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Custom Cabinetry: What Will Happen to Open Shelves in 2026?

December 15, 2025

Renovation and remodeling trends are followed to learn about new features, avoid outdated upgrades, and embrace classic styles in fresh forms. Over time, custom cabinet systems across kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and other areas of the home have secured a special place.

They may require a slightly higher budget, but their overall impact and versatility make them highly coveted, especially in homes that aim to balance visual depth with better performance. When it comes to kitchen cabinetry in particular, open shelving has remained in the spotlight for years. Will this continue in the future, or will 2026 mark the start of something new?

Many American households have replaced their upper kitchen cabinets with open shelving because it makes spaces brighter, airier, and more stylish. Custom cabinet stores like QCCI have delivered numerous such projects in the past. However, they expect this trend to change. Let’s analyze the scenario.

Insights on open shelving

There was a time when open shelving made a prominent entrance into various kitchen styles. In 2026, this cabinet system will not disappear entirely, but its use will be more intentional and selective. Walls will no longer be lined with long, continuous shelves. Instead, open shelving will be a part of built-in designs for both architectural and practical purposes. In other words, thoughtfully designed open shelving will replace the extended, uninterrupted shelves of the past. You will see them incorporated into the millwork rather than as a standalone element.

Having trouble picturing this? Consider shelving near windows for natural light or within cabinetry to break up the monotony of closed doors. Pairing them with glass-front cabinets can create a more defined, visually appealing look. The goal is to make open shelving both beautiful and highly practical.

Replacement for open shelving

Whether it’s a fashion trend or a kitchen cabinet trend, gaps are quickly filled by something more useful. There was a good reason open shelves remained popular for so long—their ability to maximize storage space, lend a sense of openness to smaller kitchens, and create stylish display corners caught everyone’s attention.

Today, these efficient storage systems are not being entirely replaced. Instead, they are being reimagined as part of glass-front cabinets and other stylish cabinet fronts. To create more storage space, open displays are being minimized, and extra storage is being added above traditional upper cabinets.

Additional information

What else can you expect in 2026? New kitchen designs will lean more toward providing a tactile experience for users. In this context, painted finishes and natural wood materials continue to perform well. Even door inserts may be preferred in textured forms. To reiterate, glass-front cabinet doors will become more commonplace. In fact, they are likely to replace open shelving.

If you are opting for customization, learning about these trends becomes crucial. They can empower your choices, allowing you to create a design that stays relevant even after many years of use. And if needed, you can upgrade your cabinets with minimal disruption. Of course, you can always replace everything if you feel like indulging in your kitchen a bit—as long as your budget allows.

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