The New Era of Kitchen Design: MasterBrand Unveils 2026 Cabinetry Trends and 'Lush Forest' as Finish of the Year

New waves in design spotlight personalization, textured layering and a departure from the classic all-white kitchen

BEACHWOOD, Ohio, Sept. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MasterBrand Cabinets released its annual trends report today, informed by hundreds of kitchen design experts across North America, highlighting the end of the all-white kitchen trend, the rise of personalization over strict style labels and the debut of the 2026 Impactful Finish of the Year, Lush Forest, featured through both Starmark and Fieldstone Cabinetry lines. Homeowners are ushering in a new era of kitchen design defined by individuality, layered aesthetics and rich, organic color stories.

"Kitchens today are less about adhering to a single style and more about curating a space that feels personal, functional and inviting," said Stephanie Pierce, senior director of marketing operations and innovation at MasterBrand Cabinets. "From richer wood stains to bolder paint finishes, homeowners are embracing combinations that tell their own stories that are outside of the longstanding white kitchen."

The experts at MasterBrand Cabinets have identified emerging design trends surrounding preferred finishes, rising kitchen styles and changes in customization and functionality, including:

DESIGN TRANSITION: FROM TREND TO BLEND
Soft modern, transitional and modern traditional remain the top three kitchen styles, but the popularity of transitional is steadily declining, according to MasterBrand Cabinets research. Once a bridge between traditional and modern, transitional design is giving way to clearer, more defined categories with soft modern taking the lead. This marks a pivotal moment in kitchen design, as homeowners increasingly reject the idea of a "middle ground" style in favor of more distinct, character-driven looks.

Coastal design has surged into the top five styles, and farmhouse, which fell 14% this year, is now more often blended with other aesthetics rather than standing alone. Homeowners are pulling from a wide range of influences — rustic, midcentury, raw organic — and mixing them in unexpected ways. This freedom reflects a broader desire for individuality and personal expression, resulting in kitchens that feel layered, authentic and uniquely reflective of their owners.

TURNING THE PAGE ON WHITE
According to MasterBrand Cabinets insights, for the first time in nearly a decade, white finishes have dropped from the top spot in homeowner preferences down to third. Light-toned stains now lead, followed by off-whites and beiges, signaling a return to natural warmth and organic depth. Homeowners are also embracing the full stain spectrum from medium to dark, creating cabinetry palettes that feel richer and more inviting.

Greens, especially muted and sage, have overtaken gray in popularity, echoing the trajectory of blue a decade ago. MasterBrand Cabinets' 2026 Impactful Finish of the Year, Lush Forest, is a nearly black deep green that delivers richness and drama while offering surprising versatility. The hue's multidimensional tone allows it to function as both a statement color and a grounding neutral, adapting effortlessly to a variety of design styles. Paired with natural wood tones, Lush Forest exudes warmth and sophistication, while bolder pairings with vibrant colors add an unexpected edge.

Earthy tones like terracotta are emerging as well, signaling a broader move toward grounded, nature-inspired palettes. Bold color is no longer reserved for islands; perimeter cabinetry is catching up, ushering in a more confident approach to color throughout the kitchen.

SHIFTING TRENDS IN KITCHEN LAYOUTS
Homeowners are rethinking kitchen storage in creative ways, with growing interest in freestanding pantry furniture, multifunctional butler's pantries and flexible storage solutions that can be placed outside the kitchen. These changes are driven by a desire to maximize usable space while keeping the kitchen uncluttered. Walk-in and butler's pantries remain staples in new construction, but remodelers are increasingly sacrificing linen closets or other storage areas to create dedicated pantry spaces. These highly functional layouts reflect a broader shift toward efficiency, waste reduction and thoughtful use of square footage.

The term "modern" has evolved beyond its historical definition to encompass clean, minimal and current aesthetics layered with character and warmth. This evolution has broadened the appeal of modern styles, making them more accessible and adaptable to a wider range of homeowners. Cabinet door preferences reflect this shift: Shaker doors remain the most popular, but flat panels and subtle raised details are on the rise. These choices balance timeless simplicity with quiet individuality, avoiding overly ornate or fleeting trends while allowing room for personal expression.

For more information or to find a dealer near you, visit https://www.masterbrandcabinets.com/dealer-locator

MasterBrand Cabinets: The power of the portfolio
As the largest cabinet manufacturer in North America, MasterBrand Cabinets offers designers a powerful portfolio of more than 15 nationally distributed cabinetry brands, including Aristokraft, Bertch, Decorá, Diamond, DuraSupreme, Homecrest, KitchenCraft, Mantra, Omega and Starmark. With options ranging from standard to custom, designers can rely on MasterBrand to offer high-quality cabinetry solutions for kitchens, baths and areas throughout the home.

Methodological Notes:
The MasterBrand 2026 Kitchen Trend Survey was conducted by MasterBrand Research among a representative base of dealer customers and designers selling MasterBrand across all regions in the U.S. and provinces in Canada, between Oct. 11–25, 2024. The survey was conducted online with an email invitation sent to this audience for a total of 1,141 respondents.

The results are quantitative and representative of the dealer customer and designer community for insights into the latest trends based on users' recent kitchen cabinet project activity.

About MasterBrand
MasterBrand, Inc. (NYSE: MBC) is the largest manufacturer of residential cabinets in North America and offers a comprehensive portfolio of leading residential cabinetry products for the kitchen, bathroom and other parts of the home. MasterBrand products are available in a wide variety of designs, finishes and styles and span the most attractive categories of the cabinets market: stock, semi-custom and premium cabinetry. These products are delivered through an industry-leading distribution network of over 7,700 dealers, major retailers and builders. MasterBrand employs over 13,000 associates across more than 20 manufacturing facilities and offices. Additional information can be found at www.MasterBrand.com.

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SOURCE MasterBrand Cabinets