Homeowners are making room in their budgets to prioritize kitchen remodeling and renovations, according to a new study.
Houzz, the leading home renovation and design platform, recently released its 2022 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study, which gathered information from 2,400 homeowners who are planning, in the middle of, or have recently completed a kitchen renovation.
"We're seeing a rise in overall kitchen renovation spending as homeowners not only splurge on specific features but also make major modifications to the kitchen layout, systems and walls, many of which require the assistance of licensed home professionals," Marine Sargsyan, Houzz senior economist, said in the study.
Here's a rundown of some of the key trends that homeowners want to see in their kitchen remodeling in 2022:
Countertop central
Countertops were the most commonly improved feature during kitchen renovations, with more than 90% of homeowners upgrading them. Engineered quartz remains the most popular material for upgraded kitchen countertops, with 42% of homeowners opting for it. While granite remains the second most popular material, it has dropped to 24% from 28% last year, the study reports.
"It is clear that homeowners are willing to spend a little more to get exactly what they want in countertops that are both beautiful and practical, despite rising prices of labor, products and materials," Sargsyan said.
And as people continue to work from home, homeowners are making room for bigger kitchen islands. Nearly 40% of new islands measure longer than 7 feet today. Homeowners are also brightening up their spaces; 92% installed new light fixtures above islands.
