The median amount spent by kitchen remodelers on updates and upgrades increased from $45,000 in mid-2022 to $55,000 in mid-2023. So what are they spending that money on?
Houzz said the funds will be used for major structural changes. The remodeling and design platform compiled its 2024 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study by polling more than 3,400 homeowners who completed kitchen remodels in the past year.
Notably, remodelers are less likely to remodel kitchens with the intent of increasing a home's resale value than they were a year ago. Instead, homeowners are updating their spaces to fit their tastes and lifestyles, with 42% of homeowners saying they needed to remodel because they simply didn't like the style of their old kitchen. About 35% of homeowners said they remodeled because their old kitchen was outdated or they could finally afford to do so.
These are the kitchen remodels and trends we expect homeowners to prioritize in 2024.
Legacy CDM Inc., Craig Hampton, via Brooke Wagner Design © Mellon Studio
Open Concept
Most people renovating their kitchens choose an open-concept space, primarily for functionality.
“After a temporary waning of interest during the pandemic as people sought separation and privacy from other households, we're seeing a return to open-concept spaces,” Houzz staff economist Marine Sarkissian said in the report. “Creating a more open kitchen can be appealing to homeowners from both a functional and aesthetic standpoint, but doing so can impact the overall project budget and require more technical modifications, such as remodeling walls or changing the layout.”
No matter how you look at it, homeowners are prioritizing their kitchen layout, with 45% making structural changes that change the flow of the space. Additionally, 39% of remodelers are remodeling walls in their kitchen and 7% are relocating their kitchen entirely (up from 4% a year ago).
Professional Employment
More than four in five homeowners are relying on professional help when it comes to renovating their kitchen, which isn't surprising considering the structural changes they're making. The most common professional hired was a general contractor at 55%, followed by a cabinet maker at 35%, the highest level in four years. Additionally, 33% of homeowners are hiring a designer or professional remodeler.
Via Jessica Kortun Home © Unique Exposure Photography
Large islands
More than two in five homeowners are opting for kitchen islands that are seven feet or longer, reflecting homeowners using them as a space for entertaining and socializing after completing their remodel, while islands less than six feet in length saw a 5% decrease in popularity.
High-tech appliances
More than half of kitchen remodelers want to upgrade all of their appliances during their remodel instead of just a few. 44% of remodelers choose high-tech upgrades, 30% choose appliances with WiFi capability, and 29% want appliances that can be controlled with a smartphone. Interest in touchscreen appliances, smart home connectivity, and built-in apps is also growing year after year.
Accommodation for the Aging Population
Following the bathroom trend of installing rimless showers to allow seniors to stay in familiar spaces, many home remodelers are updating kitchens with aging family members in mind. Nearly 60% are incorporating pull-out cabinets into their designs, 54% are adding lighting, and 48% are adding wider drawer handles for easier access.
Additionally, select safety features such as non-slip flooring and rounded countertops have also become more popular over the past year.
In a Houzz survey, 18% of kitchen remodelers undertook a kitchen remodel to make the space more comfortable.
Via Nuela Designs © Avery Nicole Photography
Upgraded backsplash
While countertop upgrades remain the No. 1 kitchen remodel, 86% of kitchen remodelers are prioritizing backsplash upgrades, up two percentage points from last year. Over 60% choose a backsplash that extends all the way to the cabinets or range hood, and an unprecedented number of remodelers (10%) choose a backsplash that extends all the way to the ceiling.
In terms of materials, most homeowners prefer a ceramic or porcelain backsplash (54%), followed by engineered quartz (11%), marble (9%), quartzite (6%) and granite (4%).
Pendant lighting
Nearly 94% of homeowners upgrade their lighting when remodeling their kitchen. Pendant lights are the most popular, with 63% choosing to upgrade the lighting above their kitchen island. Pendant lights are followed by recessed lights at 36% and chandeliers at 10%.
Storage Solutions
Intentional storage is another way homeowners are improving their kitchen's functionality: Over 50% of renovators prioritize being able to store cookie sheets and trays in their new kitchen, followed by spices (44%), cutlery (41%), microwaves (38%) and other cookware (37%).
However, the most popular type of specialty storage is a pull-out trash or recycling drawer, with 66% of renovators incorporating this upgrade, up 5 percentage points from last year.
