Kitchen Design Aesthetics and Trends: MasterBrand, Inc. Unveils 2027 Cabinetry Trends and Finish of the Year
MasterBrand’s 2027 trends report uses input from over 2,000 designers to spotlight warmer wood finishes, functional layouts and bolder kitchen colors.
Rhea-AI Summary
MasterBrand (MBC) released its annual kitchen trends report highlighting 2027 cabinetry directions and announcing Kanga as its 2027 Impactful Finish of the Year.
Based on survey input from more than 2,000 North American kitchen designers, the report points to a shift toward warmer, nature-inspired materials, with light and medium wood stains and creamy off-whites leading preferences for the first time in 15 years. Designers report increased focus on multifunctional layouts, with 57% using a hybrid of lifestyle, activity and work zones, and strong demand for functional features such as appliance garages and waste/recycling units. The survey also found 88% of homeowners are eager to experiment with color, with green emerging as the dominant accent alongside organic textures and natural materials.
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Key Figures
- Survey participants
- More than 2,000 designers
- 2027 cabinetry trends report
- Hybrid kitchen design adoption
- 57%
- Designers using lifestyle, activity-based, and work zones
- Color experimentation
- 88%
- Homeowners eager to experiment with color
- Higher-quality material preference
- 1 in 3 homeowners
- Homeowners wishing they had selected higher-quality renovation materials
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
KEY POINTS:
- MasterBrand, Inc. surveyed more than 2,000 kitchen designers to identify emerging trends and favored materials shaping kitchens in 2027.
- Reemerging wood finishes, including light- and medium-toned stains, reflect a shift toward warmer, more natural kitchen designs.
- MasterBrand Cabinets' 2027 Impactful Finish of the Year is Kanga, a warm mid-tone stain that showcases the beauty of wood grain.
"Modern kitchens are multifunctional spaces tailored to support the way homeowners gather and work in their homes," said Stephanie Pierce, senior director of marketing operations and innovation at MasterBrand, Inc. "Homeowners are embracing functional features such as appliance garages, textured wood species and bringing nature indoors through color to create spaces that reflect how they live and feel."
MasterBrand surveyed more than 2,000 designers to identify emerging trends and favored materials shaping kitchens in 2027, including:
THE RISE OF WOOD FINISHES
Wood finishes are reemerging, reflecting a shift toward warmer, more natural kitchen designs. According to MasterBrand survey insights, for the first time in 15 years, medium stains are breaking into the top spot alongside light wood stains and creamy off-whites. This shift creates an opportunity for designers to educate homeowners on wood species, wood texture and stains, as using wood is a great way to bring warmth into a space.
MasterBrand Cabinets' 2027 Impactful Finish of the Year, Kanga, a warm mid-tone stain, showcases the beauty of wood grain with a depth and richness that adds visual interest without overwhelming a space. As consumers move away from stark contrasts and embrace balanced, livable design, Kanga offers a refined yet approachable solution that creates warmth, enhances architectural details, and brings lasting character to the kitchen. Designers value Kanga for its exceptional versatility, using it as a foundation for layered, textured interiors that blend modern styling with timeless appeal.
DESIGNING FOR FUNCTIONALITY
Modern kitchens serve many purposes — cooking, dining, working and entertaining — requiring designers to rethink functionality and flow. Fifty-seven percent of designers are using a hybrid approach to kitchen design that blends lifestyle zones, activity-based zones and work zones to create unique layouts based on family needs. Functional features are becoming standard as
homeowners want to both minimize visible clutter and curate aesthetically pleasing spaces. Trending functional features include appliance garages and waste/recycling units.
In addition to functionality, one in three homeowners wish that they had opted for higher-quality materials in their kitchen renovation. A kitchen renovation is a long-term investment, and designers recommend prioritizing key pieces and finishes upfront, as retrofitting or adding features later is more difficult.
APPETITE FOR COLOR & TEXTURE
Personalization, texture and a mix of curated traditional and modern influences define today's kitchens, giving homeowners and designers the options for creative expression. Notably,
For more information or to find a dealer near you, visit https://www.masterbrandcabinets.com/dealer-locator
*The finish name varies by brand. See below for the corresponding name per brand.
- Schrock Cabinets, Diamond Cabinets, Kemper Cabinets, Mid Continent Cabinetry: Kanga
- Decora Cabinets: Cello
- StarMark Cabinetry and Fieldstone Cabinetry: Seed
- Homecrest Cabinetry: Karoo
- Omega Cabinetry: Ashnut (coming Fall 2026)
- UltraCraft Cabinetry: Tavern (coming Spring 2027)
- Kitchen Craft Cabinetry US: Catskill (coming Summer 2027)
Methodological Notes:
The MasterBrand 2026 Kitchen Trend Survey was conducted by MasterBrand research among a representative base of dealer customers and designers selling MasterBrand across all regions in the
The results are quantitative and representative of the dealer customer and designer community, providing insights into the latest trends based on their recent kitchen cabinet project activity. These insights, combined with those from the MasterBrand Dealer Designer Council and ongoing trend analysis by MasterBrand informed the trend report.
About MasterBrand:
MasterBrand, Inc. (NYSE: MBC) is the largest manufacturer of residential cabinets in North America and offers a comprehensive portfolio of leading residential cabinetry products for the kitchen, bathroom and other parts of the home. Delivered through our exceptional distribution network, MasterBrand products are available in a wide variety of designs, finishes and styles and span the most attractive categories of the cabinets market: stock, semi-custom and premium cabinetry. Additional information can be found at www.masterbrand.com.
Press Contact:
MasterBrandPR@clynch.com
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SOURCE MasterBrand, Inc.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
How was MasterBrand’s 2027 kitchen trends report developed?
The report is informed by the MasterBrand 2026 Kitchen Trend Survey and additional internal insights. The survey was conducted online among dealer customers and designers selling MasterBrand across all U.S. regions and Canadian provinces in two waves between July 28 and August 11, 2025 (940 respondents) and October 13-27, 2025 (1,256 respondents). These quantitative results, together with input from the MasterBrand Dealer Designer Council and ongoing trend analysis, were used to shape the trends report.
What is the 2027 Impactful Finish of the Year, Kanga, and how is it characterized?
Kanga is described as a warm mid-tone wood stain that showcases the beauty of wood grain with depth and richness while avoiding visual overwhelm. It is intended to support balanced, livable design by creating warmth, enhancing architectural details and adding lasting character. Designers use Kanga as a versatile base for layered, textured interiors that combine modern styling with timeless appeal.
Do MasterBrand brands use different names for the Kanga finish?
Yes. While MasterBrand highlights Kanga as the 2027 Impactful Finish of the Year, the name varies by brand. Schrock, Diamond, Kemper and Mid Continent use Kanga; Decora uses Cello; StarMark and Fieldstone use Seed; Homecrest uses Karoo; Omega uses Ashnut, planned for Fall 2026; UltraCraft uses Tavern, planned for Spring 2027; and Kitchen Craft US uses Catskill, planned for Summer 2027.
What homeowner preferences did the survey identify regarding color and materials?
The survey found that 88% of homeowners say they are eager to experiment with color in the kitchen. Creamy off-white finishes remain popular, while green has become the dominant accent color. These tones are often paired with organic stone and other natural materials, supporting the broader trend of bringing nature indoors through both textural and visual elements.
How can consumers find a MasterBrand cabinetry dealer?
Consumers can locate a MasterBrand cabinetry dealer by visiting the company’s dealer locator page at https://www.masterbrandcabinets.com/dealer-locator, where nearby dealers can be searched by location.