Maple cabinets are making a strong comeback. Moving away from the 1990s yellow-toned finishes, today's designers are embracing natural maple's light, clean aesthetic, making it a popular choice for Scandinavian, transitional, and minimalist kitchens that prioritize warmth and organic beauty.
Honey-colored and maple cabinets are making a comeback because of their warmth and versatility. Simple updates like new hardware, lighting, or paint can modernize dated cabinets without a full renovation. Maple cabinets are durable, easy to clean, and can pair well with neutral or soft-toned walls.
The all-white, cookie-cutter kitchen is officially out. For 2026, the biggest trend is "warm minimalism," focusing on natural wood grains and soft, earthy hues to create a lived-in, cozy feel.
Kitchen cabinet colors that feel dated include stark, clinical all-white, cool minimalist grays, and red-toned woods like cherry or honey-oak. Flat, one-dimensional brown-on-brown color schemes and overly bright primary colors have also fallen out of style.
Are Maple Cabinets Still in Style? Yes—even in 2026, maple cabinets will remain a top choice for most people. This is mainly because they are both aesthetically pleasing and practical.
Avoid high-maintenance stark whites, trend-heavy brights like candy apple red or lime green, and oppressive jet blacks which highlight every fingerprint. Instead of fleeting fads or clinical shades, opt for muted, versatile tones that bring warmth and longevity to your space.
As we look toward 2026, one thing becomes clear: interior design is shifting toward spaces that feel meaningful, rooted, and deeply connected to the way we live. These trends highlight a collective desire for warmth, craftsmanship, and authenticity.
Cool gray is being replaced by "mushroom" neutrals (warm taupes and greys with subtle green or violet undertones), warm earthy khakis, and soft, natural sages.
Joanna Gaines' go-to paint colors for kitchen cabinets emphasize natural, earthy tones. She frequently uses warm, creamy whites on upper cabinets for an airy feel, and balances them with bold, deep greens, blues, or grays on lower cabinets for depth.
The most popular kitchen cabinet colors right now are warm off-whites, nature-inspired greens (like sage and olive), and rich wood tones like White Oak and Walnut. Stark whites and cool grays are fading in favor of these softer, earthier, and cozier alternatives.
White remains the most popular kitchen cabinet color, but design trends are favoring warmer, earthier variations. Top choices include:
Beige, taupe, and "mushroom" neutrals are officially replacing the cool, sterile grays of the last decade. Designers are leaning into warm khakis, sandy beiges, creamy whites, and earthy tones that add a cozy, comforting energy to spaces.
Yes. White shaker cabinets remain one of the most popular cabinet styles in 2026.
Kitchen designs in 2026 embrace warm minimalism, trading cold, all-white aesthetics for inviting, personality-driven spaces. The top trends this year focus on natural materials, seamless smart technology, and highly customized layouts.
Updating maple cabinets can dramatically transform your space, whether you want to brighten up a dated "honey maple" look or completely change the style. Because maple is incredibly dense and has a tight grain, it’s highly versatile. Here are the best ways to update them, ordered by the easiest and most impactful changes.
Maple cabinets are not outdated. While early 2000s natural finishes and cathedral-arched doors feel dated, modern maple cabinetry is highly sought after. Maple is celebrated for its extreme durability and smooth grain. When styled with contemporary stains or clean-lined shaker profiles, it provides a highly desirable, warm, and natural look.
Kitchen cabinet colors that feel dated include stark, clinical all-white, cool minimalist grays, and red-toned woods like cherry or honey-oak. Flat, one-dimensional brown-on-brown color schemes and overly bright primary colors have also fallen out of style.
Sherwin-Williams named Universal Khaki (SW 6150) as its 2026 Color of the Year. It is a warm, earthy, and foundational mid-tone tan designed to bring simplicity, warmth, and a tailored, timeless feel to any space.
Top 10 Timeless Paint Colors for Your Home
To make a home look expensive, rely on sophisticated neutrals, earthy greens, or muted blues rather than stark whites or highly saturated brights. High-end spaces feel cohesive and intentional, using layered tones, natural materials, and high-quality finishes to create a calm, custom feel.
In 2026, the biggest shift in kitchen design is the move away from sterile, stark whites and cold grays in favor of "warm minimalism" and rich, earthy hues. The most popular cabinet colors center around creamy beiges, rich natural wood tones, muted greens, and dark, moody accents.
Interior designers are moving away from stark cool whites, "millennial gray," and heavily saturated accent colors. These rigid hues can make spaces feel cold or clinical. The shift is toward warmer, earthy, and highly nuanced tones that prioritize depth and coziness.
A home typically looks outdated when it features overdone, time-stamped trends from specific past decades, such as honey oak cabinetry, popcorn ceilings, or generic word art. Outdated homes also often suffer from poor lighting, worn-out flooring, and heavy window treatments that block natural light.
Warm wood tones are expected to remain dominant. However, 2026 is bringing a more nuanced approach to warmth. Instead of overly golden or red-leaning finishes, balanced warm neutrals are taking center stage. These tones sit comfortably between light and dark, offering a sense of calm and sophistication.
In 2026, nostalgia dominates with the massive resurgence of '80s and '00s aesthetics. Key returning trends feature relaxed silhouettes like low-rise bootleg denim, dresses layered over trousers, and chunky preppy-style loafers.