Fresh from their experience at North America’s Premier Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), the board members of the Nebraska/Kansas National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) share the latest in trends and products for 2026.
KBIS is North America’s largest and most prestigious trade show dedicated to all aspects of kitchen and bath design. It was an opportunity to explore groundbreaking products, meet face-to-face with industry leaders, and learn about the latest trends that are shaping the future of kitchen and bath design.
This immersive event connected design professionals with the latest products, trends, and technologies from over 650 exhibiting brands. This event was a gateway to all things cutting-edge in the kitchen and bath industry.
I n n o v a t i v e a n d I m m e r s i v e T r e n d s
Color
The KBIS 2026 color trend showcased warm, nature-inspired palettes with sage, teal, and dusty blue cabinetry layered against rich wood tones and dramatic stone. Earthy neutrals replaced stark whites, while bold accents appeared selectively in tile and décor. The overall color trend embraces depth, texture, and personality-driven spaces.
Style
A sense of dramatic was present. Colors that may have seemed “out there” in years past were part of off-shelf cabinet offerings. Details once reserved for furniture are being incorporated into permanent installations — burled wood, leather, canvas, and shagreen in panels and cabinetry, custom-woodworking trims incorporated into cabinets and shelves, and a prevalence of fluting applied in various scales.
AI Technology
AI capabilities and Smart technology had a prominent appearance. Refrigerators tracking inventory and providing recipes. Others capable of lowering your lights or running your robot vacuum. Ranges that auto-set ventilation to the appropriate hood setting and allow you to view the stage of cooking on your TV. All-in-one washer and dryer units that read the level of soil and auto-set to the appropriate wash cycle after being started.
Texture
This year, texture is not a category; it is its own trend. It has moved from noticeable to heavier in sculpted form. We saw stone-slab texture. Leather and vinyl embossed. Ceramic relief is much larger. Biophilia is still strong with more use of metallics and reflective surfaces, metamorphic shapes and curves, along with natural woods; all also using various textures.
Function
From charging your phone to looking at what is in your oven from the couch is exciting! Products help make our lives easier to reach with cabinets that have shelves that go up and down, keep food inventory in our fridge so we don’t duplicate our ketchup bottles, countertop stain protection with AntiEtch, bidet seat for hygienic cleaning, and many more!
N E / K S N K B A B O A R D ‘ S B E S T I N S H O W P I C K S
Amy Berroya
Chapter President ~ LUXE Appliance Design & Installation
JennAir Induction Cooktop
Created with a built-in downdraft that is aesthetically stunning, while offering true design flexibility. Recirculates air while preserving functional drawer space below.
Amy Holdman
Membership Chair ~ Samsung
Dacor Curved Refrigerator
An artistic approach that reimagined the kitchen through three core principles; visionary, intuitive, and design-led. An immersive moment reimagined the kitchen through artful integration.
Laura Fornelli
Programs Chair ~ Ferguson – RE&F Development
Kohler Dekoda
This simple-looking toilet device adds insights into gut health, hydration, and even blood detection, allowing for proactive steps toward healthier living.
Meg Hilburn
Communications Chair ~ Circa Interior Design, LLC
Toto Zero Dimension® Tub
The world’s first zero-gravity bathtub, in which bathers can experience total weightlessness. Tiny air jets in the ergonomic seat base lift you just above the surface, allowing you to float.
Wendy Mayes
Treasurer ~ Wendy Mayes Design, LLC
Liquid Metal Wall Covering Panels
Pliable enough to bend for curves and available in multiple colors and textures, these panels show a true metallic finish for wall treatment.
