The latest 2025 Houzz U.S. Kitchen Trends Study highlights significant shifts in kitchen design, investment priorities, and consumer preferences. As a designer, these insights can help you anticipate client demands, curate collections, and refine your offerings for high-end renovations and product selections.
2025 Kitchen Trends
1. The Kitchen as the Heart of the Home – And It’s Getting Bigger
- Expansion Trend: 35% of homeowners are increasing kitchen size by borrowing space from dining rooms (29%), living rooms (12%), and even adding extensions (18%).
- Why It Matters: Open-concept layouts continue to thrive, requiring innovative zoning solutions to maintain functionality and flow.
2. Budgets Are Growing – Luxury Kitchens Lead the Way
- Spending Surge:
- Median kitchen remodel spend: $60,000 (up from $55,000).
- The top 10% of luxury remodels exceed $180,000+.
- Major remodels for large kitchens (250+ sq ft): $72,000 median, with high-end projects hitting $200,000.
- Why It Matters: This increase signals strong demand for bespoke finishes, premium appliances, and high-touch services.
3. Style Revival: Traditional Kitchens Are Back
- Transitional (25%) remains #1, but Traditional (14%) made a comeback, overtaking Modern (12%) and Contemporary (11%).
- Farmhouse (7%) continues to decline.
- Why It Matters: Designers should embrace heritage details, intricate millwork, and classic finishes while blending them with modern convenience.
4. Cabinetry & Materials: Mixing Textures and Visibility
- Glass-front cabinets (36%) gain traction for displaying dishware, glassware, and decor.
- Stock cabinetry (12%) is on the rise, but fully custom (45%) and semi-custom (32%) still dominate.
- Wood tones are popular, especially for contrasting lower cabinets (33%).
- Why It Matters: High-end homeowners seek a curated, collected-over-time aesthetic with a balance of open shelving and concealed storage.
5. Countertops: White Still Dominates, but Black & Wood Gain Popularity
- White (41%) is the top countertop color, followed by off-white (23%).
- Black countertops (8%) are trending, particularly for contrasting islands (19%).
- Wood and butcher block islands (31%) are the leading choice for mixed-material designs.
- Why It Matters: Expect monochrome palettes with dramatic island contrasts, combining natural and engineered surfaces for warmth and texture.
6. Backsplash Trends: Expanding Coverage & Tile Preferences
- Full backsplash coverage (to cabinets or range hood) rose to 67%.
- Ceiling-height backsplashes increased to 12%.
- Rectangular tiles (68%) remain the most popular shape, followed by hexagonal (4%) and herringbone patterns (7%).
- Why It Matters: More homeowners are choosing statement backsplashes as focal points, with slab backsplashes (24%) gaining traction for a seamless, high-end look.
7. Flooring: Vinyl Surpasses Hardwood
- Vinyl/resilient flooring (22%) overtakes hardwood (21%) as the top choice.
- Ceramic & porcelain tile (20%) remain strong contenders.
- Why It Matters: Vinyl’s rise reflects demand for durability, ease of maintenance, and realistic wood-look alternatives.
8. Smart Appliances & Specialty Features in High Demand
- 63%+ of homeowners opt for specialty features in ovens, refrigerators, and microwaves.
- Smart ovens: 39% prefer phone-controlled features.
- Touchless & water-efficient faucets (23%) are on the rise.
- Why It Matters: The luxury smart kitchen is becoming a standard expectation, not a niche add-on.
9. Sustainability Matters, But Cost-Efficiency Drives Decisions
- 90% of homeowners choose at least one sustainable feature.
- LED lighting (67%) and energy-efficient appliances (57%) lead.
- VOC-free paints & eco-friendly materials are gaining ground.
- Why It Matters: Green design is evolving from an ethical choice to a cost-conscious, future-proofing strategy.
10. Islands: Bigger, More Functional & Customizable
- 58% of homeowners add or upgrade kitchen islands.
- 52% of upgraded islands now exceed 7 feet in length.
- Storage is key: 80% choose drawers, 79% prefer cabinets, while 57% incorporate appliances (microwaves, dishwashers, cooktops).
- Why It Matters: The kitchen island has become a command center – multi-functional, statement-worthy, and heavily customized.
Key Takeaways for Design Tastemakers
✅ Customization & high-end finishes remain essential for luxury remodels.
✅ Smart, sustainable, and specialty features drive purchasing decisions.
✅ Traditional styles are re-emerging, blended with modern materials.
✅ Oversized islands & statement backsplashes dominate kitchen design.
✅ Material & texture contrasts (cabinets, countertops, islands) are key design elements.
➡️ How to Leverage These Trends
🔹 For Designers: Emphasize transitional/traditional aesthetics with a modern twist.
🔹 For Retailers: Curate premium hardware, smart appliances, and sustainable materials.
🔹 For Brands: Position products as solutions for luxury, efficiency, and eco-conscious living.
The future of kitchen design is about blending elegance, technology, and practicality – and Design Tastemakers are in the perfect position to lead the way.
Via HOUZZ
