The Polished Countertop Trend You'll Be Seeing Less Of In 2026

Choosing a countertop that gives your kitchen the right vibe might seem straightforward, but this small design choice can have a big impact on the room's overall appearance. Since they take up so much surface area, countertops tend to catch the eye right away. They need to be aesthetically appealing and functional — after all, this surface is where you'll be doing the bulk of your food preparation. One finish that is on it's way out of trend for 2026 is high gloss.

High-gloss finishes are the result of polishing a surface until it is completely smooth and has a highly reflective shine to it. It's typically done on stone countertops, like quartz – 2025's best kitchen countertop material – granite, marble, or porcelain, but it can also be applied to some engineered and laminate surfaces. The shiny, ultra-modern look of high-gloss is hardly approachable, particularly for families and homeowners who need practical use of their kitchens on a daily basis.

Though high-gloss kitchen counters were once in, Meg Spellman told The Spruce, "Polished, mirror-like surfaces may look sleek in theory, but in active kitchens, they showcase fingerprints, smudges, and scratches easily." A high-maintenance finish like this requires cleaning every time its used to stay pristine. Which, in a busy kitchen, could be several times a day.

In addition to being high-maintenance, the reflective surface of a high-gloss finish on kitchen countertops causes an impressive glare. Since kitchens need a lot of light, there tends to be bright overhead lighting and as much natural light as possible, creating many opportunities to be blinded by the glare of each light source off the countertops.

For a more practical approach, consider matte or honed finishes for the biggest countertop trends in 2026. These still have a smooth surface, but they lack the shine of high-gloss, meaning you're less likely to notice inevitable smudges or see every light reflected on its surface.