Kitchen Design Trends 2026
Earlier this month, Kitchen Designers Joanna, Diane and Emma travelled to the NEC Birmingham to attend the 40th anniversary edition of KBB Birmingham, the UK’s leading trade event for kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. Bringing together more than 320 exhibitors and thousands of industry professionals, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore the latest innovations shaping kitchen design.
For the John Willox Kitchen Design team, attending events like KBB Birmingham is an important way to stay at the forefront of the industry. Experiencing materials, appliances, and cabinetry firsthand helps our designers understand emerging trends and identify practical ideas to enhance real homes, ensuring John Willox Kitchen Design customers benefit from thoughtful design, carefully selected products, and solutions suited to modern living.
Trends from the Show Floor
Warm, natural tones and wood textures were everywhere. From soft oak cabinetry to deeper walnut-inspired finishes, many displays combined natural materials with contemporary forms, creating kitchens that feel both modern and inviting.
soft neutral colours
Another noticeable trend was the move towards soft neutral colour palettes – muted taupes, clay tones and warm greys replacing the cooler greys that have dominated kitchens in recent years. These colours were often paired with subtle lighting details, such as integrated LED strips within shelving or cabinetry, adding warmth and depth to displays.
Curved edges & Softer Shapes
Featured strongly, particularly on kitchen islands. Rounded corners and fluted or ribbed panels helped soften the overall look while adding texture and visual interest.
Hidden Functionality
Many stands also showcased hidden functionality and multi-purpose spaces, with displays featuring cleverly integrated home bars, concealed workstations and smart storage solutions designed to blend seamlessly into cabinetry ideal for modern open-plan living.
An Exclusive North East of Scotland Rotpunkt supplier
As a proud Rotpunkt Küchen supplier in the North East of Scotland, the brand’s stand particularly caught our designers’ attention. Known for its precision-engineered German cabinetry and innovative storage solutions, the display showcased beautifully detailed furniture, integrated lighting and modular design concepts. The visit offered valuable insight into Rotpunkt’s latest innovations and how they may inspire future kitchen projects for our clients.
Matt Phillips, Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt, explained the importance of the event:
As a returning show partner and exhibitor at kbb Birmingham, Rotpunkt is thrilled to be able to once again inspire the next generation of suppliers, designers and specifiers in such a design rich, market-ready environment. With a natural foresight in the trends of tomorrow, we are excited to display our latest range of climate friendly innovations exclusively designed for the kitchen, utility, laundry and bedroom space to offer the very best in furniture design, use of colour, quality material selection, and overall aesthetics.
As always, the goal is simple: to bring the very best ideas from across the industry into kitchens that work beautifully for our clients.
John Willox Kitchen Design | Creating designs you can live in
Visit our Ellon showroom to explore a range of kitchen, utility, laundry, boot rooms and home bar displays. We’re open:
Monday – Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday: 9am–12.30pm
Appliances are sold exclusively with full kitchen design orders, ensuring everything fits seamlessly and works perfectly within your layout. Our team advises on electrical, gas, plumbing and ducting requirements so every choice feels confident and well-informed.
