The Kitchen Trend Coming In 2026 That Improves Your Daily Lifestyle

Year after year, kitchen design trends shift based on what styles are becoming outdated. In 2026, one design trend that has been gaining popularity around the home for years is helping to improve your daily lifestyle, and it's finally coming to the kitchen. Incorporating wellness into your space is more than just creating healthy habits; it can be a form of design, too. Expert and principal designer at Collected Interiors, Ashley Macuga, mentioned in an interview with The Kitchn that function and comfort are at the forefront of 2026 kitchen design trends. She stated, "The return on investment goes far beyond resale value — it's about creating a space that supports family connection and everyday wellness."

When it comes to redesigning any part of your home in 2026, the goal is to make the space comfortable, functional, and sustainable. Designing a wellness kitchen is a fantastic way to address all of these considerations while simultaneously providing noticeable benefits to your routine and your health. Adding kitchen features that increase the options for cooking healthy foods and improving the flow of your kitchen layout are just a few of the options that are trending, according to designers. Not to mention, these changes can easily help you create a cozy kitchen that is as relaxing as your living room.

In 2026, homeowners are designing kitchens with health in mind, hence the rise in popularity of a wellness kitchen. This can include anything from features on appliances to growing fresh food in the kitchen, or even the layout of the space. Overall, the trend is generally focused on removing obstacles and items that promote unhealthy cooking habits while including features that have intentional benefits. While that leaves the visual elements relatively customizable, wellness kitchens generally include some key elements. For example, you will want access to and storage solutions for fresh ingredients, increased efficiency for food prep, variable cooking features on appliances that retain nutrients in foods, and seating that promotes social activity.

The movement continues to gain popularity because it's also eco-friendly, meaning that using fresh ingredients brings less packaging into the home. In addition, by including multiple workspaces that promote flow in the room and pairing them with options for seating that enhance social interaction, you can improve the comfort and hosting potential of the space. Dressing up your eat-in kitchen space can also make it feel both stylish and cozy.

One of the great things about a wellness kitchen is that you can still personalize almost everything to match your own style or other kitchen style trends in 2026. That being said, considering fresh foods, healthy cooking functions, and a layout with social flow will help you define your wellness kitchen. Start by deciding how you plan to incorporate fresh foods into your kitchen. In 2026, there are two options that are on trend. Hydroponic gardening is popular because it allows homeowners to have fresh food on hand right in the kitchen, including essential plants you should style on your kitchen countertops, like basil, mint, and rosemary. However, you don't have to have a green thumb to bring wellness into the kitchen. Removing traditional dry pantries and installing humidity-controlled storage options improves the storage conditions for living food, making it last longer and retain nutrition. This also opens up options for sourcing local produce or purchasing wholesale.

More fresh foods mean fewer packaged foods, so plan prep spaces and cleaning solutions that reflect the types of foods you usually cook. Refrigerator drawers in the island are a great way to improve efficiency and freshness. Bring that intent over to your appliances, too. Depending on what you are cooking, there are specific cooking methods that preserve the nutrients and enhance flavor. Appliances that have a steam or air fry function are ideal for replacing microwaves. 

Finally, create a space that caters to the type of social cooking that works in your home. Incorporate multiple seating options and prep areas that can accommodate several cooks or guests without compromising the flow of conversation. Placing chairs across from prep areas can make conversation feel more personal.