Which Kitchen Renovation Trends Tick Your Box This Year?
The 2023 UK Kitchen Trends study reveals your kitchen renovation priorities – and sustainability is high on the list
Kate Burt
25 February 2023
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
The 2023 Houzz UK Kitchen Trends survey* dives deep into our plans for the heart of the home this year, from favoured styles and must-have features and colours to electronic upgrades and even how we use this important room. It’s so important, in fact, that it commands the most significant investment in the home, with median spend on renovations increasing steadily since 2019 (at £10,000) to £12,000 in 2021**.
Interestingly, what came out of the survey of more than 1,000 respondents was a big focus on doing it all sustainably. Read on to discover more about this trend and the others that are floating your boats this year.
Interestingly, what came out of the survey of more than 1,000 respondents was a big focus on doing it all sustainably. Read on to discover more about this trend and the others that are floating your boats this year.
Eco-friendly decisions lead the way
Sustainability was the biggest trend to emerge in the survey, which found that the vast majority of homeowners – a huge 94% – now incorporate sustainable features during a kitchen renovation.
Your sustainable decisions ranged from making small choices – such as LED bulbs – to more substantial ones, including energy-efficient appliances and windows, as well as favouring timeless designs over passing trends. 3% of homeowners even hired dedicated professionals to advise on eco-friendly options.
And your reasons? The most frequently cited motivation was “long-run cost-effectiveness” (80%), while making choices that are environmentally friendly was also important for more than half of renovating homeowners (58%).
Take inspiration from this eco-friendly kitchen designed by Celine Da Silva. Instead of binning her old units, Celine sold them, then chose new, FSC- and PEFC-certified birch plywood cabinets from a local company that uses 100% recyclable packaging.
More: How Can I Renovate My Kitchen Sustainably?
Sustainability was the biggest trend to emerge in the survey, which found that the vast majority of homeowners – a huge 94% – now incorporate sustainable features during a kitchen renovation.
Your sustainable decisions ranged from making small choices – such as LED bulbs – to more substantial ones, including energy-efficient appliances and windows, as well as favouring timeless designs over passing trends. 3% of homeowners even hired dedicated professionals to advise on eco-friendly options.
And your reasons? The most frequently cited motivation was “long-run cost-effectiveness” (80%), while making choices that are environmentally friendly was also important for more than half of renovating homeowners (58%).
Take inspiration from this eco-friendly kitchen designed by Celine Da Silva. Instead of binning her old units, Celine sold them, then chose new, FSC- and PEFC-certified birch plywood cabinets from a local company that uses 100% recyclable packaging.
More: How Can I Renovate My Kitchen Sustainably?
Pantries pip islands at the post
When it comes to built-in features, a pantry is now top of the must-have list, with 41% of kitchen updaters installing pantry cabinets and 15% making space for a walk-in pantry.
This is just ahead of that long-time stalwart, the kitchen island; 38% of respondents were installing or had installed one of these.
Traditionally, a pantry – as opposed to a larder, which is only for dry foodstuffs – is a cool, vented space for storing pastries and meats. While this function is no longer needed now we have fridges, the idea of a small kitchen storage space with a work surface and function – perhaps a coffee-maker or toaster – is about keeping mess out of the main kitchen. Walk-in versions may also include room for some food prep or baking.
Got a project in mind? Find the best expert for the job in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
When it comes to built-in features, a pantry is now top of the must-have list, with 41% of kitchen updaters installing pantry cabinets and 15% making space for a walk-in pantry.
This is just ahead of that long-time stalwart, the kitchen island; 38% of respondents were installing or had installed one of these.
Traditionally, a pantry – as opposed to a larder, which is only for dry foodstuffs – is a cool, vented space for storing pastries and meats. While this function is no longer needed now we have fridges, the idea of a small kitchen storage space with a work surface and function – perhaps a coffee-maker or toaster – is about keeping mess out of the main kitchen. Walk-in versions may also include room for some food prep or baking.
Got a project in mind? Find the best expert for the job in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Modern and contemporary styles cut the mustard
Which kitchen style is winning our hearts this year? Well, while the classic in-frame wooden doors typical of Traditional- and Country-style kitchens will never really go out of fashion (11% and 6% of respondents respectively installed these), many more renovating homeowners installing new kitchens are making bolder choices.
Striking and personal, Contemporary was almost neck-and-neck with Modern as the top style choice for renovated kitchens in 2023. 27% of respondents plumped for bold Contemporary style, followed closely by minimalist and uncluttered Modern style (26%). Bringing up the rear was Scandinavian style, at 5%.
This zingy space by Sustainable Kitchens, with its clean-lined yellow, green and natural ply cabinets, is a great example of just one way to take Contemporary style.
Which kitchen style is winning our hearts this year? Well, while the classic in-frame wooden doors typical of Traditional- and Country-style kitchens will never really go out of fashion (11% and 6% of respondents respectively installed these), many more renovating homeowners installing new kitchens are making bolder choices.
Striking and personal, Contemporary was almost neck-and-neck with Modern as the top style choice for renovated kitchens in 2023. 27% of respondents plumped for bold Contemporary style, followed closely by minimalist and uncluttered Modern style (26%). Bringing up the rear was Scandinavian style, at 5%.
This zingy space by Sustainable Kitchens, with its clean-lined yellow, green and natural ply cabinets, is a great example of just one way to take Contemporary style.
Grey, white and blue reign for cabinets
This calm kitchen by Uncommon Projects shows off the most popular colour for kitchen cabinetry to come out of the survey – grey, with 21% of respondents opting for this classic neutral.
Second and third choices were close behind, with 19% choosing white, and 17% favouring blue. Green was next on the popularity ladder with 13%, while beige and black were chosen by 7% and 4% respectively.
This calm kitchen by Uncommon Projects shows off the most popular colour for kitchen cabinetry to come out of the survey – grey, with 21% of respondents opting for this classic neutral.
Second and third choices were close behind, with 19% choosing white, and 17% favouring blue. Green was next on the popularity ladder with 13%, while beige and black were chosen by 7% and 4% respectively.
White worktops win…
Way ahead of competitors, white is the colour we’re most plumping for with our worktops, as seen in this natural wood kitchen designed by EJ Studio. A significant 45% of respondents picked this colour. The next most popular worktops come in wood, with 14% opting for these. Other popular shades were black (11%) and grey (11%).
And the material most of us favoured for our worktops? Way out in front was engineered quartz, picked by 41% of you. Laminate and granite were next in line, neck-and-neck at 15% each.
Way ahead of competitors, white is the colour we’re most plumping for with our worktops, as seen in this natural wood kitchen designed by EJ Studio. A significant 45% of respondents picked this colour. The next most popular worktops come in wood, with 14% opting for these. Other popular shades were black (11%) and grey (11%).
And the material most of us favoured for our worktops? Way out in front was engineered quartz, picked by 41% of you. Laminate and granite were next in line, neck-and-neck at 15% each.
…along with white walls
51% of respondents also opted to paint their kitchen walls white, just like those in this chic space designed by Into interior design, where they’re teamed with green cabinets.
51% of respondents also opted to paint their kitchen walls white, just like those in this chic space designed by Into interior design, where they’re teamed with green cabinets.
Tech takes a lead
We’re not exactly flooding our kitchens with technology, but the appliances we choose are getting fancier.
Renovating homeowners updating their appliances as part of their kitchen renovation incorporated technology into them with Wi-Fi connectivity (18%), smartphone/tablet controls (17%), and colour touchscreen displays 15%. 24% also added an electronics charging station.
We’re not exactly flooding our kitchens with technology, but the appliances we choose are getting fancier.
Renovating homeowners updating their appliances as part of their kitchen renovation incorporated technology into them with Wi-Fi connectivity (18%), smartphone/tablet controls (17%), and colour touchscreen displays 15%. 24% also added an electronics charging station.
Dining in is a driver
Eat-in kitchens are hugely popular, with 70% of respondents saying they renovated to include a dining spot. 52% entertain and 46% socialise in their kitchens, while a quarter of homeowners (26%) also now work from this busy home hub.
Eat-in kitchens are hugely popular, with 70% of respondents saying they renovated to include a dining spot. 52% entertain and 46% socialise in their kitchens, while a quarter of homeowners (26%) also now work from this busy home hub.
*The 2023 Houzz UK Kitchen Trends survey is a report of homeowners who are in the midst of, are planning or have recently completed a kitchen renovation. The online survey was fielded to Houzz UK users in November to December 2022. n=1,085.
**Spend data from the Houzz & Home survey, sent to registered users of Houzz UK and fielded March to April 2022. n=3,281
Tell us…
What are your kitchen renovation plans? Share your ideas and wish-lists in the Comments.
**Spend data from the Houzz & Home survey, sent to registered users of Houzz UK and fielded March to April 2022. n=3,281
Tell us…
What are your kitchen renovation plans? Share your ideas and wish-lists in the Comments.
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We live in what was a run down 1930's terrace but decided to keep the understairs larder cupboard instead of ripping it out. when we put in the kitchen It's really useful as additional cold storage when your fridge is full up at Christmas, I put beer in there, keep bottles of fruit juice or fizzy pop on marble slab on the floor where it's coldest. It's great for cooling batches of cooked food quickly before freezing.
Our kitchen is a fairly good quality one, but we bought it second hand for almost nothing - amazing what people will rip out and replace.
We are making plans to renovate our small kitchen into a kitchen diner by knocking down two walls to open it up using a spare bedroom which will give a 19”x 14 “ area also swapping the bedroom window for french doors & making the kitchen window wider to bring in much needed light to a north facing room . We are planning on an island, composite laminate worktops white? & L Vinyl wood effect flooring & sage green units , having more base units & less wall units opting for wooden shelving instead to open it all up . Hopefully LED lighting will enhance it all making it a nice place to cook & eat .
Re-purposing kitchen by re-colouring them is another cost saving. Water based paints have come a long way so long drying times and harmful fumes are not an issue anymore. They're also durable enough to be used in practicable environments like kitchens. We either paint them by hand or spray them, either way its the same cost.