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A Hunker report identifies two cabinet directions designers expect to gain ground in 2027: traditional details and fewer upper cabinets. The report points to designer comments and a Google Trends search comparison, but it does not establish that either style will dominate kitchens nationwide.
A Hunker report identifies two kitchen cabinet directions designers expect to see more of in 2027: classic, furniture-inspired details and fewer upper cabinets. The forecast reflects design commentary and search interest, rather than evidence that the styles will take over kitchens across the market.
The traditional direction includes warm wood finishes, Shaker-style doors and inset cabinetry, where doors and drawer fronts sit within the cabinet frame. Designer Christopher Boutlier described the look to Southern Living as kitchens that feel as if they could have been built a hundred years ago, while avoiding fussy or heavily ornate details. The report also points to decorative legs, exposed hinges and iron handles as possible furniture-inspired touches.
Traditional does not necessarily mean an elaborate or dated appearance. The report notes that slim Shaker doors, with a narrower frame, can give a familiar profile a more restrained look. Painted finishes can also update classic shapes. These examples show the range within the trend, but the report does not name a single finish or door style as the standard for 2027.
The second direction is reducing upper wall cabinets in favor of open shelving, hanging rails, display furniture or blank wall space. Designer Brianna Scott told Good Housekeeping that people like to collect kitchen items and that displaying them can make a kitchen feel personal while keeping it open. Designer Emily Henderson is also cited as questioning whether conventional runs of upper cabinets remain in favor.
Warmer Kitchens, More Open Walls
These two directions point toward kitchens that feel less uniform: traditional profiles can add visible craft and familiarity, while fewer upper cabinets can leave more of the wall open for display or a cleaner visual line. For homeowners considering a renovation, the ideas affect both appearance and everyday storage, so the choice is not only about matching a forecast.
Removing upper cabinets may make a room feel less crowded, according to the report, but it also reduces enclosed storage at eye level. Open shelves put dishes and glassware on view, which can support a personalized look while requiring homeowners to decide what they want displayed. A hanging rail or freestanding display cabinet offers another way to keep items accessible, though each option changes how the kitchen is organized.
Traditional cabinetry offers a different set of practical choices. Inset fronts and furniture-like details can shape the room’s character, while a simpler Shaker frame or painted finish can keep the look more restrained. The report presents these as design possibilities; it does not compare their prices, maintenance needs or performance with other cabinet types.
The two directions can also be combined. A kitchen might use warm, classic lower cabinets with open shelves above, or retain upper cabinets while choosing a traditional door profile. The report’s examples leave room for that mix, rather than prescribing a single complete kitchen design.
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From Warm Wood to Open Shelves
The report places the forecast within a broader movement away from stark, clinical kitchens toward warm tones and textures. It says honey oak cabinets have returned to view in 2026 and describes renewed interest in traditional forms as part of that shift. That is the report’s account of current design interest, not a claim that every homeowner has moved away from contemporary cabinetry.
As one indicator, Hunker cites Google Trends data showing searches for “traditional kitchen cabinetry” were up 150% from 2025. The cited figure describes search activity and its comparison period; it does not measure cabinet installations, sales or the share of kitchens using traditional styles. The report does not provide a search volume, geographic breakdown or details about the exact comparison dates.
Upper cabinets have long provided enclosed wall storage, but the report says their continuous runs can make kitchens feel smaller or more closed in. Alternatives described include open shelves for mugs, bowls and glassware; rails for utensils, pots or pans; and display cabinets that can serve as compact pantry storage. Leaving the wall blank is another option for households able to fit kitchenware in lower cabinets.
There is also a design exception within the move away from upper cabinets: units that extend all the way to the ceiling. The report says this can avoid a dusty gap above the cabinets and create a custom appearance, especially in smaller kitchens where closed storage is needed. This is one cited approach, not evidence that ceiling-height cabinets are becoming standard.
““Not fussy or overly ornate, but kitchens that feel as though they could have been built a hundred years ago.””
— Christopher Boutlier, speaking to Southern Living
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How Far the Forecast Reaches
The report does not establish how common either direction will be in 2027, or whether they will be more popular than other cabinet choices. Its evidence combines designer observations with a Google Trends comparison; neither, on its own, measures adoption across completed renovations or new homes.
It is also unclear how homeowners will balance open walls with storage needs, or which alternatives will be most widely used. The report describes shelves, rails, display cabinets and blank walls, but supplies no survey data on consumer plans, cost comparisons or regional differences. Its forecast should be read as a design outlook, not a market-wide count.
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What Designers Will Watch
As 2027 approaches, project choices and design coverage will show whether these ideas gain wider visibility. Useful signals would include more published kitchen projects using inset or Shaker-style cabinetry, and examples that replace conventional upper runs with shelves, rails or furniture-style storage.
For now, the report offers homeowners a set of options to weigh against their own storage needs and preferred look. Whether the forecast proves broad or remains limited to particular projects is still unknown; the cited search data and designer comments do not settle that question.
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Key Questions
What two cabinet trends does the report expect in 2027?
It points to traditional cabinetry details and fewer upper cabinets, with alternatives such as open shelving or hanging rails.
What counts as traditional cabinetry in the report?
Examples include warm wood, Shaker-style doors, inset fronts and furniture-inspired details such as decorative legs or exposed hinges.
Does the report say upper cabinets are disappearing?
No. It describes a move toward fewer upper cabinets, while also noting that ceiling-height cabinets remain an option when closed storage is needed.
What does the 150% search figure measure?
The report says Google Trends searches for “traditional kitchen cabinetry” were up 150% from 2025. That measures search interest, not cabinet sales or installations.
Are these trends certain to dominate kitchens in 2027?
The report presents a designer forecast. It does not provide market-wide adoption data proving either direction will dominate.
Source: rss
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