Storage, Built-ins and Prep Spaces Lead Kitchen Designs

It’s the most functional room in the house, so a new survey outlining consumer preferences for the kitchen makes perfect sense.

More than three-quarters of homeowners told the U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study that the most important thing they want in their kitchens is specialty built-in features. It’s a big change from years gone by when flashy designs were in demand: now it’s all about functionality. 

The report found that 76 percent of homeowners want specialty built-in features: pantry cabinets lead the list of options (47 percent), and beverage stations (24 percent) are in the second spot. Also popular were built-in seating (17 percent), wine fridges (also 17 percent), walk-in pantries (16 percent) and breakfast bars (14 percent).

“Specialty and built-in storage is fundamental to how today’s kitchens function,” Misty Callaway, a designer with Callaway Homes, told the Houzz study. “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.”

Other highlights from the new study are:

• Wood color finishes are the most popular choice for cabinets, surpassing white, the previous top choice. Among wood tones, medium (15 percent) leads, followed by light (11 percent) and dark (3 percent).
• Upgraded cabinetry is picked by 84 percent of homeowners, with features like pull-out waste and recycling bins and dedicated cabinets or drawers for things like cookie sheets, spices and cutlery most in demand.
• Larger and longer kitchen islands remain popular with nearly 60 percent of home renovations adding or updating the feature.
• Transitional styles are the first choice for kitchens, followed by traditional, modern and contemporary.

The new U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study is based on responses from more than 1,800 homeowners.

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