Owners compelled by the coronavirus pandemic to gap up of their houses for a lot of the previous yr are altering a couple of issues about their houses.
For starters, COVID-19 uncovered the issues of the open flooring plans touted on HGTV and different design exhibits—discovering a quiet house to leap on that Zoom assembly with the boss whereas the youngsters are distant studying a couple of toes away generally is a logistical nightmare. Fewer owners created an open-concept flooring plan main into 2021, in response to a latest survey from design and transforming website Houzz.
Lower than half of kitchen remodelers, or 43%, opened up their kitchen to different inside areas, in response to the survey. That is a giant drop from the 53% of householders who did so in 2019.
(Greater than 2,000 owners responded to the survey carried out June 24 to July 9. They have been all planning, engaged on, or had completed a kitchen transform or addition prior to now 12 months, or have been anticipating to start one inside three months.)
Kitchen storage has emerged because the must-do dwelling renovation of 2021. About 94% of householders plan or did some work on their kitchen cupboards, with 63% changing them. This can be as a result of the pandemic made novice cooks out of individuals extra accustomed to eating out.
“Storage has actually come into focus as individuals have spent extra time at dwelling throughout the pandemic,” Liza Hausman, Houzz vice chairman of business advertising, mentioned in a press release. “Extra owners are reaching out to professionals … for assist making their kitchens work higher, most frequently throughout the identical structure and sq. footage.”
Regardless of the recession and financial hardships, owners spent a median $35,000 upgrading their kitchens, the identical as final yr.
What sorts of kitchen remodels are in vogue?

Margaret Wright Pictures © Houzz
For the third yr in a row, transitional remained the highest kitchen inside design fashion, though it is truly a hybrid of different kinds, stealing a bit from right here and a bit from there. Fashionable and modern rounded out the highest three.
Owners are selecting Shaker-style cupboards, 57%, and white cupboard doorways, 41%. Total, impartial colours continued to reign supreme. Unobtrusive shades of grey, white, and beige have been standard wall colours. Extra adventurous owners brightened them up with multicolor backsplashes; black, stainless home equipment; and even blue partitions.
Constructed-in specialty organizers, drawers, and trays are additionally standard with these attempting to maintain all of their stuff in its correct place. Greater than a 3rd invested in a Lazy Susan, a revolving storage tray that turned a staple within the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties. Maybe they have been bingeing Netflix’s “Get Organized With The Residence Edit.”
Excessive-tech kitchen islands additionally remained on pattern. About 63% of remodels included an island, and greater than half of these islands featured a brand new equipment, corresponding to a dishwasher or microwave, or each.
As well as, greater than half of these renovating their kitchens upgraded their pantries or created a walk-in one.
What sorts of kitchen remodels fell out of favor?
Owners weren’t as enthusiastic about upgrading lighting fixtures and home equipment in 2021.
As well as, conventional hardwood flooring discovered itself on the outs.
Ceramic and porcelain tile, which appears to be like like hardwood however is commonly extra sturdy and water resistant, have been the best choice for kitchen flooring. Vinyl can also be turning into standard, being utilized in a few fifth of remodels.