By the MJC design team, Orlando. Updated November 2026.
Short answer: Kitchen cabinet trends for 2027 favor closed storage that hides appliances, natural wood such as white oak, islands in a different color and green paint. In the NKBA 2027 Kitchen Trends Report, 85% of surveyed professionals said cabinets are being designed to conceal appliances, and Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore both chose greens for 2027.
What does the NKBA 2027 report say about cabinets?
The National Kitchen and Bath Association surveys designers, manufacturers, remodelers and architects every year. Its 2027 Kitchen Trends Report, summarized by PHCP Pros on October 15, 2026, points cabinets in a clear direction: fewer things on display, more things behind doors.
- Hidden appliances. 85% of respondents said cabinetry is being designed to conceal appliances and functional elements.
- Less open shelving. 64% expect open shelving to decline in favor of enclosed storage.
- Natural wood and lighter tones. Unfinished natural-material cabinets (34%), light tones (32%) and medium tones (32%) lead the finish choices. White oak is the top wood, named by 49%.
- An island that stands apart. 54% expect islands in a color distinct from the rest of the cabinetry.
- Cabinets pay back. Cabinet upgrades were the kitchen investment respondents named most often for return, at 54%, ahead of layout reconfiguration at 49%.
Why are kitchens moving from open plans to zones?
Many newer Central Florida homes were built with the kitchen wide open to the family room. The 2027 report points the other way. 81% of designers said intentional zoning is here to stay, and respondents named back kitchens or dedicated prep spaces (47%), semi-enclosed layouts (46%) and partially concealed kitchens (41%) as up-and-coming.
Cabinets do most of that work. A wall of tall cabinets can hide a coffee station, small appliances and a pantry behind doors. A taller back on the island can screen the sink from the living room. A short run of cabinets with pocket doors can turn the back of the kitchen into a prep area guests never see. If your kitchen opens to the family room, read our guide to kitchen layout ideas for Florida homes before you decide what to close off.
Which cabinet colors are in for 2027?
Neutrals still lead. In the NKBA report, 96% of respondents named neutrals, followed by greens at 83% and blues at 75%, both slightly lower than the year before.
The paint companies are betting on green. Sherwin-Williams named Celery SW 6421 its 2027 Color of the Year and describes it as a soft, muted green with subtle yellow undertones. Benjamin Moore picked Webster Green HC-130 from its Historical Color Collection, and its October 14, 2026 announcement calls it “an expressive selection for kitchen cabinetry.”
Green works well when it has a job. The lower-risk way to use it is on the island, a run of lower cabinets or a pantry wall, with the perimeter in a neutral. That also matches the 54% of professionals who expect islands to stand apart in color. See how to balance two colors in our guide to two-tone kitchen cabinets.
How does Florida light change a 2027 color?
Central Florida kitchens get strong daylight, and many open to a lanai or large sliding doors. A muted green can read gray in the morning and yellow in the late afternoon. Before you commit, look at a real painted cabinet door, not a paint chip, in your own kitchen at two times of day and next to your countertop and floor.
Is white oak a good choice in a humid climate?
White oak is the wood professionals named most for 2027, and it can work well in Orlando. Wood moves as humidity changes, so the finish matters as much as the species. A sealed finish on every face of the door, including the back and the edges, slows the exchange of moisture. Keeping the air conditioning running, even when the house is empty, protects any wood cabinet. Our guide to cabinet materials for Florida humidity compares wood, plywood and MDF in more detail.
Which lighting goes with the new cabinets?
Lighting is moving into the cabinets themselves. In the 2027 report, under-cabinet lighting led the lighting list at 87% of respondents, followed by interior-cabinet lighting at 76%, and 84% expect multiple layers of light in the kitchen. Plan the wiring together with the cabinet design, because the cabinet maker needs to know where drivers, switches and light channels go before the boxes are built.
Which 2027 trends are worth it, and which will date fast?
| Trend | Why people want it | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Concealed appliances and appliance garages | Clear counters and a calmer room | Outlets inside the cabinet, heat and ventilation for appliances, doors that stay out of the way when open |
| Green cabinets | The 2027 colors of the year | Try it on the island or lower cabinets first and keep a neutral perimeter |
| White oak and natural wood | Warmth and texture | A sealed finish on all faces and steady indoor humidity |
| Closed storage instead of open shelves | Less dust and less visual clutter | Glass doors on one or two cabinets if you still want display |
| Beverage zone | Named by 90% of respondents in the NKBA report | Plumbing and electrical work if it includes a sink or a refrigerator |
| Back kitchen or prep zone | Mess stays out of sight when guests are over | Floor space and a second work surface |
Trends built on layout, storage and light tend to last longer than trends built on a single color. A painted finish can be redone later. A layout is much harder to change once the cabinets are installed.
How does MJC apply trends to a custom kitchen?
MJC builds every cabinet to measure in our shop at 5014 Forsyth Commerce Rd in Orlando, so a concealed coffee station, a green island or a white oak pantry wall is sized to your kitchen instead of picked from a catalog. The design visit and the 3D design have no cost. Our designer brings door, finish and granite samples to your home, and the 3D design lets you compare a colored island with a neutral perimeter before anything is built. Complete custom kitchens start at $15,000. Read what happens at a free 3D design visit.
Frequently asked questions
What kitchen cabinet colors are popular for 2027?
Neutrals remain the most common choice, followed by greens and blues, according to the NKBA 2027 Kitchen Trends Report. The paint brands lean green for 2027: Sherwin-Williams chose Celery SW 6421 and Benjamin Moore chose Webster Green HC-130, so expect more green islands and lower cabinets.
Is open shelving going out of style in 2027?
Many professionals think so. In the NKBA 2027 report, 64% expected open shelving to decline in favor of enclosed storage. One or two cabinets with glass doors keep some display without the dust.
Are white kitchen cabinets still in style?
Yes. White and other neutrals are still the most common cabinet colors. What is changing is the mix around them, such as a wood or colored island next to a neutral perimeter.
Should the kitchen island be a different color than the cabinets?
It is a common choice for 2027. More than half of the professionals in the NKBA survey expect islands in a distinct color. It is also a lower-risk way to try a trend color, because the island is one piece rather than the whole room.
Plan your project with MJC
Get a free 3D design and see door, finish and granite samples at your home. Cabinets are built to measure in our Orlando shop at 5014 Forsyth Commerce Rd. Complete custom kitchens start at $15,000.