Our kitchens are hard-working rooms and for many households, this particular space has seen even more action than usual over the past year. In fact, the latest Houzz & Home report found that the spend on kitchen renovations had increased by 15% to an average of £11,500 and homeowners have been making big changes, with two-thirds changing the layout and over half replacing all appliances. Houzz, the leading platform for home renovation and design, were curious to see what new styles, features and aesthetics have surfaced over the past year.

Using search insights from the community of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home professionals, here are the hottest emerging trends…

1 Kitchens with character 
More time spent at home during the pandemic prompted many of us to give more thought to our living spaces and how they look and feel. Homeowners on Houzz want to inject personality into their interiors and this is evident in what people are browsing for on Houzz. The search term ‘unusual kitchens’ more than doubled in popularity in 2021 compared to the year before and the photostream is flooded with examples of colourful cabinetry, unique flooring choices and tactile materials.

Credit: George Sharman Photography & M H Costa Construction

2 Fifty shades of green 
If there was one colour that would define 2021 it would be green. 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’ rose by 48% this year, with searches for ‘sage green’, ‘forest green’ and ‘dark green’ all rising significantly in popularity.

Credit: deVOL Kitchens

3 Cosy country kitchens
According to the Houzz & Home survey, rural living is becoming increasingly popular, particularly with the younger generation. A large portion – 33% of those aged between 25 and 39 who plan to move – told Houzz they’d like to swap their urban neighbourhood for a rural one. Homeowners are also seeking out those cosy country interiors for their kitchens too, with the search term ‘country kitchen’ rising 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).

Credit: Probuild360 & Matt Greaves Photography

4. The reign of terrazzo 
Over the past few years, terrazzo surfaces have been slowly edging their way into our homes, most often in the bathroom. Houzz users are embracing this multifaceted material and are now incorporating it in their kitchens. Up by 230% in searches on Houzz this year, the hardwearing material has been featured in flooring, worktops and splashbacks, with chips becoming larger and colourways bolder over the past year.

Credit: Lomax & Chi / Emily Marlin Terrazzo

Credit: Block Design and Build & Photo Chris Snook

5. Dark details
In contrast to those tranquil nature-inspired colours mentioned earlier, dark colours and features are also seeing a rise in popularity. ‘Black kitchen worktop’, ‘black pendant lights’ and ‘dark grey kitchen’ all more than doubled in searches and all look great as a grounding accent alongside softer shades.

© Houzz 2019