Why Kitchens Are Losing Upper Cabinets in 2026

Upper cabinets are no longer automatic in kitchen remodels. A new national designer survey gives the shift real momentum: 27% of designers expect fewer upper cabinets in cabinet layouts over the next three years, according to the Good Housekeeping report on the NKBA 2027 Kitchen Trends Report. The goal is not reduced function. It is a brighter, calmer kitchen with storage moved to better locations.

The case for leaving the walls open

Traditional kitchens often place a 12-inch-deep wall cabinet above every base cabinet. That arrangement stores plenty, but it can also block daylight, interrupt sightlines, and make the cooking area feel compressed. Removing some or all of those boxes gives the room more visual height and lets the kitchen connect naturally with the dining and living areas.

The change also turns the wall into a design surface. Interior designer Lily Walters questioned the future of upper cabinets in an Instagram video, pointing to the larger opportunity for memorable tile and backsplash work. Her point is practical: an open wall can contribute to the room instead of merely holding dishes.

The numbers suggest this is more than a minimalist preference. The NKBA report, released in October 2026 from a survey of 830 North American kitchen-industry professionals, also found that 64% of designers expect open shelving to decline in favor of enclosed storage, as reported by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. The emerging plan is selective openness paired with concealed organization, not a return to cluttered countertops.

What takes the place of wall cabinets

Once upper cabinets disappear, the wall needs a deliberate job. Designers are using daylight, texture, lighting, and continuous surfaces to give the kitchen visual weight without adding bulky storage.

That approach also supports cleaner appliance planning. 85% of designers surveyed for the NKBA report agree that cabinetry is increasingly being used to hide appliances and other functional elements. The result is a room that looks more like a finished living space when the coffee maker and blender are not on display.

1. Windows that reach the counter

A large picture window positioned close to countertop height can replace an entire run of upper cabinets with daylight and an outdoor view. Black steel or natural-wood frames suit the look, while greenery beyond the glass adds depth. Before removing cabinets, check the wall, plumbing, insulation, and local window requirements; the visual payoff is not worth discovering a structural problem halfway through demolition.

2. Walls with tactile character

Bare walls do not have to look unfinished. Roman clay, limewash, and water-resistant tadelakt plaster add soft variation and an earthy feel. Handcrafted Moroccan Zellige tile or vertical fluted ceramic panels create reflected light and texture without filling the room with cabinetry. Use washable finishes near the range and sink, where splashes are inevitable.

3. Lighting that earns attention

Without cabinet undersides for strip lights, wall sconces become both task lighting and decoration. Articulating fixtures in brass, aged iron, or ceramic can focus light over a prep zone while giving the wall a finished focal point. Place them where they illuminate the counter without casting your own shadow across a cutting board.

4. A continuous slab backsplash

A full-height slab carries the counter material upward, replacing a cabinet-heavy wall with one calm architectural surface. Honed Mont Blanc quartzite, Calacatta Viola marble, and engineered quartz from Caesarstone or Silestone are among the materials used for this effect. A narrow ledge, about 4 inches deep, can hold a few framed pieces, stoneware crocks, or cooking oils. Keep it edited; a ledge packed with objects defeats the purpose of opening the wall.

How to keep the kitchen functional

The storage question is legitimate. Upper cabinets put everyday items at eye level, so removing them requires a layout plan before demolition. Start by listing what the kitchen actually holds, then assign each category to a drawer, pantry, island, or appliance zone.

• Use deep, full-extension drawers. Replace some door cabinets with drawer banks around 30 to 36 inches deep. Top-down access makes plates, bowls, and heavy cookware easier to see and lift than items buried behind a hinged door. Blum Legrabox systems are one example of the type of drawer hardware used for this setup.
• Concentrate tall storage. A floor-to-ceiling pantry wall can hold dry goods, dishes, and large appliances behind flat-panel wood doors. Keeping that capacity on one wall lets the remaining walls stay open.
• Hide small appliances. A pocket-door or tambour-door appliance garage gives the toaster, blender, or espresso machine a dedicated home while preserving the main work surface.
• Make the island work harder. Storage on both sides can hold seasonal cookware, special-occasion glassware, and linens, including behind push-to-open doors on the seating side.

Layout deserves special attention because it affects both daily use and resale. The NKBA report places layout reconfiguration at a 49% second-highest return on investment, behind cabinet upgrades at 54%. That makes the cabinet decision part of a broader plan: improve movement, storage access, and appliance placement together rather than simply removing boxes.

Questions homeowners ask before removing upper cabinets

Will this hurt resale value? Not automatically. Buyers may prefer a bright kitchen with a large island and walk-in pantry, but the room still needs enough enclosed storage. Add lower drawers and a dedicated pantry before giving up wall capacity, and avoid making the layout dependent on decorative open shelving.

How do you control grease and dust? Install a properly sized ventilation hood before finalizing the wall treatment. For a gas cooktop, the reference design standard is a hood rated at 600 CFM or higher, with baffle filters; brands such as Vent-A-Hood and Zephyr make systems in this category. Confirm the required capacity and venting path with a qualified installer, especially if the wall finish is plaster or porous stone.

Where should mugs and glasses go? Put them in the upper section of a lower drawer bank near the sink or dishwasher. Drawer dividers and rubber liners reduce shifting when the drawer opens. The best location is the one that shortens the routine between unloading, drinking, and washing—not necessarily the one closest to the range.

Choose this layout if you want brighter sightlines and are willing to consolidate storage into drawers, a pantry wall, and the island. Keep upper cabinets if your kitchen has limited lower storage, no pantry location, or a household that depends on large amounts of everyday dishware at eye level.