A Way Too Early Look at 2027 Kitchen Trends

We haven’t made it through Halloween, but the 2027 kitchen trend predictions have arrived. Apparently, the design world has already turned the calendar.

To be fair, kitchens take time. Between the first conversations about a remodel and the finished space, months go into planning, selecting materials, ordering cabinetry and construction. Some of the kitchens taking shape today won’t welcome their first dinner guests until next year. Designers have good reason to look ahead.

Still, it feels a little early. And a little fun.

We took a look at what publications including Homes & Gardens, VERANDA and Ideal Home are predicting. Several themes felt familiar: they’re ideas our designers have already been recommending and incorporating into Drury projects.

Here are a few that caught our attention. 

White oak cabinetry in a Spring Wheat stain brings warmth and natural grain to this St. Charles kitchen by Alicia Saso — proof that wood doesn’t have to be dark to give a room character.

1. Wood Gets Warmer

Rich wood tones are showing up in the forecasts, with grain and natural variation becoming a bigger part of the appeal.

In her predictions for Homes & Gardens, Shea McGee points to warmer woods, including walnut. Ideal Home sees earthy colors carrying into 2027, too.

Wood offers plenty of room for interpretation. A stained island can bring warmth to painted cabinetry. A wall of wood cabinets can establish the room’s character. Species, grain, finish and lighting all influence the result.

The inspiration was already in the dining room. This treasured Colonial antique gave Samantha Schoell a starting point for the colors and detailing of the adjacent kitchen’s custom cabinetry.

This is the result. In this Winfield kitchen by Samantha Schoell, bespoke cabinetry echoes the homeowners’ Colonial antique, creating a connection between the kitchen and dining room.

2. Kitchens Feel More Furnished

Furniture-inspired cabinetry is another recurring prediction. Think of an island with the proportions and detailing of a table, or a storage cabinet that recalls a freestanding hutch.

Homes & Gardens’ broader roundup also points to artwork, rugs and upholstered seating as ways kitchens are becoming more comfortable places to spend time.

This is especially relevant when a kitchen opens to a family room or dining area. Cabinet details, seating and lighting can help those spaces relate to one another.

Of course, a beautiful island still needs to accommodate meal prep, storage and the people moving around it. The best furniture-inspired details earn their place in a hardworking kitchen.

Stone doesn’t have to shout to stand out. In this Wheaton kitchen by Basia Kozub, Taj Mahal quartzite brings warmth and movement to a full-height backsplash and floating stone shelves.

3. Stone Takes a Starring Role

Expressive stone appears in multiple forecasts, including McGee’s: more movement, more variation and more willingness to let a surface command attention.

A distinctive slab can become the starting point for an entire palette. Cabinet finishes might pick up a warm undertone, while hardware and lighting complement its color.

This is an area where seeing the actual material matters. A small sample can suggest a color family, but a full slab reveals the pattern and scale that will shape the finished room. Placement matters, too: the same stone can look very different across an island or behind a range.

Two kitchens, distinct roles. In this Burr Ridge double-kitchen project by Gladys Schanstra, a separate spice kitchen accommodates additional cooking while the main kitchen welcomes family and guests.

4. More Work Happens Behind the Scenes

VERANDA’s 2027 forecast highlights sculleries, back kitchens and concealed appliances.

The appeal is understandable. A kitchen often serves as a gathering place even when cooking and cleanup are underway. Giving some tasks their own space can make hosting easier.

But a pantry, scullery and secondary kitchen serve different purposes. The right approach begins with what needs to happen there: storing groceries, making coffee, washing dishes or preparing a full meal.

Even without room for a separate workspace, a carefully planned cabinet or appliance station can address a specific daily frustration.

A herringbone tile inlay adds a distinct focal point to the backsplash in this Carol Stream kitchen by Lauren Feurich — a thoughtful touch of pattern that gives the cooking area its own character.

5. Details Have More to Say

Decorative backsplashes, shaped stone edges, mixed metals and subtle curves all appear in the Homes & Gardens roundup. Ideal Home also sees continued interest in patterned tile.

These details offer opportunities to make a kitchen more personal. A backsplash might introduce a favorite color or a pattern that suits the home’s architecture. A rounded island corner can soften a prominent edge. Different metal finishes can connect new selections with existing furnishings.

Editing is part of the process. Giving one or two details room to stand out often makes them more effective.

Worth Considering, Whatever the Year

Much of this early forecast builds on ideas that have been developing for years: comfortable gathering spaces, thoughtful storage and materials chosen for their individual character.

That makes these lists useful conversation starters. Save the image that catches your eye. Notice the cabinet detail, seating arrangement or stone that makes you pause. Then consider what draws you to it and how it might fit the way you live.

There’s no need to wait until January to have that conversation.