Houzz recently released its 2016 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, a valuable resource for designers, builders, and homeowners planning a kitchen remodel. The report highlights key trends shaping today’s kitchens, including the rise of the “super kitchen”—a multifunctional space that blends cooking with dining, entertaining, and living-area functions, often incorporating design elements and amenities typically found in other rooms.
Key findings from the study include:
- Kitchens as the home’s hub: Most homeowners spend more than three hours per day in the kitchen. Beyond cooking and baking, popular activities in the space include eating and dining (69%), entertaining (49%), and socializing (43%).
- Open-plan trend: Nearly half of renovating homeowners are opening their kitchens up to other living spaces—48% are making their kitchens more open to adjacent areas, and 46% of renovated kitchens are fully open to other interior spaces. About 18% are creating greater openness to outdoor areas.
- Style changes with remodels: Renovations often bring a change in style: 76% of homeowners update their kitchen’s style during the project. The most popular styles are transitional (21%), contemporary (19%), and modern (12%).
- Features borrowed from living and dining rooms: Homeowners are incorporating elements typically found in living and dining areas into their kitchens. These additions include dining tables (25%), chandeliers (23%), televisions (14%), and desks or workspaces (7%). Entertaining-focused features are also on the rise, such as wine refrigerators (11%) and built-in coffee and tea stations (10%).
- Professional assistance is common: The majority of homeowners (87%) hire professionals for kitchen renovations. General contractors are the most commonly engaged (54%), followed by kitchen designers (27%), interior designers (14%), and architects (11%).
These findings emphasize how kitchens have evolved into multifunctional centers of the home, prioritizing openness, entertaining, and integrated design. For professionals and homeowners planning remodels, the study offers clear guidance on layout preferences, popular styles, and sought-after features.
We’ll be attending the K/BIS and IBS shows next week to bring more coverage from one of the country’s largest home industry events and to report on how these trends are showing up in new products and showrooms.