7 Big-Picture Kitchen Remodeling Trends Happening Now
See the latest on cabinets, sustainability, spending, pro hiring and more from the 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
Homeowners are spending more on kitchen remodels, but they’re also increasingly choosing sustainable options that are more cost-effective in the long run. Pro hiring remains strong, and homeowner preferences for cabinet styles, lighting and high-tech features are shifting. Find out more about these and other important remodeling behaviors — and get inspiration for your own kitchen — in this highlight of the just-released 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.
For this Oregon kitchen, Rehkamp Larson Architects took several sustainable approaches that will save the homeowners money over time.
“Simple, natural materials on the interior include wood, plaster, concrete and tile chosen for their sustainability and their soft, beach-inspired palette,” architect Mark Larson says. “Durable and timeless materials require less future maintenance and replacement and stand up to the test of time. Clerestory windows bring daylight to the kitchen and save energy on lighting.”
You can help clients visualize their planned home with Houzz Pro Mood Boards and 3D Floor Plans. You can also share photos, files, estimates, proposals and more with clients using Houzz Pro.
“Simple, natural materials on the interior include wood, plaster, concrete and tile chosen for their sustainability and their soft, beach-inspired palette,” architect Mark Larson says. “Durable and timeless materials require less future maintenance and replacement and stand up to the test of time. Clerestory windows bring daylight to the kitchen and save energy on lighting.”
You can help clients visualize their planned home with Houzz Pro Mood Boards and 3D Floor Plans. You can also share photos, files, estimates, proposals and more with clients using Houzz Pro.
2. Cabinet Styles Shift
Shaker-style cabinets have dominated homeowner preferences for years now. And while the look is still the most popular choice, it declined by 3 points, to 61%, compared with 2022.
Meanwhile, flat-panel cabinets are on the rise. One in 5 homeowners (20%) choose this sleek style.
In addition, homeowners continue to favor going the custom route (44%). But the number of those who opt for semicustom cabinets decreased to 31% in 2023 compared with 35% both in 2022 and 2021. Stock cabinets rose 2 points year over year to 12%.
Most homeowners (94%) choose some kind of handle for their cabinet doors and drawers, with bar pulls the overwhelming favorite (72%), followed by knobs (34%). Brushed nickel is the most popular hardware finish (34%), followed by black (21%).
Meanwhile, the majority of homeowners (66%) replace all of their cabinets during a kitchen remodel, while 29% partially replace cabinets and 5% do not replace or upgrade any cabinets.
Shaker-style cabinets have dominated homeowner preferences for years now. And while the look is still the most popular choice, it declined by 3 points, to 61%, compared with 2022.
Meanwhile, flat-panel cabinets are on the rise. One in 5 homeowners (20%) choose this sleek style.
In addition, homeowners continue to favor going the custom route (44%). But the number of those who opt for semicustom cabinets decreased to 31% in 2023 compared with 35% both in 2022 and 2021. Stock cabinets rose 2 points year over year to 12%.
Most homeowners (94%) choose some kind of handle for their cabinet doors and drawers, with bar pulls the overwhelming favorite (72%), followed by knobs (34%). Brushed nickel is the most popular hardware finish (34%), followed by black (21%).
Meanwhile, the majority of homeowners (66%) replace all of their cabinets during a kitchen remodel, while 29% partially replace cabinets and 5% do not replace or upgrade any cabinets.
This Orange County, California, kitchen by Laura Brophy Interiors features sleek flat-panel cabinets. Some of the lower units have a vertical shiplap look. Black knobs add a graphic detail, while a bank of uppers has no cabinet hardware, an option that 6% of homeowners go with, according to the study.
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3. Wood Cabinets Gain Popularity
White cabinets aren’t going out of style anytime soon. The color remains the most popular choice (40%). But wood tones are a strong contender. Nearly a quarter of homeowners (24%) choose wood-tone cabinets, up 3 points year over year, returning to the level of 2021.
Choosing an island base color that’s different from surrounding cabinets is a popular design approach — nearly half of homeowners (46%) go this route. Among those homeowners, blue is the most popular contrasting color choice (24%), followed by gray (15%) and black and medium-tone wood (12% each).
Meanwhile, the popularity of choosing a dark wood island to contrast with main cabinets jumped 5 points year over year, to 11%.
White cabinets aren’t going out of style anytime soon. The color remains the most popular choice (40%). But wood tones are a strong contender. Nearly a quarter of homeowners (24%) choose wood-tone cabinets, up 3 points year over year, returning to the level of 2021.
Choosing an island base color that’s different from surrounding cabinets is a popular design approach — nearly half of homeowners (46%) go this route. Among those homeowners, blue is the most popular contrasting color choice (24%), followed by gray (15%) and black and medium-tone wood (12% each).
Meanwhile, the popularity of choosing a dark wood island to contrast with main cabinets jumped 5 points year over year, to 11%.
Wood cabinets add warmth to this sleek contemporary New York kitchen by Tina Ramchandani Creative. Notice how the cabinet fronts combine a flat-panel look with a thin Shaker profile to arrive at a compelling in-between style.
35 Home Design Trends on the Rise in 2023
35 Home Design Trends on the Rise in 2023
4. Pro Hiring Remains Strong
Speaking of cabinets, cabinetmakers are increasingly in demand. The share of homeowners hiring a cabinetmaker rose to 32% in 2023 from 31% in 2022. That compares with 27% in 2021 and 26% in 2020.
The vast majority of homeowners (84%) hire a professional for help during a kitchen remodeling project, though that percentage is down slightly in 2023 compared with the previous year (89%).
General contractors remain the most sought-after pro (50%), though that share is down by 3 points year over year. The share of homeowners hiring an interior designer or decorator (15%) or an architect (11%) ticked up slightly in 2023 compared with last year.
Speaking of cabinets, cabinetmakers are increasingly in demand. The share of homeowners hiring a cabinetmaker rose to 32% in 2023 from 31% in 2022. That compares with 27% in 2021 and 26% in 2020.
The vast majority of homeowners (84%) hire a professional for help during a kitchen remodeling project, though that percentage is down slightly in 2023 compared with the previous year (89%).
General contractors remain the most sought-after pro (50%), though that share is down by 3 points year over year. The share of homeowners hiring an interior designer or decorator (15%) or an architect (11%) ticked up slightly in 2023 compared with last year.
5. Recessed Lighting Overtakes Undercabinet Lighting
Recessed lights sit flush with the ceiling to provide ample overhead light with an unobtrusive profile. Homeowner preference for this style of lighting increased 6 points year over year to 72%, taking the No. 1 spot from undercabinet lighting.
The latter, which can add useful task lighting over countertops, also gained favor, rising 3 points year over year to 70%.
A smaller share of homeowners (15%) add in-cabinet lights, often to showcase cherished pottery or other display items behind glass-fronted sections of cabinetry.
Recessed lights sit flush with the ceiling to provide ample overhead light with an unobtrusive profile. Homeowner preference for this style of lighting increased 6 points year over year to 72%, taking the No. 1 spot from undercabinet lighting.
The latter, which can add useful task lighting over countertops, also gained favor, rising 3 points year over year to 70%.
A smaller share of homeowners (15%) add in-cabinet lights, often to showcase cherished pottery or other display items behind glass-fronted sections of cabinetry.
This new San Jose, California, home by Robson Homes features a kitchen with barely-there recessed lights.
Two pendants add lighting over the island. Pendant lights are the most popular choice (64%) for light fixtures above an upgraded island, followed by recessed lights (35%, a 5-point increase compared with the previous year). And many homeowners opt to install two light fixtures (42%) or three (33%).
Two pendants add lighting over the island. Pendant lights are the most popular choice (64%) for light fixtures above an upgraded island, followed by recessed lights (35%, a 5-point increase compared with the previous year). And many homeowners opt to install two light fixtures (42%) or three (33%).
6. High-Tech Features Abound
Homeowners continue to choose faucets, appliances and other kitchen elements that have high-tech features. More than half of homeowners (51%) choose an upgraded faucet with high-tech features such as water efficiency (24%), touch-only or touch-free activation (23%) and no-fingerprint coating (23%).
And the share of homeowners choosing appliances with high-tech features increased 4 points to 39% in 2023 compared with the previous year. Top tech features in appliances include Wi-Fi capability (25%) and the ability to control products with smartphones and tablets (24%).
Meanwhile, electronics in the kitchen are also gaining popularity. Docking stations rose 9 points year over year to 49%, wireless speakers increased 11 points to 37% and stereo systems rose 10 points to 20%.
Homeowners continue to choose faucets, appliances and other kitchen elements that have high-tech features. More than half of homeowners (51%) choose an upgraded faucet with high-tech features such as water efficiency (24%), touch-only or touch-free activation (23%) and no-fingerprint coating (23%).
And the share of homeowners choosing appliances with high-tech features increased 4 points to 39% in 2023 compared with the previous year. Top tech features in appliances include Wi-Fi capability (25%) and the ability to control products with smartphones and tablets (24%).
Meanwhile, electronics in the kitchen are also gaining popularity. Docking stations rose 9 points year over year to 49%, wireless speakers increased 11 points to 37% and stereo systems rose 10 points to 20%.
This Indianapolis kitchen by Old Town Design Group has a Cafe by GE series range and refrigerator, both with features that can be controlled by a smartphone or tablet. The fridge also has an Energy Star rating, ticking the box of 61% of homeowners who choose energy-efficient appliances. The home also has built-in speakers in the ceiling.
You’ll also notice lighting details popular among homeowners, including recessed lighting, two pendant lights over the island and undercabinet and in-cabinet lighting.
You’ll also notice lighting details popular among homeowners, including recessed lighting, two pendant lights over the island and undercabinet and in-cabinet lighting.
7. Renovation Spending Rises
Homeowners are spending more on kitchen remodels of most sizes. The median spend on a minor remodel increased $4,000 year over year to $14,000 by mid-2022.
Homeowners spent $15,000 on a minor remodel of a larger kitchen (over 250 square feet) and $13,000 on a smaller kitchen (under 250 square feet).
The median spend on a major remodel, during which at least all of the cabinets and appliances are replaced, increased $5,000 year over year to $45,000 by mid-2022, over three times more than the median spend on minor remodels.
Interestingly, the median spend on major remodels of larger kitchens (250 or more square feet) remains unchanged from the previous year at $50,000.
Economists like to reference the median, or midpoint, figure rather than the average for this kind of data because the average can be skewed, can be volatile year over year and can be misleadingly high or low because of a single project that costs far more or less than others.
You can tell your clients what they can expect to spend on a home project using Houzz Pro, which enables professionals to create accurate project estimates using local cost data. Houzz Pro also lets pros share with clients photos, files, proposals, mood boards, 3D floor plans and more.
Homeowners are spending more on kitchen remodels of most sizes. The median spend on a minor remodel increased $4,000 year over year to $14,000 by mid-2022.
Homeowners spent $15,000 on a minor remodel of a larger kitchen (over 250 square feet) and $13,000 on a smaller kitchen (under 250 square feet).
The median spend on a major remodel, during which at least all of the cabinets and appliances are replaced, increased $5,000 year over year to $45,000 by mid-2022, over three times more than the median spend on minor remodels.
Interestingly, the median spend on major remodels of larger kitchens (250 or more square feet) remains unchanged from the previous year at $50,000.
Economists like to reference the median, or midpoint, figure rather than the average for this kind of data because the average can be skewed, can be volatile year over year and can be misleadingly high or low because of a single project that costs far more or less than others.
You can tell your clients what they can expect to spend on a home project using Houzz Pro, which enables professionals to create accurate project estimates using local cost data. Houzz Pro also lets pros share with clients photos, files, proposals, mood boards, 3D floor plans and more.
This stylish high-end Denver kitchen by Jane Henderson Interior Design features a large floor plan with an extra-long island, slab countertops and backsplash and white Shaker-style cabinets with a contrasting black island base.
This Tampa, Florida, kitchen by DC Studio Architecture and Planning features many popular elements homeowners choose for their kitchens, including white Shaker-style cabinets with a contrasting wood-tone island, a white backsplash, white walls, recessed ceiling lights and pendants over the island.
In a follow-up article coming soon, we’ll dive deeper into the top kitchen features homeowners are updating, including countertops (90%), backsplashes (84%) and sinks (83%).
See more results and download the full study
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In a follow-up article coming soon, we’ll dive deeper into the top kitchen features homeowners are updating, including countertops (90%), backsplashes (84%) and sinks (83%).
See more results and download the full study
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
The vast majority of homeowners (92%) incorporate sustainable features during a kitchen remodel, including LED lightbulbs (65%), energy-efficient appliances (61%) and water-efficient fixtures (34%).
The top reason? These features help homeowners save money over time. Nearly three-fourths of homeowners (74%) say sustainable options are cost-effective in the long run. But making environmentally sound choices also plays a large role. More than half (54%) say concern for the environment is a factor in choosing sustainable options.
A small portion of homeowners (3%) hire dedicated professionals to advise on eco-friendly options.
“Homeowners are gravitating toward sustainable choices during kitchen renovations, and it is interesting to see the intersection of economics and environmental concerns,” says Houzz senior economist Marine Sargsyan.