Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “Quartz Dominates Kitchens for 2026: Farewell to “, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
The kitchen is reinventing itself once again, and quartz is shaping up to be the star material for countertops in 2026. Durable, elegant, and easy to maintain, this material is dethroning marble and granite in the preferences of experts. Trends point towards open, multifunctional, and sustainable kitchens, where aesthetics meet practicality.
The kitchen has always been considered the heart of the home, a gathering space for cooking, chatting, and sharing moments. Therefore, when designing it, choosing durable, high-quality materials becomes a key decision. For years, marble and granite have been the top references for countertops, but trends point to a radical change: quartz is taking first place as the star material for 2026.
The latest 2026 Annual Kitchen Trends Report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), compiled with input from over 600 professionals including architects, manufacturers, and designers, confirms this shift.
78% of respondents consider quartz the best option for dressing home countertops.
Quartzite occupies second place at 62%, while granite holds a modest 43% and marble barely convinces 23%.
A Practical, Elegant, and Durable Material
The reason for this boom lies in the balance quartz offers between aesthetics and practicality. It is a material very resistant to impacts and scratches, with the advantage of being completely non-porous, which prevents stains and bacterial proliferation. Furthermore, manufacturers have perfected their finishes to achieve designs that realistically mimic marble, concrete, or other surfaces, expanding decorative possibilities. All this with minimal maintenance and a durability that makes it a safe investment.
The report also reveals how kitchen aesthetics will evolve. Matte finishes are winning the battle against glossy ones, adding sobriety and sophistication. Regarding colors, neutrals—whites, grays, and beiges—will dominate, although greens and blues are beginning to grow in popularity for their ability to convey calm and connection with nature. The combination of light countertops with dark wood cabinets, such as walnut or white oak, is solidifying as one of the most sought-after contrasts.
Open, Multifunctional, and Sustainable Kitchens
Beyond materials, the kitchen reinforces its starring role in the home. Trends point to spaces open to the living room, more spacious and multifunctional, even in small houses. Coffee corners, pet areas, or small offices are increasingly integrated into the design. At the same time, sustainability and technology are taking hold: quartz collections with recycled materials, smart faucets, connected appliances, or islands with wireless charging are becoming part of everyday life.
Beyond the numbers and trends, quartz also holds some curiosities that explain its success. Although it leads the market today, its incorporation into kitchens is relatively recent: it did not begin to gain popularity until the late 1980s, when the first industrial slabs emerged that allowed it to be worked with ease. Its hybrid composition—a mixture of up to 95% natural quartz with resins and pigments—grants it extraordinary resistance and, at the same time, an aesthetic versatility that allows it to mimic everything from the most classic marble to concrete or cement finishes.
Another of its great attractions is its low maintenance: it does not require sealing or special care, just water and neutral soap to keep it impeccable. This is coupled with the sustainable shift of recent years, with collections made from recycled quartz and low-carbon footprint processes. All this has driven quartz to surpass granite in sales in countries like the United States and much of Europe, confirming itself as the preferred option for the kitchens of the future.
In short, quartz is shaping up as the material of the future for kitchen countertops, displacing historical references like marble or granite. Its resistance, aesthetic versatility, and sustainable character fit with a new way of understanding the home: practical, technological, and designed for sharing. A trend change that will mark the next decade in interior design.
Source: Read the original article | Published: September 30, 2025