For the first time in recent years, wood has emerged as the top choice for kitchen cabinets, selected by 29% of renovating homeowners, marking a six percentage point jump from 2025. The previously popular sleek, minimalistic white tone in kitchens is being replaced with wood finishes for kitchen cabinets. Medium wood tones are becoming increasingly popular, followed by light wood then dark wood in 2026 kitchen remodeling trends.Â
Wood is also taking over kitchen countertops in renovations. Renovators increasingly are choosing a contrasting countertop material for kitchen islands apart from the main countertop. Wood countertops jumped 12 points over the past year to 39% to claim the top spot for islands; white followed in popularity at 19%.Â
