NKBA’s 2027 Kitchen Forecast Spotlights Integrated Lighting

Lighting is moving from a finishing touch to a defining element of kitchen design, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2027 Kitchen Trends Report. For lighting manufacturers, distributors and specifiers, the findings point toward opportunities in cabinet-integrated illumination, layered lighting and connected controls—supported by closer collaboration with kitchen designers.

Released October 14, the report draws on responses from 830 North American industry professionals, 62% of them designers. It forecasts design directions over the next three years, rather than measuring actual product sales or installations. Its findings therefore represent a specification signal, not a lighting-market growth forecast.

Integrated Lighting Leads the Opportunity

The strongest lighting preference is under-cabinet illumination, which 87% of designers expect to be popular, followed by interior-cabinet lighting at 76%. Recessed lighting registers 57%, nighttime floor/path lighting 52%, sconces and wall lights 48%, and pendants 46%. Smaller opportunities include art lighting at 30%, soffit lighting at 28%, chandeliers at 23%, and hydroponic lighting for herbs and plants at 18%.

For suppliers, these rankings suggest that integration deserves attention alongside decorative differentiation. The commercial implication is an opportunity to package light sources, profiles, optics, drivers and controls as coordinated cabinet-lighting solutions. Strong relationships with cabinet manufacturers, kitchen showrooms and remodelers could help lighting suppliers enter projects earlier, rather than competing only for fixture selections near completion.

Layering Expands the Specification

84% of designers anticipate multiple lighting layers, while 78% say lighting is increasingly a design feature rather than simply a functional necessity. These findings support selling coordinated systems that address work surfaces, circulation, storage, architectural accents and decorative focal points—not just individual luminaires.

Kitchen layouts reinforce that opportunity. Intentional zoning is considered “here to stay” by 81% of designers, and 47% identify dedicated prep spaces and back kitchens as emerging features. Meanwhile, 88% see pantries evolving into multifunctional kitchen extensions. For lighting businesses, this suggests more distinct lighting applications within each project, with corresponding opportunities for separately controlled zones.

Controls Need a Clear Purpose

Half of designers expect lighting controls to connect to mobile devices. That creates an opening for connected lighting, but does not establish universal demand for app-based operation. Suppliers should frame controls around useful outcomes—such as preparing meals, entertaining and nighttime navigation—rather than connectivity alone.

The report also places better light alongside air and water quality within a broader wellness agenda. For manufacturers, that creates a reason to explain lighting performance and comfort clearly, without treating the findings as evidence for specific health claims.

Takeaways

NKBA’s forecast suggests kitchen lighting competition will increasingly involve how well products fit cabinetry, layouts and everyday routines. Decorative fixtures remain relevant, but cabinet and architectural applications command stronger designer expectations. The clearest strategic response is to combine integrated products, intuitive controls and application support, helping kitchen professionals specify lighting as part of the room’s architecture from the outset. That shifts the sales conversation from choosing fixtures to delivering a coordinated kitchen environment with measurable design intent.

More information is available here.

All images courtesy of NKBA.

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and Senior Business Development Consultant at Capacity Consulting, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has been co-chair of the ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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