Inspirational Trends for Your Dream Kitchen

If you plan to create a dream kitchen in 2022, take advantage of one of the industry’s largest and most respected surveys of trends to use as a source of inspiration. Key takeaways for homeowners from the 2022 Houzz.com Kitchen Trends study include:

  • Homeowners investing more in their new kitchens than in prior years

  • Homeowners are demanding more private/enclosed spaces

  • Relying on professional designers and remodelers are increasing

  • Islands remain a top priority in new kitchens

  • Homeowners are splurging more on countertops

The survey results mirror trends we see among homeowners in Northeast Ohio. Almost half of homeowners reconfigure the layout when creating the kitchen of their dreams. However, open floor plans where the kitchen opens to other rooms are decreasing. The Houzz survey found that only 38% of homeowners opted for an open floor plan compared to 46% in 2020. This is not surprising given that so many homeowners require their new kitchens to provide flexibility and serve multiple functions such as classroom, office, cafe, dining room, etc. This places a premium on separate and enclosed spaces.

Almost 90% of homeowners from the Houzz study retain professional assistance to remodel their kitchens. That also makes sense, especially in light of the difficulty in obtaining products and materials caused by supply chain challenges and finding qualified labor.  

Countertops are replaced by 91% of homeowners remodeling their kitchens, and quartz is the most popular countertop material. Again, this mirrors our experience with homeowners. Quartz is extremely popular because of its antimicrobial properties; it’s easy to clean, extremely durable, and comes in a rainbow of color options. White is the most popular color for countertops, selected by 39% of homeowners, followed by multicolored (24%) and gray (12%). Granite is the second most popular countertop material selected for new kitchens.

Nearly a quarter of homeowners (24%) building a new dream kitchen selects a countertop color for their island that contrasts with other countertops in the kitchen. White also is the most color chosen for island countertops, followed by wood tones.

Homeowners in the survey are also investing more in their backsplash material with ceramic and porcelain tile specified for 56% of new kitchens. In addition, marble’s popularity is rising, selected by 11% of homeowners.  

Hardwood remains the top choice among homeowners for flooring, followed by an increase in popularity for vinyl flooring.

White remains the most popular color for cabinets, selected by 41% of homeowners, followed by medium-toned wood (12%) and gray (10%). Gray also was the second most popular color selected for kitchen walls, behind white and stainless steel was the most popular finish for appliances.

Shaker continues to dominate cabinet preferences, selected by 64% of homeowners followed by flat-panel (17%).  

Nearly 60% of homeowners renovating their kitchens added an island that was more than 7 feet long on average. Rectangular islands were the most popular shape selected by 83% of homeowners. The increased size of islands responds to the multiple functions homeowners demand from their islands. These include entertaining, socializing, eating, homework, and serving as a workplace.  

Please call us at 440-543-8050 to determine how you can leverage the most common trends to build the kitchen of your dreams or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 8454 Washington Street in Chagrin Falls.

Emeil Soryal