What Cabinetmakers Ordered Most This Year
With door orders shipping from TaylorCraft to cabinetmakers throughout the United States, we get first-hand insight into evolving cabinet and door trends nationwide.
Below is a quick snapshot of the top-requested styles from this past year and design directions gaining momentum for next year.
Did the Popular Shaker get Dethroned?
Shaker continues to be the most in-demand door style, but this year brought a noticeable shift toward slimmer, more streamlined profiles. Narrow frame doors like TaylorCraft’s 4S Slim Shaker with 3/4″ and 1″ frames gained major traction, delivering a clean, modern look without losing the warmth and familiarity homeowners love.
Beaded IEB and cove IEC inside edge details on 2″ and 2.5″ 4S doors also emerged as popular options for adding subtle detail while maintaining a clean, understated look.
Visible Natural Woodgrain Steals the Show
Designers leaned heavily toward organic textures and materials this year.
Wood cabinetry with barely-there, natural-look stains, including walnut, white oak and maple, became go-to selections as homeowners shifted toward less sterile, more inviting spaces.
The beauty of natural woodgrain was highlighted in showpiece kitchen sections, flanked by paint or other materials.
Warm, Calming Color Palettes Dominated
Warm, light neutrals, shades of green from light moss to deep forest, soft blues and a softened slate version of black were popular cabinet colors, as homeowners moved toward calming, more personalized design.
These palettes serve as an excellent complement to natural wood tones.
Emerging Design Trends to Watch in 2026
Soft-Modern Design Influence
Clean lines and minimal detail paired with natural materials like wood continue to define soft-modern design, a style that balances modern aesthetics with warmth and texture.
In cabinetry this translates to softened edges, sometimes with bullnose or eased edges, or radius design elements. Details are intentional and used sparingly, and flat panel doors remain the preference over raised panel designs.
Door styles feature understated, simple frames like TaylorCraft’s 4S 1″ Slim Shaker or 4S 2″ frame doors, and just enough visual interest, often in the inside edge detail, without feeling busy. See more examples of Soft Modern Design here.
Mix and Match Finishes
Two and three-tone cabinetry and contrasting materials like wood, paint, metal and stone continue to gain traction as designers continue to personalize spaces and create standout moments, with the kitchen island as a top custom focal point.
Richer Wood Tones – Updated Traditional Aesthetic
A blend of classic details with modern touches is emerging.
Light and mid-tone natural woods will remain strong, but interest in darker, richer species like walnut and more selectively, red oak, alder and warm-cherry tone stains are increasing, as an updated traditional aesthetic gains momentum. These deeper stain colors are often balanced visually with solid paint colors.
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