Houzz Inc., a leading all-in-one software platform for construction and design, has released its 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.
Based on a survey of nearly 1,800 respondents, the report finds that for many homeowners, kitchen renovations are no longer optional; they’re becoming essential. Renovating homeowners are more likely to cite kitchen deterioration or dysfunction as a top motivator (38%) compared with the previous year (35%). This signals growing urgency to address kitchens that no longer meet homeowners’ needs, putting practical concerns nearly on par with dissatisfaction with an outdated style (41%), the No. 1 renovation driver.
At the same time, personalizing a recently purchased home declined 4 percentage points to 24%.
“Kitchen renovations are increasingly shaped by broader housing market pressures,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz’s Head of Economic Research. “With aging housing stock, a shortage of available homes and longer homeowner tenure, more homeowners are choosing to invest in improving the functionality of the kitchens they already have rather than move. That’s driving an emphasis on practical upgrades such as built-in storage and efficient layouts that help kitchens better support everyday living.”
The vast majority of renovating homeowners (87%) hire professionals for their kitchen renovation projects. General contractors are the most in demand overall (48%), while kitchen designers remain the most commonly hired specialists, engaged by more than 1 in 5 renovating homeowners (22%).
Professional involvement is even more pronounced on projects of $50,000 or more—nearly all renovating homeowners (98%) hire at least one pro, most commonly general contractors (60%), building specialists (53%), and cabinetmakers (43%). These projects are also more likely to involve design professionals, with more than one-third working with kitchen designers (34%), along with an increased number using design-build firms (18%), interior designers (13%), architects (13%), and kitchen remodelers (11%).
With homeowners making significant changes to their kitchens, pros can guide them through their projects using tools like Houzz Pro’s Schedule, Selections and Mood Boards.
Additional insights from the 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
Homeowners plan for special needs: Over half of renovating homeowners (53%) address current or future special needs in their kitchen renovation, up 3 percentage points from the previous year. Aging-related updates rose year over year to 31% (from 26%) for current needs and to 41% (from 35%) for future needs, highlighting growing long-term planning considerations.
Transitional style holds steady: Transitional remains the most common style for newly renovated kitchens (25%), followed by Traditional (12%), Modern (11%), and Contemporary (10%). The share of homeowners reporting no particular style doubled (6%, up from 3% the previous year).
Slab backsplashes gain ground: Tile remains the dominant backsplash material in renovated kitchens (72%), while slab backsplashes now account for 28% (up from 24% the previous year). Ceramic is the leading tile type (49%), while engineered quartz is the most popular slab material (39%).
The 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study is a report of homeowners who are in the midst of, are planning, or recently completed a kitchen renovation. The online survey was fielded to U.S. Houzz users in July 2025. You can download the full report here.
About Houzz
Houzz, a leading platform for construction and design, empowers industry professionals and homeowners with the tools they need to make every project a success. The company’s cloud-based, AI-powered project management and design software, Houzz Pro, helps pros win projects, collaborate with clients and teams, and run their businesses efficiently and profitably. Houzz Pro also provides pros and their clients with 24/7 access to project information, 3D visualizations and financial tools. Using Houzz, people can find ideas and inspiration, hire professionals and buy products. The Houzz platform is used by more than 3 million construction and design industry professionals and over 70 million homeowners and home design enthusiasts around the world. Houzz and Houzz Pro are available on the web and as top-rated mobile apps.
