What's driving the cabinet & countertop industries? Trends & statistics

Kitchen cabinet demand in the United States is projected to grow 5.9% per year to $17.1 billion in 2021, according to the 10th edition of the Cabinets Market in the U.S. study by The Freedonia Group.

The fastest growing style, tall kitchen cabinets are projected to reach a value of $3.2 billion in 2021 on annual advances of 7.7%. Tall cabinets are rising in popularity due to their additional storage and they can make smaller kitchens appear larger.

Both base and wall kitchen cabinets will also post strong gains going forward, with base cabinets continuing to boast the majority of demand. Base cabinets are expected to see 5.2% annual growth through 2021, with demand benefitting from the continuing popularity of larger kitchens, and also outdoor kitchens.

Kitchens remain the largest market for countertops. A separate Freedonia study forecasts U.S. countertop demand to reach $29.3 billion in 2019, with engineered stone and natural stone accounting for the majority of sales.

Click to enlarge the infographic, plus find more market data in December's FDMC Wood Industry Almanac.

Top 10 kitchen & bath trends
According to the 2017 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends Report by the National Kitchen & Bath Assn., here’s a brief look at what’s trending:
1. Clean lines, built-ins and simple door styles dominate kitchen designs. Contemporary-styled kitchens overtake Traditional to be the second most popular design after Transitional. Emerging: Industrial and Mid-Century Modern.
2. White and gray painted cabinets continue to dominate color schemes. Blue painted and high gloss cabinets are also trending.
3. Two-toned kitchens are gaining in popularity. Also mixing it up: materials and metals, across surfaces and as accents.
4. While wood cabinets dominate kitchen designs, metal appears to be emerging and is frequently specified by younger and male designers.
5. Furniture-look pieces, rollouts and pullouts, and under cabinet lighting (LED) are among the most popular kitchen cabinet features. Use of crown molding is declining. Rustic and reclaimed woods were frequently mentioned.
6. Quartz is the most popular kitchen countertop material, and trending up. Granite, the second most popular countertop material, is trending down.
7. Interior barn and pocket doors in kitchens are trending up.
8. In the bath, Contemporary and Transitional have overtaken Traditional. Shaker is gaining on Traditional, while Mid-Century Modern is emerging.
9. Whites and gray are the most popular bathroom color schemes, while blue is  emerging; younger designers are leaning towards purples. Stainless steel is emerging.
10. Linen cabinets and vanities are the most commonly used bathroom storage solutions. Floating vanities and open shelving are popular. Toilet topper’s are declining.

Quick Stats:
Sales of kitchen and bath cabinetry fell 2.2% in September compared to 2016, according to KCMA’s monthly Trend of Business survey. YTD sales remain strong, climbing 2.8% overall. A final tally of 2016 shows sales totaling $6.8 billion, a 4.3% increase over 2015; stock sales rose 4%, semi-custom sales grew 5.9%, and custom sales were up 1.3%.

Canadian wood kitchen cabinet and countertop industry salaries reached $983.3 million in 2015, increasing by 11.2%, according to StatCan’s, Annual Survey of Manufacturers and Logging.

Kitchen remodeling is among the most popular renovation projects. On average, homeowners spent $19,100 on their kitchen renovation project. Master bath remodels on the other hand averaged $11,700 according to the 2017 Houzz & Home survey.

Global demand for countertops is projected to rise 2.3% annually through 2021, to nearly 500 million square meters, according to the study Global Countertops by Material, Market and Type, by The Freedonia Group. Strong advances in developing markets such as China, India, and Brazil will account for the majority of demand, with the kitchen market accounting for the majority of demand. Solid surface continues to be a global favorite, with engineered stone fast tracking upward due to its style and durability.

Homeowners remodel upwards of 10.2 million kitchens each year and 14.2 million bathrooms, according the U.S. Kitchen + Bath Market Size Study by the National Kitchen & Bath Assn.

Market Data Sources: Statistics Canada/StatCan, The Freedonia Group, Statista, U.S. Census Bureau, Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn. (KCMA), National Kitchen & Bath Assn. (NKBA), Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Assn.(CKCA), Cabinet Makers Assn. (CMA), Houzz.

Category: Cabinets & countertops include: kitchen cabinetry, bath cabinetry, vanities, countertops and islands.

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About the author
Karen Koenig | Editor

Karen M. Koenig has more than 30 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As editor of special publications under the Woodworking Network brand, including the Red Book Best Practices resource guide and website, Karen’s responsibilities include writing, editing and coordinating of editorial content. She is also a contributor to FDMC and other Woodworking Network online and print media owned by CCI Media. She can be reached at [email protected]