A new report on kitchen trends found that more zoned layouts and less wide-open spaces are gaining in popularity.
Watch any home improvement or buying show on TV, and it seems consumers always want open floor plans, especially when it comes to their kitchens. That era may be ending soon.
The just released 2027 Kitchen Trends Report, surveying designers, manufacturers, remodelers and architects, found that consumers are turning more towards dedicated areas for their kitchens. They are also placing a higher priority on wellness and climate resilience than they had previously.
The survey found that design features like partial walls and operable partitions are replacing full open floor plans, “with partially concealed kitchens and semi-enclosed layouts cited as up-and-coming.” This marks a reversal from the 2026 report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association that found that open floor plans were still gaining in popularity.
And even though fewer survey respondents than last year — 52 percent versus 76 percent — believe kitchens will continue to grow in size, the report still confirms larger rooms in the future.
Other findings from the survey included: the return of the back kitchen prep space; layout reconfiguration gaining as a factor in kitchen remodeling, second only to new cabinetry; and mudrooms and laundry spaces gaining in popularity and increasingly integrated into the broader kitchen layout.
The new study also found that neutral colors remain the top choice in remodeling, at 96 percent, followed by greens and blues. Warmer and more “expressive” colors were also seen as more popular.
And in good news for the use of quality wood, the survey found unpainted cabinets, especially in light and medium tones, to be the leading choice for remodeling projects. White oak is the choice for 49 percent of designers.
