10 Countertop Styles Disappearing In 2026 (So Far)

Choosing your kitchen countertops is a big decision. They're one of the first elements people will see when they enter the room, and your countertops, along with the cabinets, dictate the style and the feel of the entire place. But there's a problem. There are endless options for your kitchen countertops; if you're renovating, the possibilities can truly feel paralyzing. Over a dozen kitchen countertop materials, several different finishes, edge styles, thicknesses, colors, and more — where do you even start?

We're here to make the choice slightly easier for you. There are ten countertop styles that are already going out of style in 2026, so you can cross them off of your extensive list. These are styles, colors, materials, and finishes that have been spied everywhere, from huge, open kitchens to small apartment galley kitchens. Some of these have been kitchen countertop go-tos since the '80s and are finally petering out in popularity. Others were flash-in-the-pan fads that didn't end up taking hold. Either way, here are some countertop styles to avoid if you're going to be completing a kitchen renovation anytime soon.

There was a year or two when the light blue kitchen was everywhere. Everyone convinced themselves that gray was chic, white was clean, and cool-toned kitchens were the answer. But in 2026, things have swung the other way. While cool tones may be neutral, they're also quite boring and give your kitchen a clinical, uninviting feel. You're too cool for cool tones in 2026.

Quartz has been a staple of kitchen countertops everywhere for a long time, but there are real drawbacks to the material that are making many consider different options in 2026. For one, it's not the most affordable option out there. It's also heat and light sensitive and may show visible seams when installed. There are enough headaches associated with quartz countertops that it's slowly going out of fashion.

Tile counters have a retro look that has been appealing to some in recent years, but the old-fashioned style is out in 2026. They crack and chip easily, and it's extremely hard to clean thoroughly between the lines of grout. Plus, while we've established that cool tones are boring, tile may actually be a bit too busy visually.

Laminate countertops might be affordable, but there's a reason for that. They're prone to warping, cracking, and chipping. They're damaged easily if subjected to heat and/or water, which they absolutely will be in a kitchen. In short, laminate countertops are just a bigger headache than they are worth, and we all deserve to feel like we can actually use our kitchen countertop.

Wood countertops aren't completely out of fashion. A natural-edged wood-block island? Go for it! But all wood countertops on every surface in your kitchen can look dated and are a fairly big hassle to deal with. They require regular maintenance that many simply don't have time to keep up with, and they can be damaged easily by standing water, which can be hard to avoid in a kitchen, especially around the sink. Sure, go ahead and use wood as an accent — warm, natural colors are totally in, after all — but save yourself the trouble of all-wood countertops.

What, you don't want to see your reflection in your kitchen counter? Well, neither do lots of other people. The problem with glossy counters, other than seeing your face from the worst angle ever while cleaning your kitchen, is that they show every smudge and every fingerprint, and they scratch very easily. That's an easy "no thanks."

There are several types of decorative edges that some choose for their kitchen countertops, but a popular one is ogee, a curved and grooved edge that lends a softer look to the slab. However, consensus says that decorative edges are a bit dated. Simple edges are favored these days.

Granite countertops are a classic option, but many people are now opting out of them. For one, there are at least eight granite countertop colors that are seriously outdated in 2026. They also look chaotic and can clash with other finishes in your kitchen. These speckled patterns may have been extremely popular in the '90s and the early 2000s, but these days, there are better, cheaper, and more attractive options.

Waterfall edge countertops continue the same material and pattern all the way from the countertop to the floor, and while they were a popular trend in the early 2020s, they're quickly going out of style. One of the biggest cons of waterfall edges is the cost — it's extremely pricey to buy more marble or quartz to serve as the sides of your counter or island as opposed to opting for wood cabinets, for example.

Cool tones are out in 2026, but so are super bright colors. Kitchens are leaning away from flashy lime greens and toward olive greens and other earthy tones inspired by nature, which are more calming and soothing than really loud colors. By all means, install your orange countertops, but it might affect your home's resale value down the line. There's the chance that bright colors might come back in style, though — the choice is yours.