Changing the style of the kitchen remains the leading motivator, according to the 2025 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study in kitchen trends and renovations. If you can no longer stand the style of your old kitchen, you’re in good company, as you’ll see tons of kitchen style ideas and layouts in the kitchens featured in the annual Kitchens of the Year award winners.
Once the new kitchen style is determined, layout is the next major change/update to make as walls and traffic flow, task zones are impacted in the kitchen space. More than a third of the participants indicated that square footage was increased (with some willing to shrink their dining rooms or build a home addition) in order to create a larger kitchen. The most popular kitchen layout is an L-shaped, followed by U-shaped, then Galley.
The most popular kitchen upgrades during renovations begin with countertops, followed by backsplash, cabinets and sinks, in this order. Decorative elements such as faucets, light fixtures and flooring are also included in the upgrade category. To my surprise, according to the Houzz Study, kitchen appliances were not as high a priority as the previously mentioned upgrades.
White remains the top color choice for upgraded kitchen cabinets, with 33 percent of homeowners opting for it. Wood tones, followed by Off-white finish out the top three. Gray, green and blue almost tie for the second most popular cabinet color choice in the study.
For homeowners who choose contrasting cabinet colors for their upper and lower kitchen cabinets, white is the clear winner for upper cabinets, while wood (followed by blue), is the top choice for lower cabinets.
The most surprising trend piggy-backs on the number one motivator for renovating the kitchen, which is to change the kitchen style. Although transitional style kitchens remain the most popular (25%), traditional style kitchens are making a comeback, rising by 5 percentage points, now at 14 percent.
One final note regarding kitchen appliances; homeowners love appliances with special features, beginning with microwaves, refrigerators with freezers and in ovens. Sensor reheat in microwaves is the most popular, followed by automated cooking and oven functionality. Did you know that control locks (safety by preventing accidental use) are popular across all major kitchen appliances.
The 2025 Kitchen of the Year Award winners are loaded with inspiration and application for your kitchen upgrade. Enjoy incorporating these popular kitchen trends featured in this post for your upcoming kitchen project. Find more inspiration by visiting Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, at 2025 Kitchen of the Year Award.