This week, one of the biggest names in home design released its forecast for the year ahead. And the headline isn’t about granite or gadgets. It’s about how a kitchen can help a family live well.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) published its 2027 Kitchen Trends Report in mid-October, and trade and business outlets have covered it over the past week. On October 20, Forbes wellness design writer Jamie Gold pulled out its top five wellness trends. NKBA’s president and CEO, Bill Darcy, put it this way: “we’ve entered a new era of what the kitchen can do for homeowners.”
You don’t need a remodel to take part. Most of what the designers are seeing comes down to simple ideas any family can borrow this weekend.
What the professionals are saying
The report is based on a survey of designers, manufacturers, remodelers and architects across North America. A few findings stood out:
- Zones, not one big open room. 81% of designers say “intentional zoning” is here to stay. Semi-enclosed kitchens and dedicated prep spaces are on the rise.
- Simpler, less cluttered. 86% say layouts are simplifying. Forbes described the idea as making the space you already have work better before making it bigger.
- Light that lifts the mood. 84% expect multiple layers of lighting. The report says layered lighting “supports ambiance, task performance and visual comfort.”
- Room for real life. 94% expect attached mudrooms to be popular, 64% expect pet feeding stations, and 63% expect eat-in kitchens.
- Healthy, resilient homes. Leak detection (65%), backup power (62%) and ventilation and air filtration (53%) ranked high among wellness and resilience features.
Read between the lines and you’ll hear something hopeful. After years of chasing bigger and flashier, people want kitchens that are calmer, safer and built for the way families actually live.
Five ways to bring the trend home, for little or nothing
1. Make zones with what you have
Pick one counter for breakfast, one for homework or snacks, and one for cooking. A tray, a basket or a small shelf is enough to mark each spot. When everyone knows where things go, mornings get a little less chaotic.
2. Clear one surface a day
The designers’ “intentional simplicity” starts small. Choose one counter tonight and keep only what you use daily. Kids can help. Give each child a “job” drawer or shelf they keep tidy.
3. Layer your light
Overhead lights alone can feel harsh. A plug-in under-cabinet strip, a small lamp on the counter or a candle at dinner can change the whole feel of the room. Soft light in the evening is an easy signal that the day is winding down.
4. Build a “drop zone”
Not everyone can add a mudroom. But a few hooks, a bin for shoes and a spot for backpacks near the door give the same benefit. Add the dog’s bowl and leash to the plan, too.
5. Protect the eat-in table
Nearly two-thirds of designers in the survey expect eat-in kitchens to be popular. Whether yours is a big table or two stools at a counter, guard it. Keep it clear enough to sit down, and make it the place where phones rest and stories get told.
A quick word on safety and health
The wellness side of the report focuses on clean air, clean water and preventing leaks. Simple habits help: run the range hood when you cook, and check under the sink now and then. If anyone in your home has asthma, allergies or other health concerns, talk with your doctor about what changes might help, and use a licensed professional for any electrical, plumbing or gas work.
More than a room
A kitchen trend report might seem like a small thing. But the heart of it is something families have always known. The kitchen is where we feed each other, talk through hard days and pray over meals. It is often where a home is really built.
“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:”
— Proverbs 24:3 (KJV)
Wisdom in a home doesn’t come from new cabinets. It comes from choosing what matters and making room for it. If this season has felt stormy, start with one cleared counter, one warm light and one shared meal. Small, steady steps really can make a home feel like a shelter again. Through every storm, we rise together.
What is one small change that made your kitchen feel more like home? Share it in the comments below.
Sources: Forbes, “New Kitchen Industry Report Reveals Top 5 Wellness Trends” (October 2026); PHCP Pros, “NKBA 2027 Kitchen Trends Report Signals Shifts in Kitchen Design” (October 2026); Pro Builder, “Kitchen Designs Shift From Open Concept to Zoned Layouts” (October 2026)
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