Kitchen and bath designers are often focused on, as the title suggests, kitchens and baths, the high-moisture, high-utility zones of the home, while the closet was often left to closet designers and manufacturers. But as seen at the 2026 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando, those boundaries are dissolving at an even faster pace than anticipated. Custom cabinet companies are vying to be the go-to providers for whole-home storage, and they are firmly highlighting what they can do in the closet.

The shift for them is likely a matter of logic as much as luxury. The same qualities required for a high-end kitchen island—integrated lighting, soft-close engineering, and bespoke finishes—are exactly what homeowners now crave for their primary suites. They want continuity in design throughout the home. By using the same box construction and door styles found in the kitchen, kitchen and bath designers believe they can now offer a “whole-house” look. At KBIS, many cabinet companies showcased those elaborate closet vignettes.

Connected closets

Although more subtle, technology was still widely prevalent at the show. This integration of technology is being seen in storage spaces from the kitchen to the closet. 

Key tech features dominating the 2026 show floor include:

• Integrated lighting: Motion-activated, tunable LED strips that adjust color temperature based on the time of day, helping users see “true color” when selecting outfits.
• Motorized accessibility: Automated wardrobe lifts and “pull-down” shelving that bring high-hanging items to eye level at the touch of a button or a voice command.
• Hidden power: Charging drawers for smartwatches and phones are becoming standard, alongside built-in steamers and even small refrigerated “beauty drawers” for skincare.

By leveraging their expertise in custom cabinetry and sophisticated finishes, kitchen and bath designers are looking to embrace more storage spaces, including the closet. However, as some closet designers have pointed out, the closet is not a kitchen and will require more understanding, as well as the ability to meet not only the standards of a well-designed space but also those of a functional one that meets all the homeowner’s needs.