4 Countertop Trends That Are “So Over” for 2026, According to Designers

If you’re going to invest in a kitchen renovation, you want to make sure it has staying power. Who wants to spend several thousand dollars on countertops that are going to feel dated by next year? Or, worse: Who wants to choose a countertop cut, only to find the design world has already moved on?

To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, we included a question on countertop trends in our fifth annual The State of Home Design survey. Designers from across the country weighed in on trends, classic design choices, and what they’re predicting for 2026.

Here’s exactly what they have on their radar — or, rather, that they don’t want on your radar — for 2026.

Waterfall edges had a huge moment a decade ago. This term refers to the fancy feature where your countertop material cascades down the sides of an island, creating a waterfall effect. When it first arrived on the design scene, it felt unbelievably contemporary. It was bold, sleek, and modern.

But now 36% of designers are ready to send waterfall edges floating down the river. Not only does a waterfall edge quickly drive up your material cost, but it also feels a little too ubiquitous these days. Every brand new modern home had a waterfall edge at one point, and it lost its impact. The look went from boundary-breaking to boring, and why would you want to spend more money on something that’s now making an appearance in every contemporary flip or luxury apartment? 

If you really love this look, you can always go for it. But it’s not a true classic, and skipping it can actually save you money. So maybe consider something else to bring the drama in your cooking space. 

Whether it’s paint, furniture, tile, or countertop stone, people are over gray — even in marble. About 14% of designers in our survey agreed, noting that gray marble countertops are so over in 2026. 

But there’s always some nuance when it comes to building materials. Gray marble countertops come in a range of colors. While a gray Carrara marble countertop will always be timeless, a dark gray marble with significant veining is going to feel very 2020s, according to our designers.

Granite takes on many forms. But according to 12% of designers, many of those forms are so out in 2026. Most granite countertops have a speckled look with movement that appears almost frenetic or like TV static. While it’s a distinct appearance, it’s also one that feels incredibly dated at this moment in time. Unless you’re looking for an early aughts aesthetic, the designers are right — consider skipping the granite in 2026. 

Quartz took the design world by storm, thanks to its ability to mimic natural stone, including marble, all while giving homeowners a break on the maintenance and upkeep. Quartz is tough to stain or damage, but, for many designers, that’s still not enough to justify using it over the real deal. Their argument? Quartz will never quite look natural, and, in some cases, it can even look pixelated. 

That’s why they’re saying to go with a natural stone if you want the look of natural stone. Embrace quartz for its own beauty as a more modern solid surface.