Houzz Releases 2026 Kitchen Trends Study

Palo Alto, CA, January 13, 2026-Houzz has released its 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. 

Based on a survey of nearly 1,800 respondents, the report finds that more than three-quarters of homeowners (76%) add specialty built-in features. Of those, many focus on storage with pantry cabinets (47%) and walk-in pantries (16%), and nearly one in ten include a butler’s pantry or prep kitchen (7%). Top motivations for butler's pantries are keeping clutter out of sight (30%) and gaining additional storage (22%). Meanwhile, task-specific built-ins are also popular, including beverage stations (24%)-such as coffee and espresso bars-and baking stations (9%). Two percent even include a snack station. 

The emphasis on storage continues throughout the kitchen, where cabinet upgrades remain nearly universal (84%). More than two-thirds of renovating homeowners (68%) replace all cabinets during kitchen renovations, while just over a quarter (27%) opt for partial replacements. Almost all homeowners (94%) integrate specialty storage features in their upgraded cabinetry, including pull-out waste or recycling bins (64%) and cabinets or drawers for cookie sheets or trays (55%), spices (41%) and cutlery (38%). Solutions for hard-to-reach spaces include revolving corner trays, pullout shelves and deep drawer organizers (34%, each). 

“Specialty and built-in storage is fundamental to how today’s kitchens function,” said Misty Callaway, designer of Callaway Homes. “When storage is thoughtfully designed, from customized drawers and pull-out shelves to walk-in pantries, it reduces clutter, improves efficiency and makes the kitchen easier to use every single day. These features help homeowners get more out of their space.”

For many homeowners, kitchen renovations are no longer optional, they’re becoming essential. Renovating homeowners are more likely to cite kitchen deterioration or dysfunction as a top motivator (38%) compared with the previous year (35%). This signals growing urgency to address kitchens that no longer meet homeowners’ needs, putting practical concerns nearly on par with dissatisfaction with an outdated style (41%), the number one renovation driver. Personalizing a recently purchased home declined cour percentage points to 24%.

“Kitchen renovations are increasingly shaped by broader housing market pressures,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz head of economic research. “With aging housing stock, a shortage of available homes and longer homeowner tenure, more homeowners are choosing to invest in improving the functionality of the kitchens they already have rather than move. That’s driving an emphasis on practical upgrades such as built-in storage and efficient layouts that help kitchens better support everyday living.”

The vast majority of renovating homeowners (87%) hire professionals for their kitchen renovation projects.  General contractors are the most in demand overall (48%), while kitchen designers  remain the most commonly hired specialists, engaged by more than one in five renovating homeowners (22%). Professional involvement is even more pronounced on projects of $50,000 or more: Nearly all renovating homeowners (98%) hire at least one pro, most commonly general contractors (60%), building specialists (53%) and cabinetmakers (43%). These projects are also more likely to involve design professionals, with more than one-third working with kitchen designers (34%), along with an increased number using design-build firms (18%), interior designers (13%), architects (13%) and kitchen remodelers (11%). 

• Homeowners plan for special needs: Over half of renovating homeowners (53%) address current or future special needs in their kitchen renovation (up three percentage points from the previous year). Aging-related updates rise year over year to 31% (from 26%) for current needs and 41% (from 35%) for future needs, highlighting growing long-term planning considerations.
• Transitional style holds steady: Transitional remains the most common style for newly renovated kitchens (25%), followed by Traditional (12%), Modern (11%) and Contemporary (10%). The share of homeowners reporting no particular style doubled (6%, up from 3% the previous year).
• Kitchen islands double as appliance hubs: More than half of renovating homeowners (53%) install at least one appliance in their kitchen island. Dishwashers (35%) and microwaves (32%) are the most common additions. 
• Slab backsplashes gain ground: Tile remains the dominant backsplash material in renovated kitchens (72%), while slab backsplashes now account for 28% (up from 24% the previous year). Ceramic is the leading tile type (49%), while engineered quartz is the most popular slab material (39%).
• Specialty features in appliances: Many renovating homeowners opt for upgraded appliances, with 78% choosing refrigerators or freezers with specialty features such as water filter change alerts (64%) and adjustable temperature zones (49%). Similarly, 62% select ovens with added functionality, led by remote monitoring and control (36%), control locks (30%) and precise temperature settings (28%).