What Type of Kitchens Are Houzz Users Searching for Right Now?

Find out which colours, features and styles have been resonating with homeowners and designers on Houzz this year.

Our kitchens are hardworking rooms and, for many households, this particular space has seen even more action than usual over the past year. In fact, the 2021 UK Houzz & Home Study found that spending on kitchen renovations had increased by 15% to a median of £11,500.

We were curious to see what new styles, features and aesthetics have surfaced over the past year. Using search insights from our community of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home professionals, here are the hottest emerging trends.

Kitchens with Character

Spending more time at home during the pandemic prompted many of us to reflect on our spaces and how they look and feel. The result? A renewed confidence in our choices of colour and style.

Homeowners want to inject their own personality into their properties, and this is certainly illustrated by what people are browsing on Houzz. The search term 'unusual kitchens' more than doubled in popularity in 2021 compared to the year before.

Green, Green Everywhere

Nature-inspired hues have been providing a wonderful calming feel to homes over the past year, and the most popular shade is green.

The search term 'green kitchens' increased by 48% this year, with searches for 'sage green', 'forest green' and 'dark green' all rising in popularity.

Cosy Country Retreats

According to our Houzz & Home survey, rural living is becoming increasingly popular, particularly with the younger generation. 33% of those aged between 25 and 39 who plan to move told us they'd like to swap their urban neighbourhood for a rural one, and 67% are keen to move from a suburban area to a countryside location.

You don't have to move to get that rustic feel in your home, though. Instead, try updating your urban kitchen to a country-style design. Houzz users had this in mind during 2021, as the search term 'country kitchen' rose by 54% compared to 2020. The search terms 'panelling', 'exposed beam' and 'exposed brick' also shot up in popularity (up 187%, 171% and 90% respectively).

Multi-Tasking Spaces

For many of those who were lucky enough to be able to work from home during the past year, a mix of commuting to the office and homeworking is still part of their future plans. For this ideal set-up, though, you might need a little more space.

Lofts, spare rooms and garden rooms have all been utilised to squeeze in offices, activity areas and even room to look after loved ones at home. Perhaps that's why the term 'kitchenette' has risen by 182% during 2021 versus 2020.