skip to main content
RUG & DECOR EVENT
0
Your shopping cart is empty.
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
GET IDEAS
PHOTOS
Kitchen & DiningKitchenDining RoomPantryGreat RoomBreakfast Nook
Bed & BathBathroomPowder RoomBedroomStorage & ClosetBaby & Kids
LivingLiving RoomFamily RoomSunroom
OutdoorLandscapePatioDeckPoolBackyardPorchExteriorOutdoor KitchenFront YardDrivewayPoolhouse
WalkwaysStaircaseEntryHall
Bar & WineHome BarWine Cellar
UtilityLaundryGarageMudroom
More RoomsGame RoomHome OfficeBasementCraftLibraryGym
Popular Design IdeasKitchen BacksplashFirepit
FireplaceDeck RailingPergolaPrivacy FenceSmall Closet
MAGAZINE
Stories and GuidesPopular StoriesRenovation Cost Guides
DISCUSSIONS
Get AdviceDesign DilemmasBefore & After
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
FIND PROFESSIONALS
PROFESSIONALS
DesignArchitects & Building DesignersKitchen & Bathroom DesignersInterior Designers & DecoratorsDesign-Build FirmsLighting Designers & Suppliers
RemodelingKitchen & Bathroom RemodelersGeneral ContractorsHome BuildersTile & Countertop ContractorsMasonry & Concrete ContractorsExterior & Siding ContractorsStair & Railing ContractorsFireplace Contractors
RenovationCarpentersCabinetry & Cabinet MakersFlooring ContractorsWindow ContractorsDoor ContractorsGlass & Shower Door ContractorsCarpet Contractors
OutdoorLandscape Architects & DesignersLandscape ContractorsDeck & Patio BuildersFence ContractorsDriveway & Paving ContractorsSwimming Pool BuildersHot Tub & Spa Dealers
ServicesPaintersRoofing & Gutter ContractorsOrganizers & Closet DesignersHome StagersGarage Door ServicesWindow Treatment ServicesPaint & Wall Covering Dealers
Appliances & SystemsAppliance Sales & ServicesHVAC ContractorsHome Theater & AutomationOutdoor Lighting & AV SpecialistsSolar Energy Contractors
All ProfessionalsAll ServicesFor Professionals
SHOP BY DEPARTMENT
KITCHEN & DINING
Kitchen & Dining FurnitureSinks & FaucetsKitchen AppliancesTabletopCabinets & StorageKnobs & PullsKitchen LightingTileCookware & BakewareTools & GadgetsView All
FURNITURE
Living RoomKitchen & DiningHome OfficeOutdoorBedroomStorageBathroomView All
BATH
Bathroom VanitiesShowersBathtubsBathroom LightingFaucetsBathroom SinksTileBath AccessoriesBath LinensMedicine CabinetsView All
DECOR
RugsMirrorsWall DecorDecorative AccentsArtworkPillows & ThrowsHoliday DecorView All
BEDROOM
Beds & HeadboardsBeddingDressersNightstandsBenchesBedroom DecorLampsCloset StorageFutonsChaisesView All
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HardwareTileBathroom FixturesKitchen FixturesHeating & CoolingBuilding MaterialsTools & EquipmentView All
LIVING
Coffee & Accent TablesRugsSofas & SectionalsArmchairs & Accent ChairsTV Stand & Media StorageHome DecorLampsArtworkBookcasesFireplaces & AccessoriesView All
OUTDOOR
Patio FurnitureOutdoor DecorOutdoor LightingPool & SpaLawn & GardenOutdoor StructuresOutdoor CookingView All
LIGHTING
ChandeliersPendant LightsFlush-MountsBathroom & VanityWall SconcesCeiling FansTable LampsFloor LampsKitchen & CabinetOutdoor LightingView All
MORE
Storage & OrganizationHome OfficeBaby & KidsHome BarCleaning & LaundryPet SuppliesHoliday DecorView All
Looking for the perfect gift? Send a Houzz Gift Card!
SALE
ON SALE - UP TO 75% OFF
Bathroom VanitiesChandeliersBar StoolsPendant LightsRugsLiving Room ChairsDining Room FurnitureWall LightingCoffee TablesSide & End TablesHome Office FurnitureSofasBedroom FurnitureLampsMirrors
RUG & DECOR EVENT
Up to 75% Off
Rugs in Neutral Colors 
Under $99
High-Traffic Runner Rugs 
Up to 65% Off
Bestselling Rugs and Decor 
Up to 70% Off
Round Rugs 
Inside Houzz
Inside Houzz
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands Now
Top Ideabooks
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands NowTop Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled KitchensTop Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study12 Home Pros Look Back on a Decade of Houzz
Appears in
Latest From Houzz
See also
Data Watch
Consumer Trends Research
Consumer Trends Research
2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
Top Ideabooks
2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study2020 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study2020 U.S. Houzz & Home Study: Renovation Trends2020 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
Appears in
Research
See also
Renovation TrendsKitchen TrendsBathroom TrendsLandscape TrendsBedroom TrendsSmart Home TrendsOther Trends
Kitchen Trends
Kitchen Trends
2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
Top Ideabooks
2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study2020 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends StudyThe Most Popular Styles and Cabinet Choices in Kitchen RemodelsPopular Layouts for Remodeled Kitchens Now
Appears in
Consumer Trends Research
Kitchen Design
Kitchen Design
Kitchen of the Week: A Modern Mix of White, Wood and Blue
Top Ideabooks
Kitchen of the Week: A Modern Mix of White, Wood and BlueWhat Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands NowTop Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled KitchensNew This Week: 6 Beautiful Blue Kitchens
Appears in
Latest From Houzz
See also
Kitchen of the WeekSmall KitchensColorful KitchensKitchen StylesKitchen IslandsKitchen CabinetsKitchen CountertopsKitchen BacksplashesKitchen LightingKitchen WorkbookKitchen StorageKitchen AppliancesWhite KitchensKitchen LayoutsKitchen SinksKitchen PantriesKitchen Makeovers
Data Watch
Data Watch
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands Now
Top Ideabooks
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands NowTop Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled KitchensTop Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends StudyTop Vanity, Sink and Mirror Style Picks for Master Baths in 2020
Appears in
Inside Houzz
For Pros
For Pros
Top Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled Kitchens
Top Ideabooks
Top Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled Kitchens4 Ways to Build a Long-Term Relationship With HomeownersTop Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends StudyHow to Handle Stress and Build Resilience
See also
Design PracticePro TipsDesigning a BusinessPro WebinarsBuilding a BusinessHouzz ProResilience

Top Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study

Storage is a major focus, the open-concept floor plan is losing steam, and project scope is scaling back

Erin Carlyle
Erin CarlyleJanuary 12, 2021
Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
With homes top of mind as people spend more time in them, homeowners remodeling their kitchens are transforming these spaces for the way we live now, according to new research from Houzz. That includes upgrading cabinetry to create the right storage. Homeowners also are less likely to turn their kitchens into open-concept spaces (where the kitchen is open to other spaces). And they’re seeking a connection in their renovated kitchens to the outdoors.

Read on for more details on these and other kitchen remodeling trends in our recap of the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.
Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.
Erin Carlyle
Kitchen Storage Is a Major Focus

Nearly all homeowners (94%) renovating their kitchens improve the cabinetry in some way, according to the report. Most (63%) are replacing the cabinets entirely, while 1 in 3 opts for a partial cabinet upgrade.

“Storage has really come into focus as people have spent more time at home during the pandemic,” says Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing at Houzz. “We’re seeing an increase in the amount of cabinetry added in renovations. And more homeowners are reaching out to professionals on Houzz for help making their kitchens work better, most often within the same layout and square footage.”
Pike Properties
Of the 31% of renovating homeowners choosing partial cabinet upgrades, 28% add at least some new cabinetry to the renovated kitchen — nearly four times as many as in the previous year. Others opting to partially upgrade their cabinets are refinishing the exteriors or replacing doors only.

The share of renovating homeowners adding or upgrading a pantry space also increased, with 46% upgrading their pantry cabinets, up 3 percentage points from the prior year. The share of renovating homeowners adding a walk-in pantry grew to 13%, up from 10% the year before.
Zawadski Homes Inc.
Erin Carlyle
Open-Concept Kitchens Lose Appeal — Except When They Open to the Outdoors

The share of renovating homeowners opening their kitchens to create open-concept floor plans (43%) dropped significantly this year compared with two years ago (53%). (An open-concept kitchen is open to other spaces.) Many people have experienced the downsides of this setup while they’ve been home during the pandemic, often with two partners working at home as kids attend virtual school from home.

While a smaller share of remodeling homeowners want their kitchens to be open to other indoor spaces, more than 1 in 5 are choosing to open their kitchens to the outdoors. That’s consistent with a steady trend we’ve seen on Houzz of increased demand for outdoor home professionals.

Demand for Home Design and Remodeling Soars Amid the Pandemic
Jennifer Wundrow Interior Design
Neutral Kitchen Palettes Reign

Renovating homeowners are continuing to seek out neutral tones for their remodeled spaces. The top colors for upgraded cabinets in renovated kitchens are white (41%), medium wood tones (13%) and gray (10%). Neutrals are also trending for kitchen walls, with gray (28%), white (26%) and beige (21%) the top picks.

Still, some homeowners are introducing more colorful alternatives to their kitchen walls, like blue (7%) or green (4%). Some are bringing color in through backsplashes or appliances. White may be the top backsplash color pick (37%), but nearly 1 in 5 of those upgrading their backsplashes chooses a multicolored option. And 1 in 10 upgrading appliances chooses black stainless steel, while another 6% are selecting black appliances in another material.
Garrison Foundry Architecture + Decor
Kitchen Islands Stand Out

While neutrals are popular for wall cabinetry, many renovating homeowners (41%) are choosing contrasting colors for their kitchen island cabinets. Blue (27%) and gray (20%) are the top contrasting color picks among those who choose a contrasting island color, whereas just 13% are choosing these colors for their main cabinetry.
Abbey Hall Interiors
Median Spend Is Flat as Remodeling Scope Decreases

A large share of renovating homeowners are upgrading major kitchen features like countertops (88%), backsplashes (83%) and sinks (80%) during their kitchen remodels. That said, for the third year in a row, homeowners are scaling back project scope. For instance, a smaller share of homeowners are upgrading their light fixtures (74%) and appliances (51%) compared with the previous year (79% and 56%, respectively).

Meanwhile, the median spend on major kitchen remodels — those in which all the cabinets and appliances are replaced — completed in mid-2020 stayed steady from the previous year at $35,000. This number reflects all project types, both with and without professional help.

The median refers to the midpoint spending level nationally, self-reported by homeowners. Because it is the midpoint, it indicates that half of renovating homeowners spent more, while half spent less.

The 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study gathered information from 2,014 Houzz users who reported that they were homeowners age 18 or older who had completed a kitchen remodel or addition in the past 12 months, were currently working on one or were planning to start one in the next three months. The survey was fielded in June and July 2020.

Download the full study here

More on Houzz
Browse kitchen photos for inspiration
Read stories about kitchen design
Shop for kitchen products
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
See 16 comments
Explore Related Topics
Inside HouzzConsumer Trends ResearchKitchen TrendsKitchen DesignData WatchFor Pros
Read Related Stories
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands NowWhat Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands Now
By Erin Carlyle·44
Consumer Trends Research
Top Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled KitchensTop Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled Kitchens
By Erin Carlyle·2
Kitchen Design
Top Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends StudyTop Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
By Erin Carlyle·16
Consumer Trends Research
12 Home Pros Look Back on a Decade of Houzz12 Home Pros Look Back on a Decade of Houzz
By Annie Thornton·7
Inside Houzz
Top Vanity, Sink and Mirror Style Picks for Master Baths in 2020Top Vanity, Sink and Mirror Style Picks for Master Baths in 2020
By Erin Carlyle·1
Consumer Trends Research
Top Colors and Materials for Master Bath Remodels in 2020Top Colors and Materials for Master Bath Remodels in 2020
By Erin Carlyle·13
Consumer Trends Research
Homeowners Focus on the Shower in Master Bathroom RemodelsHomeowners Focus on the Shower in Master Bathroom Remodels
By Erin Carlyle·19
Consumer Trends Research
Top Takeaways From the 2020 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends StudyTop Takeaways From the 2020 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study
By Erin Carlyle·11
Consumer Trends Research
What Homeowners Are Changing About Their HomesWhat Homeowners Are Changing About Their Homes
By Erin Carlyle·13
Sheltering at Home
Why Remodels Go Over Budget, and How to Keep Yours in LineWhy Remodels Go Over Budget, and How to Keep Yours in Line
By Erin Carlyle·23
Budgeting Your Project
How Long It Took to Plan and Complete a Remodel in 2019How Long It Took to Plan and Complete a Remodel in 2019
By Erin Carlyle·5
Consumer Trends Research
See Which Smart Home Products Remodeling Homeowners Chose in 2019See Which Smart Home Products Remodeling Homeowners Chose in 2019
By Erin Carlyle·7
Consumer Trends Research
Baby Boomers and Gen Xers Drove Remodeling and Spending in 2019Baby Boomers and Gen Xers Drove Remodeling and Spending in 2019
By Erin Carlyle·0
For Pros
The Top Home Upgrades Homeowners Tackled in 2019The Top Home Upgrades Homeowners Tackled in 2019
By Erin Carlyle·20
Consumer Trends Research
Key Takeaways From the 2020 U.S. Houzz & Home StudyKey Takeaways From the 2020 U.S. Houzz & Home Study
By Erin Carlyle·7
Consumer Trends Research
Shop Related Categories
Bar Stools & Counter Stools
Bar Stools & Counter Stools
Kitchen Faucets
Kitchen Faucets
Kitchen Sinks
Kitchen Sinks
Tile
Tile
Dining Tables
Dining Tables
Dining Chairs
Dining Chairs
Sponsored
King Construction Company LLC
8 Reviews
Loudoun County, VA Custom Builder for Equestrian Facilities
People who liked this story also liked
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands Now
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands NowFull Story
Top Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled Kitchens
Top Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled KitchensFull Story
Top Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
Top Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends StudyFull Story
12 Home Pros Look Back on a Decade of Houzz
12 Home Pros Look Back on a Decade of HouzzFull Story
Top Vanity, Sink and Mirror Style Picks for Master Baths in 2020
Top Vanity, Sink and Mirror Style Picks for Master Baths in 2020Full Story
Top Colors and Materials for Master Bath Remodels in 2020
Top Colors and Materials for Master Bath Remodels in 2020Full Story
Homeowners Focus on the Shower in Master Bathroom Remodels
Homeowners Focus on the Shower in Master Bathroom RemodelsFull Story
Top Takeaways From the 2020 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study
Top Takeaways From the 2020 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends StudyFull Story
What Homeowners Are Changing About Their Homes
What Homeowners Are Changing About Their HomesFull Story
Why Remodels Go Over Budget, and How to Keep Yours in Line
Why Remodels Go Over Budget, and How to Keep Yours in LineFull Story
Sponsored
FM&H Brothers Landscapes, LLC
Loudoun County's Recognized Leader in Quality Landscaping Solutions
  • United States
  • ABOUT
  • CAREERS
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FOR BRANDS
  • SELL
  • Privacy & Notice
  • Terms
  • © 2021 Houzz Inc.