All the Best Kitchens in 2027 Will Embrace Imperfection – 9 Coveted Kitchen Trends Shaping Future Designs
From softer furniture to mixed metal finishes, these kitchen trends will feature in all the chicest designs next year
No matter the size, style, or location of your kitchen, it's the room we naturally gather in. It's where families catch up after a long day, where you cook your favorite meals, and where you bring guests who drop by for a catch-up. It's a multifunctional space that's becoming even more so in 2027.
The lived-in, room-like approach continues to dominate kitchen trends of the year ahead, with an ever-growing emphasis on comfort and personalized style. But now more than ever, there's a growing focus on ensuring kitchen ideas maintain that balance of cozy style and functional design.
2027 kitchen trends are less focused on restraint and obsessing over what is considered most timeless or adds resale value, and the emphasis is purely on creating a kitchen you actually enjoy spending time in. If that sounds like an ethos you can get behind, here are the 9 best kitchen trends for 2027 worth having on your radar.
9 Kitchen Trends To Know For 2027
The kitchen trends of 2027 are all about making this space the true heart of the home.
Kitchen trends are always an interesting place to find new and exciting ideas. And while we never suggest basing your entire design on trending features, there are always a few elements that help you to create a space that blends functionality with a more personalized design – something that's grown in importance.
'I think there’s a little bit of fatigue around kitchens that feel too perfect or too similar to one another. For years, we’ve seen beautifully executed kitchens that checked many of the same boxes: white cabinetry, marble-look surfaces, matching hardware, large islands, and very clean lines,' says interior designer Jennifer Davis.
'Now people are craving personality. Clients want their homes to tell a story and to feel like their home rather than something they’ve seen repeatedly online.' And these 9 stylish trends are exactly the inspiration you've been looking for.
1. Kitchens That Feel More Like Rooms
Instead of blending a kitchen and dining room, utilizing an empty space for more comfortable seating, like the living room set-up here, instantly creates a more room-like feel.
There's been a clear shift from kitchens being purely functional rooms to something more lived-in and used. They're becoming livable rooms, complete with cozy seating, personalized decor, and an emphasis on comfort, even in the main cooking space. And it's a trend that's really coming to fruition in 2027.
'I think we'll continue to see kitchens move away from feeling overly functional or "kitchen-y" and toward feeling like another beautifully designed room in the home,' says Kailee Blalock, Co-Founder of House of Hive Design Co. It's not a trend that shows up singularly, but in several small details that create a more room-like feel.
'That means more furniture-like cabinetry, freestanding pieces, artwork, rugs, lamps, upholstered seating, and pieces you might traditionally expect to see in a living or dining room. The kitchen still needs to function incredibly well, but it doesn't need to look purely utilitarian.'
2. Architectural Curves That Soften Designs
Curves in this kitchen instantly create a softer look, yet they're subtle enough not to overwhelm the room. If you aren't renovating, look to pieces like McGee & Co.'s Molly Stool and Target's Arched Kitchen Cabinet with Glazed Doors.
There's no denying that kitchens are getting softer in design, and curves have become an important detail to bring a more organic finish. 'Curved profiles bring softness and movement to a kitchen, balancing the hard surfaces and straight lines typically found in the space. Whether introduced through a rounded island, softened countertop edge, curved cabinetry or an arched range hood, they can make a kitchen feel more inviting and visually fluid,' says Jackie Armour of JMA Interior Design.
This trend's success and longevity lie in an intentional approach. A kitchen filled with curves begins to feel contrived, but occasional rounded elements feel soft and elevated. 'I'm more interested in subtle applications: rounded cabinet corners, sculptural range hoods, and softer transitions between materials,' Kailee explains. 'Kitchens naturally have so many hard lines, so introducing a few curved elements can make the entire space feel softer without becoming overly trendy.'
3. Blending Polished Nickel and Aged Brass Hardware
The mixed metal trend doesn't just apply to cabinet hardware – in this kitchen, they show up through lighting and appliances, too. Be intentional about where you add each finish, but don't try to make it look too perfect.
We've lived in an era of warm metals, and while these classic finishes aren't going anywhere, 2027 kitchen trends are reintroducing the joy of mixed metals. Warm metals are getting darker, and cool ones will feature more considered textures, rather than the flat, shiny designs of the past.
'Warmer, darker metals like oil-rubbed bronze, aged brass, antiqued finishes, and darker metals bring so much depth to a kitchen. I think we’ll continue moving away from relying on one perfectly matched metal throughout a space. Mixing metals thoughtfully makes a kitchen feel more layered and collected,' says Jennifer. We've seen mixed metals in kitchen trends before, but the approach now has certainly changed. Now, mixing should feel collected, rather than perfectly coordinated.
'The idea that every metal finish in a kitchen needs to match is going away,' Kailee agrees. 'I love polished nickel plumbing paired with aged brass hardware, or stainless appliances alongside something warmer and more patinated. When every finish matches perfectly, a room can start to feel like everything was selected at the same time. Mixing metals thoughtfully adds another layer and can make a kitchen feel like it evolved.'
4. Contrasting Pantry Colors That Become the Kitchen's Confidence Zone
In this charming family kitchen, the walk-in pantry door is painted a bold shade of green, a color that contrasts beautifully with the terracotta island for a truly layered and confident look.
It's time to stop hiding your pantry – whether it's a dedicated cabinet or a walk-in design, 2027 is the year these spaces become a playful design moment. Your pantry is key to the functionality of your kitchen, but it can be just as impactful as a visual element if you get the design right.
This could be contrasting doors in unexpected colors, a moody color-drenched interior, or a cabinet lined with a beautiful pattern, whether it's wallpaper or tiles. Treat it as an opportunity to experiment with new hues and bring a new layer of interest to your kitchen. It doesn't have to be a bold contrast, either. In a neutral kitchen, a dark wood cabinet or a darker neutral can add extra warmth to the palette.
5. Plate Racks and Other 'Old-World' Details
Plate racks can be built into your cabinetry or added as a one-of-a-kind piece later. If you want to add one to an existing kitchen, try Lulu and Georgia's Faria Plate Rack or Anthropologie's Roma Wood Plate Rack.
The desire for a more lived-in, collected kitchen has led to the revival of traditional kitchen features – the sort of pieces that make a space feel more open and custom. They're most prevalent in open storage options, with plate racks at the helm – much like the eclectic neutral kitchen by Basic Projects we recently toured, where a custom cabinet topped with a classic plate rack instantly became the focal point.
'We’re seeing plate racks everywhere again, and I love them,' says Maggie Vollrath of Provision Studios. 'They’re such a simple way to bring charm and character into cabinetry while still being completely functional. There’s also something really lovely about having the dishes and pieces you use every day become part of the room rather than hiding everything away.'
For Jennifer, who describes them as 'old-world details,' this particular kitchen trend goes beyond a singular feature. 'Plate racks, countertop cabinets, open shelving used intentionally, skirted sinks, reeded or fluted glass, traditional hardware, and beautifully detailed range hoods are all ways we’re bringing charm and history back into kitchens,' she explains. 'I love the idea of a kitchen feeling as though it has evolved with the house rather than being installed all at once.'
6. A Shift Away From Symmetry
Moving away from symmetry doesn't have to mean an unbalanced scheme. In this kitchen, an arched coffee station sits at one end of the room, becoming a unique nook within the design. It's not mirrored on the other side, yet doesn't feel out of place.
The first thing most people think about when designing a kitchen is symmetry – cabinets sitting at equal intervals on each side of the kitchen, the range perfectly centered, and lighting expertly aligned. But something about these overly perfected proportions feels less appealing in current trends – 2027 is about embracing asymmetry and more individuality.
'Kitchens have been very symmetrical for a long time. I think we’re becoming more comfortable breaking that symmetry when it creates a more interesting room. A beautiful cabinet on one side of a range might be balanced by artwork, shelving, or a window on the other rather than another identical cabinet,' Jennifer explains. It's a practical trend, too – you're no longer restricted by perfectly matching features, so you can introduce the storage and elements you actually need.
7. Natural Materials That Thrive on Imperfections
Concrete and marble might not be an obvious pairing, but this kitchen proves how chic it can be. Marble countertops with a bold vein running through them are contrasted by the more rustic texture of the concrete island and range hood.
There are so many beautiful natural materials you can bring into your kitchen, from wooden cabinetry to stone countertops. But the idea that they have to be perfect is finally waning, making room for the natural imperfections to be seen and enjoyed. They're the sort of details that bring texture, interest, and unique style to your design.
'I think we'll see an even greater appreciation for materials that have natural variation, texture, and patina. Stone with movement, handmade tile, unlacquered metals, aged wood, and plaster all bring imperfections that make a kitchen feel more personal. We're moving away from the idea that everything needs to look perfectly uniform and becoming more comfortable with materials that age, change, and develop character over time,' explains Kailee.
Expect the variety of natural materials used in kitchen designs to broaden, too. 'We’ll always love natural stone, but I think designers and homeowners are beginning to look beyond the expected,' Jennifer adds. 'Concrete, plaster, handmade tile, unlacquered and oil-rubbed metals, natural woods, and materials with visible texture and variation will become increasingly important. There’s an appreciation for materials that develop character over time rather than looking perfect forever.'
8. A More Decorative Take On Backsplash Designs
The delf-inspired backsplash tiles in this kitchen proves a decorative design doesn't have to become a bold feature. Here, they add a subtle point of interest while still feeling cohesive with the country kitchen aesthetic.
In recent years, slightly more pared-back kitchen backsplash designs have been favored, from the ever-stylish countersplash to seamless one-tone tiles that create a classic base for other features to stand out. But in 2027, more decorative, design-focused backsplashes are in the spotlight, whether it's thoughtful patterns or elegant sidesplash details.
'We’re moving away from the standard backsplash application and thinking much more intentionally about its shape and detailing. With stone, rather than a simple four-inch backsplash, we’re designing taller backsplashes with shaped edges, curves, and more decorative profiles that feel almost architectural,' Maggie explains.
Texture will be just as spotlighted, tapping into the emerging trends for organic natural materials and unique designs. 'We’re also seeing more interest in hand-painted tile, murals, and patterns,' she continues. 'It’s becoming an opportunity to add a detail that feels specific to the home rather than simply finishing the space between the countertop and cabinetry.'
9. Unexpected Countertop Materials
A beautifully aged metal countertop along the perimeter cabinets adds an unexpected detail to this kitchen, instantly elevating the white cabinetry.
Expect kitchen countertops to become statements in their own right. In the past, subtler materials have been favored for a timeless look, but people are starting to realise a bolder choice is key to a more personalized design. It's not just about creating a focal point either – it also adds movement and texture to a hardworking surface.
'I think stone is going to become less of a background material and more of a defining element in the room. We're seeing more interest in slabs with dramatic veining, unusual coloration, fossils, and natural movement rather than trying to find the most uniform piece possible,' says Kailee.
But this trend doesn't end with natural stone. Expect to see more unexpected materials at the heart of kitchens, too. 'Natural stone countertops will never go out of style, but 2027 will usher in a season of variety when it comes to this surface that we've never seen before. Think unique tile, unexpected metals like copper or zinc, and boldly colored lavastone,' adds interior designer Bethany Adams.
Shop the Trends
With just a couple of these kitchen trends, you can transform your cooking space into the heart of your home, complete with unique details, textured details, and an emphasis on treating this room as more than just a practical zone.
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