Orlando -- Homeowners who recently completed or are planning a kitchen remodel are obsessed with decluttering and putting things away, according to the newly released 2018 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report.

The annual kitchen trends survey conducted on Houzz.com -- a leading platform for home remodeling and design – gauges the motivations and preferences of homeowners who had completed or were planning a kitchen renovation for 2017-2018.  Liza Hausman, Houzz vice president of industry marketing and community, presented highlights of the findings during KBIS - the largest kitchen and bath industry show held January 9-11 in Orlando, FL.

Hausman said the 2018 survey results uncovered several new insights from the previous year’s survey, including responses that indicate homeowners renovating their kitchens are passionate about storing, organizing and de-cluttering.  Seventy-five percent of survey participants were admittedly “obsessed” with decluttering kitchen counters; 65%,  with putting things away; and 49%, with recycling. 

In line with these priorities, many respondents plan to include built-in storage components in their kitchen projects including cookie sheet/tray, deep-drawer, small appliance organizers and drawers.  More specifically, the Houzz report indicates that pullout waste or recycling cabinets, utensil organizers and wine and/or bar cabinets are notably more popular with renovating homeowners than the previous year.

The top functional priorities for homeowners renovating their kitchens continue to be related to making storage and organization of the kitchen easier.

"Storage continues to be a top priority," said Hausman, “Kitchen storage photos are probably the most popular images on Houzz…if you search photos by popularity, the first photos you will see are walk-in pantries that are beautifully organized.”

In addition, the report finds that 82% of renovating homeowners will upgrade kitchen cabinets with 74% selecting custom or semi-custom cabinetry.  Raised panel door styles continues to decline in popularity, with more renovating kitchen homeowners interested in shaker-, farmhouse-style cabinet doors.

Countertops, appliances and cabinets are identified as the top three categories in which respondents would “splurge” during a kitchen renovation. 

Majority of the homeowners who are renovating live in the suburbs (59%) and are also 55 years of age or older.

Average spend among survey respondents on a major kitchen renovation (defined as renovation of a space larger than 200 sq. ft. that  includes replacing cabinets and appliances minimally) is $42,000.  Average spend on a minor kitchen renovation is $25,800.

The complete 2018 Kitchen Trends report can be found at Houzz.com.

A Houzz representative will also keynote at the 2018 Cabinets & Closets Conference and Expo March 27-29 at the Pasadena Convention Center. www.cabinetsandclosetsexpo.com