A New Survey Says This Overlooked Kitchen Detail Is About to Be Everywhere

Kitchens are spaces that need to be just as functional as they are beautiful, and a handful of features can make or break that ever-delicate dance. So when homeowners get the opportunity to revamp their kitchens — whether through a full reno or just a makeover — they often reconsider the storage systems and hacks that promise an easier life. But there’s a “new” kitchen trend that revolves around a trusted detail you likely had in your childhood home if you grew up in the ’80s or ’90s — and it takes storage to the next level.

Appliance garages are about to make a huge comeback in trendy kitchen design, overtaking wish lists for new builds in 2027. That information comes straight from a survey and trend forecast published by kitchen cabinet manufacturer MasterBrand.

An appliance garage is exactly what it sounds like — a countertop “garage” to store your appliances in when they’re not in use. They first became popular in the ’80s and were most often built into the corner of a countertop, featuring a tambour door that rolled up to reveal a toaster, blender, mixer, or any other common countertop appliance.

They were a great, reliable way to reduce visual clutter in the kitchen. Just open the garage when you needed to use your toaster, plug it in and toast, and then push it back in and roll down the door. Out of sight, out of mind!

“Appliance garages are also steadily rising in popularity to minimize countertop clutter without sacrificing accessibility,” MasterBrand’s report states. “These garages are also integrating into functional zones and serve homeowners as more than just convenient storage.” And they’re getting a reimagined look: You don’t have to go for a vintage-style roll-top door if you want to work an appliance garage into your layout. Instead, you could choose a slider door (a pocket-style feature) or a fold-up cabinet door instead. These features blend in with existing cabinetry and make an appliance garage so much more seamless and low-profile, compared to ’80s and ’90s kitchens. I’m also willing to bet we’ll start seeing skirted appliance garages, too.

MasterBrand’s survey asserts that functional features to keep clutter at bay are on homeowners’ minds in a big way right now — and appliance garages are a vintage gem that definitely deserve a fresh take. If you’re planning a kitchen re-do, keep appliance garages on the inspiration board to keep countertop clutter to a minimum.