Kitchen Design Trends for 2026: Warm Metals, Lived-In Spaces and the Return of Craft

February 12, 2026

Kitchens are changing again.

For a long time they were designed to look perfect — glossy surfaces, hidden storage and materials that resisted touch. They photographed beautifully, but they did not always invite everyday life.

Now the direction has shifted. The modern kitchen is no longer a showroom. It is a working space, a meeting place and often the calmest room in the home.

Instead of perfection, people are choosing presence.

Below are some of the design movements shaping kitchens across the UK this year and why they feel different.

Real Materials Over Imitations

Artificial finishes are quietly disappearing. Wood is replacing laminate. Stone is replacing composite patterns. And metals are being used in their genuine form rather than coated versions.

Genuine Copper Floor & Wall Tiles [CLICK HERE]

The appeal is simple. Real materials age well.

They mark time rather than wear out. A small change in tone, a softened edge, a gentle darkening — these details add familiarity to a space you use every day.

Copper and brass sit naturally within this movement because they respond to light, touch and air. No two surfaces remain identical, and that variation brings calm rather than disorder.

Kitchens That Feel Used (In a Good Way)

For years the goal was to hide everything. Appliances were concealed and cookware disappeared into cupboards.

Now people are doing the opposite.

Open shelving, visible preparation areas and hanging utensils are returning. The kitchen is being allowed to look active. Not messy, but alive.

Two Tier Curved Copper Hanging Pot and Pan Rack[CLICK HERE]

Objects are becoming part of the interior rather than interruptions to it. A pan and pot on the rack or a drying rack beside the sink no longer breaks the design, it completes it.

The result feels more relaxed. Less staged, more natural.

Warmth Replacing Contrast

Black and white contrasts dominated kitchen design for over a decade. This year, tones are softening.

We are seeing:

-warmer woods

-muted painted cabinetry

-natural stone movement

-aged metals instead of sharp finishes

Natural Brass Kitchen Splashback[CLICK HERE]

These choices change how the room feels throughout the day. Morning light reflects softly. Evening lighting becomes calmer. The kitchen becomes a place you remain in, not just pass through.

Functional Objects as Focal Points

Rather than decorative features, daily-use items are becoming the visual anchors of the room.

Sinks, taps, cookware and preparation surfaces are now chosen for how they look as much as how they function. The practical parts of the kitchen are finally allowed to be beautiful.

This approach reduces clutter. When necessary objects are well made, fewer extras are needed.

Kitchen Splashbacks — The Working Wall

One area receiving renewed attention is the space behind the hob and worktop.

For years it was treated quietly — simple tiles or painted plaster designed to disappear. Designers are now using this surface as a single continuous material that grounds the entire room.

Instead of patterns, the emphasis is on depth and reflection. A surface that shifts gently throughout the day without dominating the space.

Metal works especially well here. It brightens darker kitchens, softens brighter ones and gradually records everyday use without ever looking worn.

This is becoming the new definition of luxury ,materials that improve with living.

Kitchen Splashback Collection Range

Our kitchen splashbacks are made in the UK from genuine copper and brass, each one carefully hand-finished.

Designed to support both the look and daily use of your kitchen, each splashback protects the working area while bringing warmth and depth to the space. The living metal reflects light softly and sits naturally alongside wood, stone and painted cabinetry.

Copper Kitchen Splashback [CLICK HERE]

Within the collection you will find a variety of finishes, each creating a different mood.
The Natural Copper splashback is left unlacquered so it can gently deepen in tone over time, developing a calm lived-in character. The Hammered Copper version introduces subtle texture, scattering light across the surface and adding an artisan quality suited to both traditional and contemporary spaces. For a more expressive focal point, the Verdigris finish carries soft mineral tones reminiscent of weathered coastal metals, while Natural Brass offers a quieter warmth that works comfortably in classic and Shaker-style kitchens.

Natural Brass Kitchen Splashback [CLICK HERE]

For those wishing to extend the material beyond the cooking area, genuine copper tiles  allow the same tone and character to continue across walls, alcoves or feature areas, keeping the space cohesive rather than pieced together.

We offer custom sizing and specialist copper finishes (patinas) to suit individual interiors, from contemporary to traditional kitchens. Kitchen accessories and storage are also available at Proper Copper Design, allowing the entire working area to feel unified in material and tone.

With worldwide delivery, you can experience our handcrafted splashbacks wherever you are.

Browse the collection and discover the piece that completes your kitchen.

Explore more at propercopperdesign.com

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