Nature led interior design is at the forefront of 2027 design trends, in every department. Taking design notes from the natural world around us is making us feel good, and it’s remarkably easy to execute in a kitchen.
We’re becoming braving in our kitchens for the year ahead, with bolder colour choices, a return to imperfect textures through tiles and wall coverings, and there’s a comeback of darker wooden tones that are replacing those honey, oak coloured washes that have been popular for a number of years.
I asked the experts in the design world to pinpoint the top colours, trends and finishes in kitchens that will be everywhere in 2027.
Biggest 2027 Kitchen Trends: Nature Led Colours, Layering, Imperfection
1. Layering Materials & Textiles
Whilst ’tile drenching‘ is running in the background as a popular way to use tiles in bathrooms and beyond, the real magic happens when you start layering materials and textiles. Whilst the process can be more time consuming, it creates a more lived in and stylish finish that we’ll be seeing more of in 2027.
Isabel Fernandez, director at Quorn Stone the UK’s leading natural stone and porcelain tile specialist says, “For 2027, we expect homeowners to become more confident with texture, variation and material combinations in the kitchen.
“Rather than every surface matching perfectly, there is a move towards spaces that feel layered and personal, combining tactile stone-effect floors, warm timber tones and carefully chosen decorative details. These subtle contrasts bring depth to a scheme without making it feel overly trend-led.”
In having fun with layering and experimenting, the result is a much more personal and unique kitchen design. Take this into your own kitchen by mood boarding before you get to the design stages. Acquiring samples and laying them out next to each other will give you an idea of how they look and feel together, giving you confidence to go for it!
2. Kitchen Colour Drenching
The concept of colour drenching a room in one singular concept is certainly not a new trend to our interiors, but it is something that up until now has been excluded from kitchen design. Things are changing in 2027, and with more audacious colour trends than before, the kitchen is no longer missing out on this high impact decorating approach.
Cathryn Sanders, Head of Creative at Earthborn says, “Colour drenching is often a style of décor popular in bedrooms and living spaces thanks to the cosy and cocooning feeling it evokes. It can be unusual for homeowners to introduce this look into their kitchens as it’s bold and can feel overpowering – however there are many benefits to colour drenching the heart of the home”.
“As kitchens incorporate so many different textures and materials across a range of surfaces, paint helps to create a more cohesive space. For the most impact, match your wall colour to your cabinet colour for an elegant and considered aesthetic that works across both contemporary and traditional kitchens.”
This highly versatile decorating approach would work just as well in large kitchens that you want to feel more intimate, and in making small kitchens feel cosy.
To avoid an approach like this making a kitchen feel flat, incorporate other materials, colours and textures through decorative accessories, lighting and cabinet handles.
3. Nature Led Colours (Continue To Grow)
Nature led colours and earthy inspired interiors continue to grow in popularity across our interiors, and in kitchens. Grounding shades of green are emerging as one of the defining interior trends of the moment, according to independent tile retailer Porcelain Superstore.
Analysis of Pinterest search data by the family-run tile specialist reveals growing interest in green-led decorating schemes, where searches for ‘green kitchen ideas’ have climbed by 40% (data covering the last 12 months).
Abbas Youssefi, Founder of Porcelain Superstore, says: “Green has been building momentum in interiors for several years, but we are now seeing a clear shift towards earthier, more grounding shades. Homeowners are moving away from brighter, more energetic greens and embracing tones such as olive, moss, sage and forest, which feel calmer, warmer and easier to live with”.
“These shades have a strong connection to nature, so they can make a room feel more settled and restorative. That is particularly appealing in busy homes, where people are increasingly looking for interiors that provide a sense of comfort and escape.”
Green is virtually one of the easiest colours on the eye, and with its intrinsic link to nature, it makes us feel good to be surrounded by it, so it makes for a perfectly timeless look in the hub of the home. Whilst deeper, darker greens are becoming more popular, celery greens with a subtle yellow undertone are also on the radar for 2027.
Pairing colours with a green is surprisingly easy, just look outside into nature to see what colours sit alongside green and you won’t go far wrong.
4. Perfectly, Imperfect Surfaces
As the saying goes, there is beauty in the imperfection, and in 2027, we are actively looking for materials and surfaces that bring that imperfect nature to our designs.
This is a true wabi sabi style design principle, and it is characterised by items and materials that have imperfect colouring and variation. So effective through interior design as in combination they bring that extra visual interest that a perfect surface doesn’t.
“Gentle tonal movement, fossil details and warm rustic detailing bring depth to pared-back kitchens, reflecting a wider desire for materials that feel authentic and individual. Monte Carlo Tumbled Limestone Tiles capture this mood through soft golden tones, natural variation and a tumbled finish that gives the floor a relaxed, lived-in character (pictured below)”, shares Isabel.
We’ve seen this renewed appreciation for imperfect surfaces slowly creeping into our interiors with the rise in tiles such as zellige. These perfectly imperfect tiles each carry a slightly different colour and size variation that makes them so interesting in a finished design.
Whilst there may always be a place for perfect tiles and matte surfaces, you don’t have to do everything perfectly symmetrical or by the book anymore.
5. Richer & Darker Woods Are Making A Comeback
Earthy interior design is having a major moment, and its influence extends far beyond the paint colours on our walls.
We’re going to be embracing much darker tones of wood, such as walnut across our cabinetry. Ultra indulgent and defining in any kitchen space.
Mariette Barsoum, Principal Designer at Divine Design Center says, “We’re definitely moving away from the very pale, Scandinavian-style white oak that has been everywhere for the past few years. Walnut is making a comeback, and I love that we’re seeing more of its natural grain and richness“.
Incorporating such a dark wood doesn’t mean the flow of light has to be impacted, by pairing with warm neutrals you get a beautiful balance of light and dark that counteract each other.
It gives a highly impactful look and is a tone of wood that is ideal for such a high traffic room in a home.
6. Small Format Tiling
According to Isabel, smaller formats are also becoming an important route to personalisation in 2027. A shared tile trend with bathroom design in 2027 is the rise of small format tiles.
Both smaller tiles, and those with intricate, daintier patterns are winning the hearts of homeowners. There’s something delicate, and more personal about them that feels really fun and unique in a kitchen.
“Slim proportions can be stacked vertically, laid horizontally or used in bands, allowing the same tile to create very different effects”.
“The Romy collection translates this flexibility into a warm, earthy palette of Almond, Caramel, Toffee and Sage. At 160 x 30mm, its mini metro format and softly varied surface bring rhythm, tonal movement and a handcrafted feel to kitchen splashbacks without overwhelming the scheme. Used in one colour or as a considered combination, Romy reflects the wider shift towards playful customisation in a more timeless, usable way”.
If you want to nail two trends in one with a good dose of imperfection, choose a zellige tile – both the unique soft gloss and imperfect colour variation will keep eyes engaged, no matter what angle you perceive them in in your kitchen.
7. Kitchen Islands Are Working Harder
The kitchen island is the powerhouse of a large kitchen, and whilst they’re known for combining multiple functions such as a sink, a space to sit or perhaps for cooking, where space is a premium in placing one, they’re working harder than ever with their intricate, smarter designs for busy homes.
Seen as an extension of your kitchen, it’s combining everything that you need, and makes life easier in a kitchen.
More unique and bespoke options for your island will be something that grows in popularity in 2027, as we see personalisation as a key aspect in future kitchen design.
More personal additions on the island include easy to access drawers for storage, see through tableware storage for added visual interest, a place to hang towels and open shelving for storage and decorative items.
8. Mix, Don’t Match
The rulebook is no longer in play when it comes to interiors as we’re edging away from ‘matchy’ wooden tones and instead embracing the use of different wooden tones together in a single setting.
Darwyn Ker, Managing Director of Woodpecker Flooring, says: “As homes shift towards authenticity, real wood flooring is stepping into the spotlight. Its natural variation, texture, warmth and ability to develop character over time gives it something that many manufactured alternatives struggle to replicate.”
A warm oak floor can comfortably sit alongside walnut furniture, painted cabinetry and darker timber detailing. In doing so, you end up with a far richer, characterful and visually interesting space that doesn’t feel monotonous.
Darwyn agrees, “For flooring, this is liberating. The floor doesn’t have to dictate every other wood finish in the room. It can provide a natural foundation around which contrasting pieces are collected.”
9. Subtle Gloss
The era of matte tiles is coming to an end, something that feels very cyclical as we are starting to lean into gloss tiles again. But, rather than full blown gloss, we’re seeing it in more subtle, gentle variations that give just enough to engage the eye without feeling tacky.
The look is not highly polished or uniform; instead, tonal variation and an artisan-style glaze gently reflect the light.
“Glossy tiles can bring warmth and movement to a splashback, particularly when paired with matt cabinetry and natural stone. The contrast makes a neutral kitchen feel much more layered.” Fernandez adds.
Zellige tiles are a fail safe way to get started with this trend, a semi gloss that feels warm, welcoming and really interesting. Having that slight variation of colour also helps to keep this look from feeling one dimensional.
Kitchens for 2027 are all about personalisation, leaning more into nature and having fun with adding warmth and movement with tiles, wood and colours. Which of these kitchen trends would you love to try this year?
