Designers Say These 3 Kitchen Trends Are Out — Here Are 3 Materials They’re Choosing Instead
A kitchen renovation is one of the most costly projects to tackle in your home, so project managing is crucial — and that includes being obsessive about the finishes that’ll make your kitchen feel like home. But with a new year of aesthetics to look forward to in 2026, you’ll want to avoid materials that’ll age quickly.
I reached out to a handful of design pros to uncover their hot takes on which flashy kitchen trends are rapidly fading. Below, I’m highlighting their best advice on which countertops, backsplashes, and hardware finishes to avoid — plus, a few options that they believe are here to stay.
3 Materials That Designers Are Done With in 2026
From controversial countertop materials to hardware finishes, these are the kitchen finishes designers hope to see a whole lot less of in 2026.
White Quartz
In 2026, designers are hearing that clients want their homes to feel tactile, soulful, and visually layered.
“The glossy, high-contrast quartz that dominated the last decade is falling out of favor, both in real homes and on reality TV. On shows like ‘Selling Sunset’ or ‘Million Dollar Listing,’ you rarely see those stark slabs anymore because they read flat under natural light, and make kitchens feel more like showrooms than lived-in spaces,” says Umair Kabani, a real estate developer.
Shimona Bhansali, founder and principal designer at DesignHex, agrees that kitchens need to be more practical and inviting: “Cool whites, flat grays, glossy laminates, and cookie-cutter industrial finishes no longer serve the emotional or functional needs of a home.”
Brown Granite
According to experts, brown granite (popular in the 1990s and early 2000s) instantly makes a kitchen feel old. Libby Fehsenfeld, a professional stager at Tralala Interiors, adds: “While nature-inspired neutrals and jewel tones will be popular in kitchens in 2026, I would avoid any of the speckled granite in the brown family that will date the kitchen quickly.”
Polished Brass
After years of widespread use, many designers feel that bright polished brass has been overused in kitchens. Interior designer Yena Jung of New York City’s By Yena Designs explains: “I think we’re going to see a lot less brass in kitchens. For years, brass was used everywhere, including cabinetry pulls, lighting, faucets, even door hardware, and it’s starting to feel oversaturated.”
3 Kitchen Finishes You Won’t Regret
If you have any of the above in your kitchen already and you love it, we won’t yuck your yum! But if you’re planning a kitchen renovation in 2026, try one (or all!) of these next three materials instead for a fresh and timely look.
Honed Tavertine
Instead of highly polished finishes, designers are championing countertops with non-reflective finishes for a lived-in look — namely, travertine.
“Choose textured, soft-movement stone with warm undertones, honed travertine, or leathered limestone,” adds Umair Kabani, a Los Angeles-based real estate expert. “Honed and leathered finishes diffuse light in a way that adds depth and character. The warmth of travertine makes a kitchen feel like a space where stories happen, not just where appliances live!”
Glamorous Quartzite
For homeowners who’d still like to use a shiny stone that’s durable and long-lasting, quartzite is the new go-to.
“Now it’s about natural materials, warm tones, and ease of use; or what I like to call ‘warm minimalism.’ Calm, curated, but never cold, quartzite offers the perfect mix of high-performing real stone with a bit of glamour,” adds Jessica Shaw, interior design director at The Turett Collaborative.
Softly Aged Metals
Lastly, instead of that bright unlacquered brass, designers suggest choosing more worn-in metal finishes that feel more elegant and sophisticated.
“I’m leaning into more nuanced, softly aged metals like burnished antique and champagne nickel,” concludes Jung. “These finishes blend my love of old-world warmth with the cleaner lines of modern hardware, creating a look that feels both timeless and fresh.”