The heart of the home, our kitchens; have been drastically impacted by the current lifestyle changes brought on by Covid, especially when it comes to organization and storage options in this now multi-functional space. As a result, kitchen storage has become a priority in home renovations and according to a 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study of more than 2000 U.S. homeowners who were planning or recently completed a kitchen renovation. The results show that:

• nearly all renovations included some work on cabinets, with most replacing all cabinets
• partial cabinet upgrades were included in newly renovated kitchens, up from last year
• pantry space also grew, with nearly half of homeowners upgrading pantry cabinets and one in eight adding a walk-in pantry
• an overwhelmingly number of homeowners (76 percent) chose custom or semicustom cabinetry for their kitchen renovation

Shaker-style and white cabinet doors are holding as the leading choice in door style but its how the cabinets are equipped inside where we’re seeing the most customization. Built-in organizers, drawers and trays are very popular as well as sensible when you consider the added function and ease of use that customization offers. The most popular organizers are for cookie sheets and spices while the most common specialty drawers are pullout waste or recycling drawers, shelving trays such as Lazy Susans and pullout or swing-out trays.

Homeowners are also reaching out for professional help in redesigning their space to accommodate the multifunctional needs of the family. The circle of support can include a kitchen designer, general contractors and cabinetmakers. With the median spend for kitchen remodels at $35K, a good team is worth the investment to avoid costly mistakes.

Kitchens today are being called upon to serve the homeowner in a multi-functional way and as time would have it, the heart of the home remains just that, the steady and nourishing anchor of home in this everchanging world.