During a kitchen renovation, an overwhelming majority of homeowners (92 per cent) include sustainable features. LED bulbs (65 per cent), energy-efficient appliances (61 per cent), water-efficient fixtures (34 per cent), and energy-efficient windows (27 per cent) are popular choices. Almost half of homeowners (47 per cent) select a timeless design as a sustainable option during renovations.

Although Shaker-style cabinet doors continue to be the most commonly selected choice for kitchens, the percentage of homeowners choosing them has declined by three points compared to the previous year, now at 61 per cent. On the other hand, flat-panel doors are gaining popularity, with 20 per cent of renovators opting for them, which is an increase of three percentage points from last year.

Regarding cabinet pulls, bar pulls are the top choice for homeowners at 72 per cent, followed by knobs at 34 per cent, and cup pulls at 10 per cent. Interestingly, six per cent of renovators opted for no cabinet pulls at all.

Renovated kitchens continue to feature white cabinets as the most popular choice (40 per cent), followed by wood-tone cabinets, which have increased in popularity by three percentage points and now stand at 24 per cent. When it comes to island cabinet colour, 46 per cent of homeowners select a colour that contrasts with the main cabinets.

While blue and gray saw a decline in popularity (24 per cent from 26 per cent, and 15 per cent from 18 per cent, respectively), black, medium-tone wood, and dark wood have seen increases (12 per cent from 10 per cent, 12 per cent from 10 per cent, and 11 per cent from six per cent, respectively).

According to a recent survey, 42 per cent of homeowners who renovate their homes choose to upgrade their kitchens because they can no longer tolerate the style of their old ones. The second most common reason, cited by 36 per cent, is the deterioration or breakdown of their kitchens. More than a third of homeowners (34 per cent) attribute their kitchen renovations to the fact that they now have the means to do so.

In some cases, kitchen upgrades are necessary due to unforeseen circumstances, with three per cent of renovators addressing damage caused by unexpected situations, and two per cent addressing unsafe or unhealthy conditions.

The use of electronic devices in the kitchen is on the rise, with homeowners increasingly opting for docking stations (up by nine percentage points to 49 per cent), wireless speakers (up by 11 points to 37 per cent), and stereo systems (up by 10 points to 20 per cent).

In addition, 51 per cent of homeowners install high-tech faucets, featuring water efficiency (24 per cent) and touch-only or touch-free activation (23 per cent), while 39 per cent choose appliances with high-tech features, such as Wi-Fi connectivity and smartphone/tablet controls (25 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively).

This year, 72 per cent of renovators opted for recessed lights in their updated kitchens, marking a six percentage point increase from last year and making them the most popular lighting choice. This bumped under-cabinet lights to the second spot, although they still gained popularity with a three point increase, bringing the total to 70 per cent.

The most popular storage options for upgraded islands are drawers and cabinets with doors, with 79 per cent of homeowners choosing each option. It’s not surprising that upgraded islands are being utilized for storage, as the majority of them (74 per cent) are six feet or longer, providing ample space.

Although the percentage has slightly decreased compared to the previous year, countertops (90 per cent), backsplashes (84 per cent), and sinks (83 per cent) remain the top three kitchen upgrades among renovating homeowners in 2023. Additionally, one in five homeowners also choose to upgrade the interior and exterior doors in their kitchens.

The layout remains the most popular kitchen element that homeowners transform, with 45 per cent of renovators tackling this task. Upgrading kitchen systems is also a popular choice, with nearly 40 per cent of homeowners opting for this renovation. Some homeowners aren’t afraid to make significant changes, with 36 per cent modifying walls, 11 per cent tackling ceilings, and four per cent even moving their kitchens to a different location.

Additionally, many homeowners are increasing the size of their kitchens, with 27 per cent making their kitchens somewhat larger and six per cent opting for a significantly larger kitchen, increasing the size by over 50 per cent during the renovation process.

After experiencing a decline in the trend of open kitchens last year, this year renovators are once again more likely to open up their kitchen to other interior spaces (40 per cent, up from 38 per cent in 2022) and outdoor spaces (20 per cent, up from 18 per cent in 2022).

While the most popular choice for kitchens newly open to interior spaces still remains having no wall separation, this option has decreased in popularity by four points compared to the previous year.