Kitchen Countertop Trends for 2027: A Complete Guide

Kitchen countertop trends for 2027 point in one clear direction: warmer colors, more natural stone, softer finishes, and stone that goes beyond the counter. If you are planning a remodel in the next year, this guide shows what is growing, what is fading, and how to choose a countertop you will still love in ten years.

A quick note on where this comes from. No one has published a 2027 trend study yet. So this guide uses the biggest 2026 industry reports, from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and Houzz, plus what we see homeowners choose in our Crestwood showroom. The trends below are already moving, and every sign says they carry into 2027.

Kitchen Countertop Trends for 2027 at a Glance

1. Warm Whites Replace Cool Gray

The biggest color shift is away from cool gray and stark white. Warm whites and off-whites with soft taupe, sand, or gold veining are now the first slabs most homeowners ask to see.

White is still the most popular countertop color. In Houzz’s 2026 Kitchen Trends Study, white counters were 37% of renovated kitchens and off-white was 26%. Gray dropped to 7%. The change is in the tone: warmer, creamier, and softer.

This matches what homeowners ask for in our showroom. Taj Mahal quartzite, with its cream base and warm gold veins, is the stone our customers request most. Read our Taj Mahal quartzite guide.

Good to know: If you have a gray kitchen you do not want to fully redo, greige (a gray-beige mix) can bridge old and new.

2. Quartzite Keeps Rising

Quartzite is the fastest growing natural stone for countertops. In the NKBA 2026 Kitchen Trends Report, which surveyed 634 designers and other industry pros, 62% said quartzite will be a popular countertop material over the next three years. That puts it second only to quartz.

Why the jump? Quartzite gives you the soft, flowing look of marble with much better resistance to scratches and etching. It handles heat well and holds up to daily cooking.

Two things to know before you buy:

• Some stone sold as quartzite is actually a softer stone that can etch. Ask your fabricator to test a sample.
• Quartzite is very hard, so it takes more time and tooling to cut. That can raise fabrication cost compared to quartz or granite.

Learn more in our quartzite countertops in Chicago guide or browse quartzite countertops.

3. Quartz Stays on Top, but It Is Changing

Quartz is not going anywhere. In the NKBA report, 78% of industry pros said quartz will be popular for countertops over the next three years, the highest of any material. It never needs sealing, the pattern is consistent, and it is easy to care for.

What is changing is the look and the makeup:

• Warmer colors. Quartz makers are releasing more creamy, quartzite-style patterns with taupe and gold veins. See our guide to quartz countertop colors.
• Lower silica. Traditional quartz is high in crystalline silica, which is a health risk for workers who cut it without proper controls. Major brands now offer lower-silica lines, and California is weighing a rule that would limit fabrication of high-silica engineered stone. This is about worker safety during cutting. An installed quartz countertop in your home is not a risk.

See our quartz countertops page for colors we fabricate.

4. Honed and Leathered Finishes

High-gloss polish is still popular, but more homeowners now choose softer finishes:

• Honed: A flat, matte surface with no shine.
• Leathered: A brushed surface with a soft sheen and a slight texture you can feel.

Both cut glare and hide fingerprints better than polished stone. They fit the warm, natural look that is shaping 2027 kitchens.

One tip: on dark stone, a honed finish can show oil marks. Leathered is often the better choice for black and charcoal stone. Read our full guide to polished vs. honed vs. leathered finishes.

5. Full-Height Slab Backsplashes

Instead of stopping the stone at a 4-inch backsplash and adding tile above, more homeowners run the countertop stone up the wall. The result looks clean, high-end, and easy to wipe down.

The numbers back it up. In Houzz’s 2026 study, slab backsplashes made up 28% of backsplashes in renovated kitchens. Quartz (39%) and quartzite (33%) were the most popular slab backsplash materials.

Plan for it: A slab backsplash uses more stone, so it can add a slab to your project. It also makes vein layout more important. Read our full height stone backsplash guide and vein matching and bookmatching explained.

6. Two-Material Kitchens and Statement Islands

More kitchens now use two countertop materials. The most common setup is a bold island with a quieter perimeter. This lets you splurge on one surface and save on the rest.

Popular island choices include:

• A dramatic natural stone, like a bold quartzite
• A dark stone, like black granite, in a light kitchen
• Warm wood or butcher block, which Houzz found is gaining on contrasting islands

This trend also pairs with warmer cabinets. In Houzz’s 2026 study, wood became the most popular cabinet color at 29%, edging past white at 28%. Warm wood with warm stone is a big part of the 2027 look.

Planning an island? See our kitchen island countertop guide.

7. Bold Color Accents: Black, Blue, and Green

While perimeter counters get warmer and softer, islands, bars, and powder rooms are getting bolder.

• Black and charcoal are back, mostly on islands and bars, and often in a honed or leathered finish. Black was 9% of renovated kitchens in Houzz’s 2026 data. See our guide to black countertops.
• Blue stone like Azul Macaubas and Blue Roma quartzite is showing up on statement islands. Read our guide to blue countertops.
• Green stone in sage and forest tones pairs with the green cabinets many homeowners love.

Natural blue and green slabs are rare. Expect higher prices and limited stock, and plan ahead if you want one.

8. Softer, Quieter Veining

Big, high-contrast veining had a long run. Now the look is softer: fine, tone-on-tone movement that feels calm instead of loud. Many new quartz patterns copy the gentle look of quartzite rather than bold marble.

Dark gray marble with heavy veining is one look designers are moving away from. In Apartment Therapy’s design survey, 14% of designers named gray marble countertops as a look that is over.

If you love dramatic veining, put it on the island and keep the perimeter quiet. See our Calacatta countertops in Chicago guide for both bold and soft options.

9. Edges: Soft Curves and Thick Islands

Two edge trends are growing at the same time:

• Soft, rounded edges. Gentle curves feel more relaxed and are kinder to hips and kids. They fit the warm, organic look of 2027.
• Thick mitered edges on islands. A mitered edge makes the stone look 2 to 4 inches thick, giving the island a solid, built-in look.

Ornate profiles like ogee and bullnose are fading in modern kitchens, though they still suit traditional homes. Compare your options in our countertop edge profiles guide and 2cm vs. 3cm countertops.

10. Waterfalls, Chosen With Care

Waterfall islands, where the stone drops down the sides to the floor, are now common in new remodels. But designers are split. In Apartment Therapy’s survey, 36% of designers said they are ready to move on from waterfall edges.

Our take: a waterfall still looks great on a large island with a stone that has beautiful movement. It is less of a fit on a small island or in a traditional kitchen. Read waterfall islands: how they are made and what to decide first.

11. Countertops Beyond the Main Kitchen

Kitchens are adding work zones, and each zone needs a counter. In Houzz’s 2026 study, 47% of renovating homeowners added pantry cabinets and 24% added beverage stations.

Popular spots for extra stone include:

• Butler pantries and coffee stations. See our butler pantry countertops guide.
• Home bars. See our wet bar countertops guide.
• Laundry rooms. See our laundry room countertops guide.

Smaller areas like these are a great use for countertop remnants, which can save money.

What Is Fading for 2027

Trends do not vanish overnight, but these looks are losing ground:

• Cool gray stone and quartz. Warm tones have taken over.
• Heavy, high-contrast gray veining. Softer movement is replacing it.
• Ornate edge profiles in modern kitchens.
• Busy, small-speckle granite in high polish. Granite itself is not out. In the NKBA report, 43% of pros still expect it to be popular, and bold granites like black and exotic stones still have a strong following. The dated look is the busy, small-speckle pattern from the early 2000s.

How to Follow Trends Without Regret

A countertop should last 20 years or more. Here is how to get a fresh look without dating your kitchen:

1. Pick the material for how you live. Durability and upkeep should decide quartz, quartzite, or granite. Read our kitchen countertop buying guide.
2. Put the boldest trend where it is easiest to change. An island or backsplash is easier to redo than a whole kitchen.
3. Keep the perimeter calm. A warm white or soft neutral works with almost any future update.
4. See the full slab. Warmth and veining are hard to judge from a small sample.
5. Match the stone to your cabinets and floors. Read how to match stone with cabinets.

What These Trends Mean for Chicagoland Kitchens

A few local notes from our work across Chicago and the suburbs:

• Check slabs in different light. Chicago winters bring short, gray days. A warm stone can look different in winter light than in summer sun, so look at your slab in daylight and under warm bulbs.
• Hard water and dark finishes. Chicago-area water can leave mineral spots, which show most on dark, polished stone. Read how Chicago’s hard water affects your countertops.
• Older homes. Brick bungalows and older homes often have walls that are not straight. A full-height backsplash or thick mitered edge needs careful templating. See countertops for a Chicago bungalow.
• Winter installs are fine. You do not need to wait for spring. Read about winter countertop installation in Chicago.

Planning a 2027 Remodel: Timing and Budget

Trendy stones like warm quartzite and rare blue or green slabs can sell out fast. Prices can also shift with import costs. To stay on track:

• Start shopping for stone early, before cabinets are installed.
• Ask how long a slab can be held and whether the price is locked.
• Plan for extra stone if you want a slab backsplash or waterfall.

Read when to bring in the countertop fabricator during a kitchen remodel and our countertop installation timeline. For budget planning, see our countertop cost guide and what drives a countertop quote up, and where to save.

See the 2027 Looks in Our Crestwood Showroom

The best way to judge a trend is to stand in front of the slab. We carry warm quartzites like Taj Mahal, quartz in warm whites, and bold black and blue stones. Exotic slabs come and go, so call ahead to check stock. Visit our showroom and slab yard at 4711 135th St, Crestwood, IL 60418, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm. Or we can bring samples to your home.

We template, cut, and finish every slab in our own shop, and our own crew installs it. Get a free estimate or call (708) 362-7674.