Kitchen renovation trends: what you need to know about high-tech upgrades, style and building materials when planning your kitchen renovations.

Thinking about renovating your kitchen? You might want to pay attention to the latest kitchen renovation trends so that it’s easier to sell your home when the time comes.

Homeowners today want high-tech upgrades, open-concept layouts and hire help to make the most of their kitchen renovations, according to the latest study from Houzz, an online community of homeowners and renovation professionals.

Most homeowners remodel because they can no longer stand their old kitchen or wanted to do it all along and finally have the funds to get it done. Other homeowners want to personalize a recent home purchase, and “make it their own.”  

Whatever the reason, your kitchen renovation won’t be cheap. American homeowners spend roughly $11,000 on kitchen remodels (an average of $33,000 for a major remodel of a kitchen 200+ square feet), and some spend a whole lot more. In some kitchens, $33,000 won’t even buy all of the high-end appliances you’ll need. What upgrades and features do homeowners want to make the most of their investment?

Kitchen Renovation Style

More than 80 percent of homeowners opt for a change in style when renovating their kitchens. Transitional style, a combination of traditional and contemporary features, is the most popular style. Farmhouse style has risen in the past few years (thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines and their HGTV show) and now almost ties with contemporary style for second-most popular. Other homeowners opt for traditional or modern styles and less than 5 percent opt for craftsman kitchen style.

Homeowners Want High-Tech Features and New Appliances

Most homeowners upgrade to high-tech faucets during their kitchen renovation for features like water efficiency, no-fingerprint coating and touch-free activation. A third of homeowners select high-tech appliances for wireless controls, color touchscreen displays and build in features.

Nearly 90 percent of homeowners replace all or some appliances during a kitchen renovation. Refrigerators and dishwashers are the most common upgrades, but cooktops are growing in popularity. Most owners opt for regular (i.e. “silver”) stainless steel appliances, but 10 percent now opt for black stainless steel.

Homeowners are also purchasing new electronics, like TVs, docking stations and home assistants to complete their kitchen remodel.

Kitchen Cabinet and Backsplash Renovation Trends

Homeowners who upgrade kitchen cabinets are most likely to opt for custom or semi-custom cabinets. Shaker, which includes recessed-panel doors, is the leading cabinet door style, by far. The second-most popular style, flat-panel cabinet doors, is used by less than 20 percent of homeowners, in comparison to more than 50 percent of homeowners who opt for shaker style.

Most homeowners install a new backsplash as part of their kitchen upgrade. Ceramic or porcelain tile is the most popular material choice, but natural stone is a close second. More than half of homeowners choose a brick pattern for backsplash tile with the other half evenly split between other options like herringbone, grid and diamond patterns.

Engineered Over Natural Materials

For the first time since Houzz has been conducting their kitchen renovation trends study, engineered quartz is now ahead of stone as countertop material of choice. Close to 50 percent of homeowners opt for engineered quartz while only 45 percent opt for natural stone.

Hardwood floors have significantly declined in kitchens while engineered wood, laminate and vinyl/resistant flooring have grown more popular year after year. Less than 25 percent of homeowners choose hardwood floor and a combined 40 percent now opt for engineered flooring materials when renovating.

Renovating to Meet Aging Needs

Baby boomers represent more than 50 percent of renovating homeowners today. Most of them plan to remain in their home for 10 years or longer. Almost 30 percent are renovating to address current needs and 10 percent are addressing future needs. Accessibility is their main goal. They want bigger kitchens and they want the kitchen to open up to a nearby room.

Is It More Stressful to Stay Put or Move Out?

Most homeowners experience at least some stress from kitchen renovations, but those who partially move out or completely move out are more likely to experience extreme stress from renovations. Particularly, homeowners who partially move out are most likely to regret their temporary living arrangement. More than half of homeowners move into a family or friends’ home during renovation while close to 40 percent take a vacation or family trip. Less than 15 percent of owners stay at a hotel or motel.

Those who stay put during a kitchen renovation most commonly set up cooking stations and dining areas inside the home, or, surprisingly, more than 20 percent of them make no special arrangements at all.