Latest News From Houzz.com for Pros

See the Top Trends in Kitchen Cabinets, Countertops and More

Part 1

Article by Mitchell Parker

Many events can trigger a kitchen remodel. The top reason, according to the latest Houzz research, is when a homeowner can no longer stand the style of their old kitchen (44%). That’s followed closely by homeowners with kitchens that have deteriorated or broken down (35%). To improve an old and out-of-style kitchen, homeowners look for opportunities to upgrade the main components in a kitchen — cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, appliances and lighting. For ideas on what’s popular right now in those categories, check out these highlights from the recently released 2025 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.

Photo by McPhee Associates of Cape Cod - Browse kitchen photos

This coastal-style Boston kitchen by McPhee Associates of Cape Cod has many features popular among homeowners, according to the study. They include white Shaker-style cabinets, a white rectangular tile backsplash in a horizontal brick pattern, white countertops, stainless steel appliances and pendant lights over the island.

1. Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are a top priority for homeowners remodeling their kitchen. Nearly 7 in 10 renovating homeowners (69%) replace all of their cabinets as part of a kitchen upgrade. Only a small portion of homeowners (4%) leave them untouched.

More than a quarter (27%) of renovating homeowners take on partial cabinet projects, which can vary widely in scope. Of these, 55% choose exterior refinishing, making it again the most popular partial cabinet upgrade, though it declined 4 percentage points year over year. Among homeowners undertaking a partial cabinet upgrade, 27% add some cabinets and 25% replace some. Notably, refinishing the interiors of existing cabinets has gained traction, increasing by 4 points, to 17% — its highest share to date.

Fully customized (45%) and partially customized (32%) cabinets are the most popular types of new cabinets. And it’s worth noting that 32% of homeowners hire cabinetmakers during a kitchen remodel, the most-hired professional after general contractors (50%). Meanwhile, stock cabinets are on the rise, increasing in favor by 3 points year over year, to 12%.

Shaker leads in cabinet door styles at 61%, far outpacing flat-panel (22%) and raised-panel (12%) designs. Solid wood is the overwhelming favorite material for new kitchen cabinets, with 72% of homeowners selecting it. Medium-density fiberboard (10%) and plywood (8%) are much less common.

For cabinet finishes, the majority of homeowners (57%) choose paint. Despite a rise of 3 percentage points, stain still follows distantly (17%). Only 7% of homeowners select wood veneer.

Photo by Interior Style by Marisa Moore - Discover kitchen design inspiration

In this Washington, D.C.-area kitchen, designer Marisa Moore used a combination of painted and stained finishes. The warm greige cabinets are painted Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams.

With the Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner, pros can create detailed 2D floor plans and 3D models that include kitchen cabinetry, appliances, sinks, faucets and more.

When it comes to cabinet color, white (33%) and wood (23%) reign supreme. Bold colors are used for a small percentage of upgraded kitchen cabinets, with green and blue appealing to 5% of renovating homeowners each.

Nearly a quarter of renovating homeowners (24%) choose contrasting colors for their upper and lower kitchen cabinets. As with cabinets in general, white is the top choice for upper cabinets, with 2 in 5 homeowners choosing it. Off-white follows at 19%. As for lower cabinets, wood tones lead the way at 33%, with medium-tone wood accounting for 18% of that figure. Blue also is a popular choice, selected by more than 1 in 5 homeowners.