Time for a new kitchen? Here are the trends for 2026

Want to know how to update your home with the latest in design? Look no further with advice from Wren’s kitchen expert David Balko.

Statement splash backs and accent tiles

Homeowners are choosing patterned splashbacks, elongated metro tiles, and geometric motifs. This trend has also matured with earthy colours: think warm mushroom, muted greens, and natural stone worktops. “People want a focal point, but not chaos,” says David. “Vertical and herringbone tiles create movement without noise, and full-height splashbacks frame a kitchen beautifully. You can also embrace the two-tone trend by pairing different tile shades. Ombre works well in grey, blue, pink or green, or create a striking striped effect with contrasting colours. For a modern twist, colour-block sections of open shelving for interest, bringing your kitchen up to date while keeping it harmonious.”

Art Deco revival

Kitchens are embracing Art Deco through geometric units and metallic finishes. Angular or curved shapes add interest, with gold or brass for a touch of glamour. In bedrooms, it’s expressed through dressing tables and furniture with luxurious textures, warm wood grains, and elegant curved silhouettes. Cognac oak and rich walnut tones are key choices, offering warmth while feeling fresh and modern, and beautiful alongside updated fluted glass and soft gold accents. “Art Deco is appealing because it blends nostalgia with refinement,” continues David. “Gold hardware is overtaking silver, and natural woods are the canvas for Deco warmth. It’s elegant, but very liveable.”

Colour drenching and mood layering

Colour drenching, walls, ceilings, and units in the same tonal family is growing rapidly, such as greens, mushroom, beige, clay, and soft neutrals. Grey kitchens are decreasing, but neutrals still reign supreme. Tone-on-tone designs create sophisticated continuity, important in open-plan layouts where dining and living merge. Bedrooms are also embracing this trend through layered textures: boucle chairs, stone-coloured wardrobes, linen, plush rugs and warm wood accents. “This works because it creates calm,” says David. “People want consistency. The biggest shift we’re seeing is warm neutrals and greens across multiple rooms, not just the kitchen.”

Sociable and flexible spaces

The desire for multifunctional living is now deeply embedded in design, with kitchens sociable hubs for entertaining. This means islands with integrated seating, worktops that double as workstations, and storage solutions that merge seamlessly into living areas. Slim shaker units are requested in city homes, striking a balance ideal for spaces that must perform multiple roles. “The kitchen is the modern living room,” David explains. “Customers want places where cooking, chatting, working, and relaxing happen in the same flow.” Bedrooms, meanwhile, see flexible reading nooks, modular desks, soft seating, and discreet storage to create rooms of relaxation and productivity.

Spliced compositions and bold contrasts

Designers and homeowners alike are moving toward contrast, also known as ‘spliced’. There are many ways to achieve this, from dual-tonal units, mixed wood-and-paint combinations, and islands with contrasting worktops, while in bedrooms the trend includes linen alongside velvet, patterned rugs with sleek furniture, or warm woods paired with muted decorative pieces. “People no longer want uniformity. They want combinations that tell a story, but with the warmth and subtlety we’re seeing dominate 2026. It’s less about maximalism and more about curated contrast.”

Biophilic design and natural textures

This is one of the most influential long-term trends and now evolves beyond statement greenery to embrace material-led wellbeing. Warm timber and wood-effect units, tactile natural finishes, and earthy colour palettes are now becoming dominant choices in both kitchens and bedrooms. Modern fluted glass also supports the mood, offering depth and gentle light diffusion. “People want homes that help them decompress. Linen, rattan, warm woods and soft greens instantly create that restorative feeling. The trend is really about emotional comfort,” says David.

Softened darkness and luxurious cocooning

Search interest in moody interiors continues to soar, but 2026’s dark palette is softer, warmer, and more textural. Deep greens, navy, charcoal, and black tones paired with matte finishes, gold highlights, and warm lighting create inviting rather than dramatic spaces. In kitchens, dark units are softened by natural stone or warm wood accents, while in bedrooms, think rich dark woods such as a black walnut matt finish. Plush textiles, layered throws, and dimmable lighting also create a retreat perfect for year-round sophistication. “Dark spaces have shifted from bold to soothing,” says David. “What people love now is a cocooning feeling: cosy, intimate, and incredibly luxurious.”