The 2025 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study provides valuable insights into how American homeowners are renovating their kitchens. This annual report, based on a survey of 1,620 Houzz users who completed, are working on, or are planning kitchen renovations, offers a detailed look at design preferences, spending patterns, and renovation priorities. The 2025 Houzz study reveals several kitchen design trends that are reshaping American homes, from style choices to material preferences and sustainable features. This blog post summarizes the key findings to help homeowners and professionals navigate the evolving landscape of kitchen design.
One of the most notable findings from the 2025 Houzz study is the resurgence of traditional kitchen style. While 81% of renovating homeowners are changing their kitchen style (down 3 percentage points from last year), traditional style has increased by 5 percentage points to reach 14%. This marks a significant shift in design preferences, though transitional style remains the top choice at 25%.
Modern and contemporary styles continue to hold steady at 12% and 11% respectively, showing consistent popularity among homeowners. Meanwhile, farmhouse style continues its decline, now chosen by only 7% of renovating homeowners. This trend suggests a move away from the rustic aesthetic that dominated kitchen design in previous years.
Understanding kitchen design trends can help homeowners make informed renovation decisions that balance current preferences with timeless appeal. The comeback of traditional style indicates a potential shift toward more classic, enduring design elements.
The report provides fascinating insights into kitchen renovation costs across different project scopes. As of mid-2024, the top 10% of spenders (90th percentile) invest $180,000 or more on major remodels of high-end kitchens—triple the median cost of $60,000. For minor remodels, high-end projects still command significant investment at $67,000, more than triple the median of $20,000.
Kitchen size plays a crucial role in determining costs. For kitchens of 250 square feet or more, the top 10% of spenders invest $200,000 on major remodels, more than double the median of $72,000. Even minor remodels of larger kitchens see substantial spending, with half of homeowners investing over $35,000 and the top 10% spending $74,300 or more.
These figures highlight the wide range of kitchen renovation costs depending on project scope, kitchen size, and quality level. Homeowners planning renovations should consider these benchmarks when establishing their budgets.
While most homeowners (64%) maintain their kitchen’s original footprint during renovations, more than a third (35%) increase the size of their kitchens. When expanding, many homeowners repurpose adjacent spaces, with 29% incorporating part of the dining room and 12% utilizing living room space. Nearly one in five homeowners (18%) builds a home addition to create extra kitchen space.
Among those changing their kitchen layout, L-shaped designs are most popular (37%), followed closely by U-shaped layouts (33%). Galley kitchens account for 11% of layout changes, while single-wall layouts (5%) and G-shaped designs (4%) are less common choices.
After renovation, more than half (53%) of kitchens measure 200 square feet or more—a slight increase of 1 percentage point from the previous year. Mid-sized kitchens between 100-199 square feet account for 34% of renovated spaces, while smaller kitchens under 100 square feet represent 13% of completed projects.
The report reveals valuable insights into popular kitchen backsplash ideas, with rectangular tiles dominating the market at 68%. Homeowners seeking kitchen backsplash ideas are increasingly choosing full coverage up to cabinets or range hoods (67%), a 5 percentage point increase from the previous year. Additionally, extending backsplashes to the ceiling is gaining popularity, now chosen by 12% of homeowners—up 2 percentage points.
When it comes to patterns, horizontal brick leads among kitchen backsplash ideas, selected by nearly 40% of renovating homeowners. Horizontal stack follows at 15%, with herringbone and vertical stack patterns tied at 7% each. More specialized patterns like mosaic (5%), diamond (4%), and checkerboard (3%) appeal to smaller segments of homeowners.
For materials, ceramic remains the top choice at 34%, followed by porcelain (17%), engineered quartz (10%), and quartzite (8%). Less common options include glass (7%), marble (6%), zellige tile (4%), and granite (4%). These trends show a preference for classic tile shapes and patterns, with ceramic and porcelain maintaining their popularity due to their durability and versatility.
White continues to reign as the most popular cabinet color, chosen by 33% of renovating homeowners. Wood tones follow at 23% (combining light, medium, and dark wood), with off-white ranking third at 14%. Bold colors like green and blue each appeal to 5% of homeowners, while black (2%) and brown (1%) are the least popular choices.
For cabinet materials, solid wood dominates at 72%, with medium-density fiberboard (10%) and plywood (8%) far behind. The primary driver for material selection is look and feel (72%), followed by functionality (45%) and cost considerations (32%).
Regarding cabinet styles, Shaker remains the overwhelming favorite at 61%, though it has decreased by 3 percentage points from the previous year. Flat-panel cabinets have gained popularity, increasing by 3 percentage points to 22%, while raised-panel (12%) and glass-front (3%) styles are less common.
Storage solutions continue to be a priority, with pullout waste or recycling bins topping the list at 67%. Cookie sheet and tray organizers follow at 59%, while storage for spices and microwaves are equally popular at 43% each. Other popular features include cutlery trays (39%), Lazy Susans (36%), deep drawers (36%), and utensil organizers (35%).
The report reveals that 58% of renovating homeowners add or upgrade kitchen island designs during their projects. Among these, 30% are adding new islands while 28% are upgrading existing ones. Size matters in kitchen island designs, with more than half (52%) exceeding 7 feet in length, 29% measuring 6-7 feet, and 19% under 6 feet.
Rectangular kitchen island designs remain the most popular shape, chosen by 78% of homeowners, with L-shaped (6%) and square (5%) islands far less common. Storage is a top priority in kitchen island designs, with 80% incorporating drawers and 79% including cabinets with doors. Only 14% opt for open shelves, and just 2% choose islands without storage.
Many islands also house appliances, with 57% of homeowners adding at least one appliance. Microwaves lead at 37%, followed by dishwashers (29%), garbage disposals (20%), and cooktops (16%, up 3 percentage points). Beverage refrigerators (10%) and wine refrigerators (7%) appeal to smaller segments of homeowners looking for specialized functionality.
The 2025 Houzz study shows that 90% of renovating homeowners incorporate at least one sustainable feature in their kitchen projects. Cost effectiveness is the primary driver, cited by 72% of homeowners, while environmental concerns motivate 55%. Health considerations influence a smaller segment (12%).
Homeowners pursuing sustainable kitchen renovation typically start with LED lighting (67%) and energy-efficient appliances (57%, though down 5 percentage points from last year). Other popular sustainable choices include light dimmers (47%), timeless design (46%), water-efficient fixtures (30%), and energy-efficient windows (29%).
More specialized eco-friendly options include VOC-free paints and finishes (24%), eco-friendly flooring (16%), eco-friendly materials (14%), and nontoxic, sustainable cabinets (12%). These trends indicate that while sustainability is important to homeowners, practical considerations like long-term cost savings often drive these decisions.
The 2025 Houzz study highlights significant kitchen flooring trends, with vinyl/resilient materials taking the top spot at 22%. This marks a shift in the market, as vinyl has finally surpassed hardwood, which now stands at 21%. Ceramic or porcelain tile follows closely at 20%, showing continued popularity among homeowners.
Engineered wood holds steady at 16%, while laminate remains less common at 10%. Natural stone has declined for the second consecutive year, now chosen by only 5% of renovating homeowners. These kitchen flooring trends reflect a growing preference for durable, water-resistant materials that offer good value and easy maintenance.
For flooring colors, wood tones dominate at 46%, followed by brown (15%), gray (10%), beige (8%), and white (5%). These neutral color choices align with the overall preference for versatile, timeless design elements that can adapt to changing decor preferences.
The study reveals that 86% of renovating homeowners hire at least one professional for their kitchen project, consistent with the previous year. General contractors remain the most sought-after professionals, hired by 50% of homeowners, followed by cabinetmakers (32%) and kitchen designers (25%).
Architects (13%) and design-build professionals (12%) serve smaller segments of the market, offering specialized expertise for more complex projects. Only about one in five homeowners (19%) hires specialty service providers directly without a project manager, highlighting the value many place on having a coordinated approach to their renovation.
These hiring patterns underscore the complexity of kitchen renovations and the continued reliance on professional expertise to achieve desired results. The stability in professional hiring rates suggests that despite economic fluctuations, homeowners recognize the importance of skilled assistance for successful kitchen projects.
The 2025 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study provides valuable insights for homeowners planning renovations and professionals serving this market. Traditional style is making a comeback while transitional remains dominant; high-end kitchen renovations command premium prices; and homeowners are increasingly expanding their kitchens, often at the expense of dining rooms.
Material preferences show a mix of classic choices and practical innovations, with white cabinets, rectangular backsplash tiles, and vinyl flooring leading their respective categories. Storage solutions, particularly in islands, remain a top priority, while sustainable features are widely adopted, primarily driven by long-term cost savings.
These trends reflect a balance between timeless design elements and practical considerations, suggesting that today’s homeowners are making thoughtful, informed choices about their kitchen renovations. By understanding these patterns, both homeowners and professionals can make better decisions about kitchen design, materials, and functionality.
Jane is an Editor at OPPEIN Home, specializing in interior design and furniture. With nearly 10 years of experience, she turns complex design ideas into clear, engaging content—covering cabinetry trends, how-to guides, and product stories—to help homeowners find stylish, practical solutions.
-small-banner.webp)
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
