5 Takeaways From the 2020 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report

Showstopping kitchens can be the linch pin in a home sale: Buyers want big, open, and beautiful. But the specifics of what makes a great, up-to-date kitchen is more nuanced than just making a cohesive design. It’s increasingly costly to produce the picture-perfect kitchen buyers expect, so getting it right the first time can save homeowners thousands in renovation costs. Take a look at some of the top lessons from the 2020 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report and cook up some ideas for your next home design. Hint: Include a kitchen island and choose high-quality, neutral cabinetry. 

Houzz’s 2020 Kitchen Trends Report revealed that although the scope of remodeling projects is diminishing, homeowners are spending more money to enhance a kitchen’s aesthetic and features. 

“It is remarkable to see median spend on kitchen remodels grow by double digits for the third year in a row,”  says Nino Sitchinava, Houzz principal economist. “Combined with a two-year decline in the scope of kitchen remodels, spend increases confirm our findings of significant price inflation in the home remodeling industry due to changes in international trade policy.”

[Related: 5 THINGS TO KNOW FROM THE 2019 HOUZZ BATHROOM TRENDS REPORT]

The median spend on kitchen remodels for 2019 sat at $35,000, a 17 percent increase from the year prior. With renovations being such a pricey undertaking, many Americans are waiting until the right time to renovate, which the report says “is a testament to the aging housing stock in America.” When homeowners do remodel, they make it count by updating cabinets, upgrading materials, and adding luxury touches such as a modern kitchen island to the mix. 

“Homeowners are dealing with increasing product prices by substituting materials, as indicated by slower growth in the use of engineered quartz and a decline in the popularity of engineered flooring materials, highly impacted by tariffs on imported materials from China,” Sitchinava says. 

[Related: 5 DESIGN, PRODUCT RESOLUTIONS YOU SHOULD MAKE FOR 2020]

Despite the high cost, however, renovated kitchens added value to homeowners’ lives, with more than half of respondents using the new space to entertain, while 94 percent use their new kitchen to cook. The renovation even changed some homeowner’s lifestyles, with one-third saying they led healthier lives once the project completed. 

Houzz analyzed the data from a 76-question survey taken by over 2,500 homeowners who had recently completed a kitchen remodel, were currently remodeling, or would start a remodel within three months. 

Here are 5 takeaways from the 2020 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report: 

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