious home offers lots of room for a coffee corner, but if you're working with a small kitchen, it's still possible to follow her example. The secret, top designers explain, is strategically designing your pantry.

'A bi-fold breakfast pantry is a popular option for breakfast corners, housing appliances such as a coffee machine, toaster, blender, and often a small sink with a Quooker boiling tap, as well as storage for crockery, tea, coffee, and cereal,' comments designer Tom Howley.

'A nice design touch often overlooked is having a warming drawer placed directly beneath a built-in coffee machine - this works well to keep cups perfectly heated and ready to use. The best thing about a breakfast pantry is that once you’ve had enough, you can close the doors behind you, concealing all the mess and clutter until it’s time to tidy, and leaving your small kitchen spotless and seamless.'


Megan Slack
Head of Celebrity Style News

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.