Why Homeowners Remodel Their Kitchens and What They Change
Finally having the means is a driving factor in many renovations, according to the 2020 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
Erin Carlyle
January 27, 2020
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
For professionals in the home renovation and decorating industry, it’s helpful to understand what motivates clients to renovate their homes. The No. 1 reason given by homeowners remodeling their kitchens was that they wanted to do it all along and finally had the means, according to new research from Houzz.
The 2020 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study gathered information from nearly 2,600 Houzz users who had completed a kitchen remodel or addition in the previous 12 months, were working on one or were planning to start one in the next three months. Here’s what they said about why they remodeled, what they changed and how much they spent.
The 2020 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study gathered information from nearly 2,600 Houzz users who had completed a kitchen remodel or addition in the previous 12 months, were working on one or were planning to start one in the next three months. Here’s what they said about why they remodeled, what they changed and how much they spent.
Wanting to do it all along and finally having the means is a top motivator among homeowners remodeling their kitchens.
Why Homeowners Renovate Their Kitchens
Wanting to do it all along and finally having the funding to embark upon a renovation is the No. 1 reason (37%) given by homeowners renovating their kitchens, the study found. The No. 1 reason cited in last year’s study — not being able to stand the old kitchen — fell to the No. 2 spot this year, with 34% citing this factor.
Increasingly, a kitchen’s deteriorated or broken-down condition is a strong motivator for renovating, cited by 27% of renovating homeowners in the latest study, up from just 17% the year before. This is the highest level for this trigger seen in Houzz’s five-year history of tracking kitchen project motivators and is likely a reflection of the aging housing stock in the U.S. We’ve seen a similar pattern with master bathroom renovations.
Wanting to do it all along and finally having the funding to embark upon a renovation is the No. 1 reason (37%) given by homeowners renovating their kitchens, the study found. The No. 1 reason cited in last year’s study — not being able to stand the old kitchen — fell to the No. 2 spot this year, with 34% citing this factor.
Increasingly, a kitchen’s deteriorated or broken-down condition is a strong motivator for renovating, cited by 27% of renovating homeowners in the latest study, up from just 17% the year before. This is the highest level for this trigger seen in Houzz’s five-year history of tracking kitchen project motivators and is likely a reflection of the aging housing stock in the U.S. We’ve seen a similar pattern with master bathroom renovations.
Countertops and backsplashes are the most popular features to upgrade during a kitchen remodel.
Countertops and Backsplashes Are Top Features to Upgrade
Countertops and backsplashes are the most popular features to upgrade during a kitchen renovation, with 89% and 84% of renovating homeowners, respectively, addressing these features in their projects. Sinks, faucets and plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures and flooring are the next-most common upgrades.
Kitchen Remodels Scale Back in Scope
That said, renovating homeowners are scaling back the scope of their kitchen upgrades, a trend we’ve seen now two years in a row. A smaller share of renovating homeowners are addressing countertops (89%) compared with two years ago (94%). The same is true for sinks, with 83% of homeowners addressing this feature in this year’s study, compared with 90% two years ago.
Similarly, structural upgrades are not as popular in this year’s report. Opening the kitchen to other interior rooms (46%) is down from last year (53%). Changing the kitchen layout (46%) is down compared with two years ago (50%), as is adding square footage (35%) compared with two years ago (42%).
Homeowners Still Hiring Pros for Renovation Help
The minor reduction in kitchen renovation scope does not seem to be affecting pro hiring: 85% of renovating homeowners are hiring pros to help with their kitchen remodels, compared with 83% in last year’s report. General contractors continue to be the most commonly hired pros.
Countertops and backsplashes are the most popular features to upgrade during a kitchen renovation, with 89% and 84% of renovating homeowners, respectively, addressing these features in their projects. Sinks, faucets and plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures and flooring are the next-most common upgrades.
Kitchen Remodels Scale Back in Scope
That said, renovating homeowners are scaling back the scope of their kitchen upgrades, a trend we’ve seen now two years in a row. A smaller share of renovating homeowners are addressing countertops (89%) compared with two years ago (94%). The same is true for sinks, with 83% of homeowners addressing this feature in this year’s study, compared with 90% two years ago.
Similarly, structural upgrades are not as popular in this year’s report. Opening the kitchen to other interior rooms (46%) is down from last year (53%). Changing the kitchen layout (46%) is down compared with two years ago (50%), as is adding square footage (35%) compared with two years ago (42%).
Homeowners Still Hiring Pros for Renovation Help
The minor reduction in kitchen renovation scope does not seem to be affecting pro hiring: 85% of renovating homeowners are hiring pros to help with their kitchen remodels, compared with 83% in last year’s report. General contractors continue to be the most commonly hired pros.
Spend on Major Kitchen Remodels Jumps 17%
The median national spend on a major kitchen remodel — one in which at least all the cabinets and appliances are replaced — was $35,000 in mid-2019, a 17% increase compared with major remodels completed in mid-2018 ($30,000).
“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 other findings of significant price inflation in the home remodeling industry due to changes in international trade policy.”
Keep in mind that the median here refers to the midpoint spending amount, with half of renovating homeowners spending more than the median and half spending less. Economists consider the median a more useful measure than the average (or mean), because the latter can be skewed upward in a misleading manner by one-off projects that cost a lot more than others.
A major kitchen remodel is roughly four times costlier than a minor remodel — defined as a remodel that does not include replacing cabinets and appliances — which had a median national spend of $8,000 in mid-2019, flat with the year before.
Kitchen Remodel Spend Varies Widely by Location
Of course, the amount spent on a kitchen renovation varies widely by location. Among the top 50 U.S. metropolitan areas by population, the highest median cost for a major kitchen remodel was $50,000 in the San Jose, California, Metropolitan Statistical Area, a geographic region defined by the U.S Census Bureau. The lowest median spend for a major kitchen remodel in the top 50 metro areas was $20,000 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and San Antonio, Texas.
The 2020 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study gathered information from 2,598 Houzz users who had completed a kitchen remodel or addition in the previous 12 months, were working on one or were planning to start one in the next three months. The study was fielded between June 19 and July 2, 2019.
Download the full study
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The median national spend on a major kitchen remodel — one in which at least all the cabinets and appliances are replaced — was $35,000 in mid-2019, a 17% increase compared with major remodels completed in mid-2018 ($30,000).
“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 other findings of significant price inflation in the home remodeling industry due to changes in international trade policy.”
Keep in mind that the median here refers to the midpoint spending amount, with half of renovating homeowners spending more than the median and half spending less. Economists consider the median a more useful measure than the average (or mean), because the latter can be skewed upward in a misleading manner by one-off projects that cost a lot more than others.
A major kitchen remodel is roughly four times costlier than a minor remodel — defined as a remodel that does not include replacing cabinets and appliances — which had a median national spend of $8,000 in mid-2019, flat with the year before.
Kitchen Remodel Spend Varies Widely by Location
Of course, the amount spent on a kitchen renovation varies widely by location. Among the top 50 U.S. metropolitan areas by population, the highest median cost for a major kitchen remodel was $50,000 in the San Jose, California, Metropolitan Statistical Area, a geographic region defined by the U.S Census Bureau. The lowest median spend for a major kitchen remodel in the top 50 metro areas was $20,000 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and San Antonio, Texas.
The 2020 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study gathered information from 2,598 Houzz users who had completed a kitchen remodel or addition in the previous 12 months, were working on one or were planning to start one in the next three months. The study was fielded between June 19 and July 2, 2019.
Download the full study
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
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I am finding in my location (gulf coast Florida) that the trend is in fact scaling back the scope of work. Where 2-3 years ago a remodel almost always resulted in replacing old cabinets, counter tops, sinks and faucets, now home owners are opting to paint or refinish cabinetry (as long as they are in good condition) and replace counter tops with a lower level stone instead of the higher level granite and quartz I saw a few years ago. Minor face lift improvements instead of full on remodels. Overall clients are more aware of costs and are willing to sacrifice a little on design to save money
The dollar amount of these renovations seem VERY low. I'd be interested to know what those costs include (or exclude). I am in the Boston Metro North area and there is NO WAY you are doing a complete kitchen remodel for $50k, including GC/sub costs, cabinets, countertops, appliances, fixtures etc. Our starting point is closer to $70k on the lower end and I'd say well over $100k for a high end kitchen.
Having moved from North of Boston, Ipswich, to the gulf coast of Florida, I can tell you that the cost of construction in general is substantially less expensive. Sub contractors and tradesman make substantially less than their counterparts in the North East. That being said, their cost of living is also less. Everything is relative. A complete kitchen remodel in this area will run closer to $45k - $70k depending on material and county where the remodel takes place