2020 Kitchen Design Trends
Breakdown of Houzz’s 2020 Kitchen Design Trends Study
While the all-white kitchen will probably never go out of style, there are lots of new design trends for 2020 that will make you equally happy. Think: natural elements such as natural wood or reclaimed wood accents and open shelving paired with some pops of color. We know, we know. You’ve already carefully chosen every appliance, picked out each piece of hardware, and planned your kitchen design to a T, but there are ways to dip your toes into the world of color without messing up your rustic farmhouse kitchen aesthetic. On the color front, bring in some colorful decor, or why not try painting your ceiling a fun color, like blue? Or, how about hauling in some colorful appliances?
Natural Materials on the Rise
If you’ve been wanting to layer in more natural elements in your kitchen space, try sustainable and eco-friendly materials. These are words that are popping up more and more, with many companies offering green solutions for cabinetry and shelving. You can also think about bringing in handmade tiles in materials like terra-cotta and cement—a great solution for adding a little more soul to your space, regardless of whether or not you opt to completely switch over to a farmhouse style vibe.
When it comes to countertops, quartz is quickly becoming an attractive, affordable and low maintenance countertop material. It’s proving to be an effective alternative to our beloved marble and other natural stone materials that typically cost more. And, there are even new interior design trends for accessorizing your countertops, like vintage plate racks made to display your grandmother’s china. Hardware and metal finishes continue to push the envelope—think brass, nickel, and matte black. Removable wallpaper companies are making it even easier to experiment with pattern on walls and backsplashes to really make your room stand out. Consider 2020 as the year of the kitchen!
Every year Houzz releases a study of kitchen design trends, and this year we’d like to break down the top takeaways from the 36 page report for you! It highlights islands, cabinet trends, tech advances, and tile! Let’s start with islands, islands are growing increasingly important in new remodels. Families rely on this space to prep and eat among other activities. Large islands continue to be a prominent feature in renovated kitchens, according to the 2020 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. The survey of nearly 2,600 U.S. homeowners using Houzz –who are in the midst of, are planning or recently completed a kitchen project–found that nearly two-thirds of renovated kitchens feature an island (61%).
Kitchen Island Design Trends
One third of homeowners add an island during renovations (33%), while nearly a quarter upgrade an existing island (22%). Islands are sizable features in kitchens, with a third measuring more than seven feet long (32%) and another (39%) six to seven feet long. In addition to their substantial physical presence, islands are a hub of activity from dining (58%) to entertaining (49%) to socializing (45%). A kitchen island is a great place to act as an informal dining area. It will even give you more seating space when you host family gatherings and parties. Plus, creating a space for people to gather while you’re finishing some last-minute meal prep will allow you to be productive and socialize at the same time.
When it comes to appearance, many choose island finishes that stand out from the rest of the kitchen. Two in five homeowners adding or upgrading their island cabinets opt for an island cabinet color that contrasts with their main cabinets (39%), led by:
Gray (26%)
Blue (19%)
Black (11%)
Contrasting countertop colors are also common among those updating their kitchen island countertops (29%), including:
White (23%)
Medium Wood (21%)
Among homeowners choosing contrasting countertop materials when updating their island (26%), butcher block tops the list (41%). Nearly all new islands have storage features (98%), and over half (52%) have built-in appliances including:
Microwaves (32%)
Dishwashers (31%)
Garbage Disposals (24%)
Cooktops (21%)
Beverage Refrigerators (9%).
The Market is in Your Favor
The market has proven sustainable and the financial investment in kitchen renovation projects continues to grow, with median spend on major kitchen remodels, which by definition is a remodel in which at least all the appliances and cabinets are replaced, completed in mid-2019 at $35,000, up 7% from a year ago ($30,000). However, while many homeowners opt for complete kitchen overhauls, the breadth of kitchen renovations has been scaled back for the second year in a row. For example, upgrades to countertops and sinks are not as widespread (89% and 83%, respectively) compared with two years ago (94% and 90%). Similarly, structural upgrades are not as frequent, including opening the kitchen to other interior rooms (46%), changing kitchen layout (46%), or adding square footage (35%).
“It is remarkable to see median spend on kitchen remodels grow by double digits for the third year in a row,” says Nino Sitchinava, Houzz principal economist. “Combined with a two-year decline in the scope of kitchen remodels, spend increases confirm our findings of significant price inflation in the home remodeling industry due to changes in international trade policy. Homeowners are dealing with increasing product prices by substituting materials, as indicated by slower growth in the use of engineered quartz and a decline in the popularity of engineered flooring materials, highly impacted by tariffs on imported materials from China.”
Trending Kitchen styles, features, and finished include:
Styles trend transitional: Among the 85% of renovating homeowners who change their kitchen style, modern kitchen, and transitional top the list (21% and 16% respectively). Farmhouse style appears to have peaked last year, with a surge in 2018 to 14%, then falling to 11% in 2019. Another popular kitchen design contender is the mid-century modern design trend.
Backsplash & Flooring 101
Did someone say kitchen backsplash? 2020 is going to be bold with backsplash! Backsplashes make a statement: One in ten homeowners upgrading a backsplash goes bold, installing it all the way to the ceiling (11%). Another 63% install tile from their counter to upper cabinets or range hood. When it comes to color, the popularity is somewhat predictable:
White is the most popular (35%)
Followed by multi-colored tile(20%) and then gray (15%)
Vinyl flooring continues to on the rise: Vinyl flooring, the third overall choice in renovated kitchens, continues a three-year climb from 10% in 2018 and 12% in 2019 to 14% in 2020. Leading flooring choices, among those upgrading their flooring, are stained or unstained hardwood (29%) and ceramic or porcelain tile (23%).
Kitchen Cabinetry Mainstays
Kitchen cabinetry is always an interesting trend to watch, with so many options each year we see a little change in what’s on top. This year it is predicted that white cabinetry and shaker cabinets will hold steady: White continues to be the most popular cabinet color (45%), followed at a distance by medium wood (11%) and gray (10%). Shaker cabinet door styles are by far the most popular among upgraded kitchen cabinets(61%), followed at a distance by flat-panel and raised-panel (21% and 18%, respectively).
Recessed Lighting Reign
Recessed lights continue to be the most popular light fixture upgrades (69%), followed by under-cabinet and pendant lights (65% and 56%, respectively). Not surprisingly, 92% of homeowners upgrading their islands choose new lighting above the island, with pendants being the most common option (66%).
Turn in Technology
High-tech growth slows in kitchen remodel trends: While high-tech features remain popular among those upgrading faucets and appliances, their growth has slowed slightly. Half of upgraded faucets are high tech (51% versus 57% in 2019), boasting water efficiency, no-fingerprint coating or touch-free activation. Similarly, a quarter of major appliances feature high-tech features (25% versus 30% in 2019), with wireless controls leading the pack.
The Pros Know
Hiring of professional help of an interior designer has remained steady over the past several years, with more than four in five homeowners hiring professional help for their kitchen renovations (85%).
It’s the start of a new decade and that means a fresh start and clean slate and this year in particular is filled with some very unexpected, very unique trends/ideas that are bold and creative! As with any trend, these trends are simply here to spark your creativity and let you daydream a little. It’s about new ideas but not negating how much we like classic kitchens, too. So let’s kitchen dream together, shall we? It’s 2020 and the sky’s the limit!
Interested in which design style would work best for your home? We’d love to send one of our qualified professional designers to your home and explore the options with you. Contact us HERE or chat with us below to find out more.
About Drury Design Kitchen and Bath Studio
Founded by Gail Drury, CMKBD in 1987, Drury Design’s Client Focused Design™ approach integrates design recommendations, materials selection, and construction management into one seamless customer design, project management, and build experience. For kitchen, bath, and home remodeling ideas view Drury Design’s design portfolio or stop by the studio at 512 N. Main Street in Glen Ellyn.