Software platform Houzz has released its 2026 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study and has found over four in five homeowners (82%) are adding speciality built-in features such as:

• Storage with pantry cabinets (40%),
• Walk-in pantry (12%)
• Butler’s pantry or prep kitchen (11%)

Meanwhile, task-specific built-ins are also popular, including beverage stations (12%), which has risen 5 percentage points year-on-year, and baking stations (5%). Two percent even include a snack station.

The emphasis on storage continues throughout the kitchen, where cabinet upgrades remain nearly universal (98%). More than three-quarters of renovating homeowners (78%) replace all cabinets during kitchen renovations, while just 6 percent opt for partial replacements.

Almost all homeowners (95%) integrate speciality storage features in their upgraded cabinetry, including cutlery organisers (78%), pull-out waste or recycling bins (55%) and storage for spices (36%). Solutions for hard-to-reach spaces include deep drawer organisers (45%), pullout shelves (31%) and corner carousels (29%).

“Almost all of our clients request clever storage solutions throughout their homes. It’s consistently the number one feature they ask for,” said Omar Bhatti, founder of Space Shack and a Houzz Pro user. “When essentials have a clear home, it reduces clutter, improves efficiency and has a real impact on day-to-day quality of life. In kitchens especially, thoughtfully designed built-in storage plays a critical role in helping the space function better for everyday use.”

For many homeowners, kitchen renovations aren’t optional, they’re essential. Kitchen deterioration or dysfunction continues to be the no. 1 driver for renovations (37%), ahead of personalising a recently purchased home (32%) and finally having the means to renovate (29%).

“Kitchen renovations continue to be shaped by broader housing market pressures,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz head of economic research. “With ageing housing stock, a shortage of available homes and longer homeowner tenure, homeowners are choosing to invest in improving the functionality of the kitchens they already have rather than move. That’s driving an emphasis on practical upgrades such as built-in storage and efficient layouts that help kitchens better support everyday living.”

The vast majority of renovating homeowners (90%) hire professionals for their kitchen projects. Tradespeople, such as plumbers and electricians are the most in demand overall (58%), followed by kitchen designers (42%) and kitchen fitters (41%). Home builders and architects are engaged by more than a quarter of homeowners (27%, each). With homeowners making significant changes to their kitchens, pros can guide them through their projects using tools like Houzz Pro’s Estimates, Schedule, Selections and Mood Boards.

A Deep Dive on Cabinetry: 

• Blue takes top spot: Blue is now the most popular cabinet colour in renovated kitchens (18%), followed closely by green (17%), surpassing neutral tones like grey (12%), off-white (9%) and white (8%) which have been favoured in the past. Nearly 1 in 10 homeowners opt for wood (9%), with medium and light tones leading (4% each), followed by dark (1%).
• Bar pulls lead hardware choices: More than a third of homeowners opt for bar pulls (35%), whilst a similar share select a handleless kitchen design (31%). Knobs (24%) and cup pulls (18%) follow. Brushed nickel is the most popular finish (19%), followed by brass (17%) and bronze (10%).
• Contrasting cabinetry: Nearly 3 in 10 homeowners choose contrasting upper and lower cabinets (29%), with wood tones leading for upper cabinetry (25%), followed by off-white (21%) and beige (13%). For lower cabinetry, green leads (24%), followed by grey (20%) and blue (19%).

Additional insights from the 2026 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study include:

• Half of kitchens increase their footprint: Half of renovating homeowners (51%) change the size of their kitchen during a renovation, with 23% enlarging it by more than 50% of the original size, 17% expand it slightly (between 25%-50% of the original size) and 11% increase it by less than 25%.
• Homeowners plan for special needs: Over half of renovating homeowners (55%) address current or future special needs in their kitchen renovation. Ageing-related updates rose significantly year-on-year to 25% (from 4%) for current needs and 37% (from 12%) for future needs, highlighting growing long-term planning considerations.
• Contemporary style holds steady: Contemporary remains the most common style for newly renovated kitchens (30%), followed by Modern (21%) and Traditional (13%).
• Slab splashbacks gain further ground: Slab remains the dominant splashback material in renovated kitchens (71%), rising 9 percentage points year-on-year. Tile follows at 29%. Engineered quartz is the leading splashback material (36%), up 13 percentage points since last year, followed by glass/acrylic (18%) and ceramic (17%).
• Speciality features in appliances: Many renovating homeowners opt for upgraded appliances, with 69% choosing ovens with speciality features such as automated cooking programmes (41%), remote timer activation (38%) and remote monitoring and controls (36%). Similarly, 37% select fridges or freezers with added functionality, led by adjustable temperature zones (20%), touchscreen display (14%) and water filter change alerts (10%).

The 2026 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study is a report of homeowners who are in the midst of, are planning or recently completed a kitchen renovation. The online survey was fielded to UK Houzz users in November – December 2025.

You can download the full report here.

Photo Credit – Nick Smith