Kitchen trends 2026: Rotpunkt UK's Matt Phillips on skinny Shaker, Scandi style and what's next

Part of a worldwide social media initiative by the Rotpunkt Küchen, Matt Phillips, head of UK operations, sat down with the brand's global marketing department to offer his valuable insights on the state of the UK interiors market.

Large open-plan family spaces featuring skinny Shaker-style kitchens remain the biggest trend right now. As the classic Shaker-style kitchen continues to morph into a contemporary blend of traditional lines and modern functionality, we love the fact that we’re able to bring a new eye to such an established style with 3 new slimline options in 2026.

Offering the traditional characteristics of a classic in-frame door but with a streamline aesthetic linked to modern design schemes, our Smala range adds depth and texture to essentials pieces of furniture, which are linear by design and beautifully slimline.

Gloss is definitely out! Today, the market is favouring extreme matt finishes paired with signature design elements in wood, stone, metal, and glass, to combine the warmth of natural materials with the simplicity of minimalist design.

For us, the UK loves open-plan kitchen schemes with a statement island. Today, the modern kitchen is all about creating a concept that is individual in design, and practical in terms of layout. This has led to the kitchen island becoming our most resourceful tool in the kitchen: not only in beauty but practicality too. Offering 360˚ access to worktops, featured appliances, integrated storage, and the option to add custom seating, the kitchen island has evolved into a social hub of the kitchen living space, whether at mealtimes, when entertaining or working from home. Popular designs include a breakfast bar for casual dining or island worktop extension in the same finish to link the main kitchen to the dining area.

Pocket doors & access/hidden doors are providing a new level of convenience and practical luxury in the kitchen. With unique one-touch door systems available for single and double door applications, full height dimensions up to the celling, and ease of integration into the kitchen layout or furniture units, it’s no surprise these types of door solutions are helping to reconfigure open-plan kitchen spaces with the addition of hidden utility and laundry rooms, concealed breakfast cupboards, and complementary home bar solutions. My feeling is that the rise of the invisible kitchen will continue to emphasise the use of pocket/access doors, as homeowners can reveal or conceal working areas when open to the main living room.

Creating a sense of belonging in the home, where people can share experiences and express their personal style, is swaying the design conversation towards long-lasting, authentically designed products that interact and evolve with the user. Driven by the uptrend to care more about the planet and ourselves, homeowners are seeking out kitchen solutions with artisanal qualities to create nurturing home environments that offer a seamless flow between the cooking, dining, and living areas.

Helping to prioritise the markets’ love of Scandinavian style, we’re finding the most in demand colours are earthy tones mixed with quality wood species in a range of textures and finishes. Whether light or dark, different species of oak and walnut are dominating the modern kitchen space in 2026, paired with near-neutral shades in beige, white, black, and grey, alongside earthy pigments for a natural pop of colour.

Real wood kitchens continue to rise in popularity alongside wood laminate solutions in equal measure. Wood really is one of the most versatile materials in the world and today, is being used to create modern kitchen spaces which offer subtle variations in surface texture and door style. With the latest must-have interiors continuing to adopt a minimalist aesthetic, which is functional, inviting, and inherently close to nature, we’re finding that quality raw materials like wood is the desirable choice for ultra-modern kitchen cabinets.

Today, laminate solutions are making the trend for hypernature interior design a possibility, no longer requiring a solid wood cabinet to create the same level of impact and prestige in today’s luxury kitchen. Offering value for money and variety in style and finish, wood laminates continue to pique the interest of green-thinking consumers that want their kitchens to look good without compromise to the environment.

The Rotpunkt customer is a design-conscious, eco-focused buyer looking for premium, sustainable German kitchen furniture. They prioritise supply-chain transparency, material longevity, and zero-carbon manufacturing, demanding to know where their furniture comes from and how it is produced. Our customers appreciate the power of possibilities that our brand has to offer, as for many households, the kitchen continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing daily life and encouraging self-expression.

I think the trend for highly personalised, lifestyle-centric kitchen design in open plan living environments continues to support the theory that culturally, the kitchen will always be the heart of the British home.