What We Know About Your Kitchen Renovation Choices in 2025
Find out what this year’s UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study reveals about the choices shaping our cooking spaces right now
Is there a standout feature we’re upgrading in our kitchens? Are certain cabinet colours gaining popularity? And what sort of flooring are you favouring? All this and more was covered in the 2025 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study*, which reveals what’s floating our renovation boats in the kitchen right now. Check out our roundup of both the practical and style choices that emerged.
*Percentages reflect the proportion of homeowners who are updating, or have updated, the kitchen as part of a completed, current or planned kitchen renovation during 2024-25
*Percentages reflect the proportion of homeowners who are updating, or have updated, the kitchen as part of a completed, current or planned kitchen renovation during 2024-25
Worktops are a priority
The biggest headline from the research is that worktops are a serious priority, with looks and performance both important, as exemplified in this Classic Interiors project.
The survey found that, when renovating the kitchen, almost all of you upgraded work surfaces (92%). You told us your choice of worktop material was based on look and feel (65%), durability (44%) and ease of cleaning (38%), rather than cost (24% – down 7 percentage points from 2024).
“Worktops offer a multitude of options for homeowners to personalise their kitchens for both aesthetic and practical reasons, such as durability and ease of cleaning. Even as design trends evolve, this feature remains a priority,” Houzz staff economist Marine Sargsyan says.
The biggest headline from the research is that worktops are a serious priority, with looks and performance both important, as exemplified in this Classic Interiors project.
The survey found that, when renovating the kitchen, almost all of you upgraded work surfaces (92%). You told us your choice of worktop material was based on look and feel (65%), durability (44%) and ease of cleaning (38%), rather than cost (24% – down 7 percentage points from 2024).
“Worktops offer a multitude of options for homeowners to personalise their kitchens for both aesthetic and practical reasons, such as durability and ease of cleaning. Even as design trends evolve, this feature remains a priority,” Houzz staff economist Marine Sargsyan says.
We’re plumping for pale and interesting
When it came to the most common worktop material, engineered quartz led the way, with 42% of you opting for this durable, versatile finish, followed by butcher’s block or wood slab (14%), laminate (14%), solid surface (12%), granite (10%) and marble (5%).
And is there a favourite worktop colour? Absolutely: more than half of you opted for white or off-white (32% and 22%, respectively), while 16% went for wood tones.
Interestingly, it wasn’t solid colour topping the favourites: 51% of you veered towards a veined finish and 27% went for speckled.
By way of a perfect example, the worktops in this Studio JKL project we recently covered as a Kitchen Tour story are engineered quartz in a veined, pale Carrara marble-look finish.
When it came to the most common worktop material, engineered quartz led the way, with 42% of you opting for this durable, versatile finish, followed by butcher’s block or wood slab (14%), laminate (14%), solid surface (12%), granite (10%) and marble (5%).
And is there a favourite worktop colour? Absolutely: more than half of you opted for white or off-white (32% and 22%, respectively), while 16% went for wood tones.
Interestingly, it wasn’t solid colour topping the favourites: 51% of you veered towards a veined finish and 27% went for speckled.
By way of a perfect example, the worktops in this Studio JKL project we recently covered as a Kitchen Tour story are engineered quartz in a veined, pale Carrara marble-look finish.
Feature splashbacks gain ground
Perhaps inspired by projects on Houzz, such as this elegant Davonport kitchen, the majority of you opted for bold and larger-format slab splashbacks (62%), while almost two in five chose tiles (38%).
And it’s not just the finish that’s important: 40% of you went for a splashback that extended up to wall cabinets or extractors, while 3% of you took yours all the way to the ceiling.
Ask your designer if they use Houzz Pro software: tools, such as 3D Floor Plans and Mood Boards, can help you to easily visualise designs for your space.
Perhaps inspired by projects on Houzz, such as this elegant Davonport kitchen, the majority of you opted for bold and larger-format slab splashbacks (62%), while almost two in five chose tiles (38%).
And it’s not just the finish that’s important: 40% of you went for a splashback that extended up to wall cabinets or extractors, while 3% of you took yours all the way to the ceiling.
Ask your designer if they use Houzz Pro software: tools, such as 3D Floor Plans and Mood Boards, can help you to easily visualise designs for your space.
We’re mixing and matching our cabinet colours
Nearly a third of you chose differing colours for upper and lower kitchen cabinets (31%). White is the top choice for wall cabinets, selected by more than two in five homeowners (23% off-white and 19% white), followed by wood tones (18%). Green takes the top spot for base cabinets that contrast with wall cabinets (21%). Other common colours for base cabinets include blue (16%), beige and grey (11% each).
See one variation of the look brought to life in this Tanya Hudson Architecture-designed kitchen.
Nearly a third of you chose differing colours for upper and lower kitchen cabinets (31%). White is the top choice for wall cabinets, selected by more than two in five homeowners (23% off-white and 19% white), followed by wood tones (18%). Green takes the top spot for base cabinets that contrast with wall cabinets (21%). Other common colours for base cabinets include blue (16%), beige and grey (11% each).
See one variation of the look brought to life in this Tanya Hudson Architecture-designed kitchen.
We (still) like white walls
Pale walls were the most popular in last year’s report and, this year, off-white and white, at 26% and 24%, respectively, remain clear favourites when it comes to your kitchen’s backdrop, demonstrated beautifully in this design by Fraher & Findlay Architects.
Green gets a small look in here, too, with 12% of homeowners opting to have their walls in this colour.
Find reviewed kitchen designers in your area on Houzz.
Pale walls were the most popular in last year’s report and, this year, off-white and white, at 26% and 24%, respectively, remain clear favourites when it comes to your kitchen’s backdrop, demonstrated beautifully in this design by Fraher & Findlay Architects.
Green gets a small look in here, too, with 12% of homeowners opting to have their walls in this colour.
Find reviewed kitchen designers in your area on Houzz.
Futuristic fridges float our boats
76% of homeowners updated their fridge-freezer during a kitchen renovation, and update really is the word.
A touchscreen display, like the one on this American fridge-freezer in an MLA Architecture project, tempted 22% of you, while the ability to set the temperature by area was also a draw (20%). A water filter change alert (11%), a remote ice maker control (8%), control locks (8%) and a transparent screen (6%) are also features to watch out for.
76% of homeowners updated their fridge-freezer during a kitchen renovation, and update really is the word.
A touchscreen display, like the one on this American fridge-freezer in an MLA Architecture project, tempted 22% of you, while the ability to set the temperature by area was also a draw (20%). A water filter change alert (11%), a remote ice maker control (8%), control locks (8%) and a transparent screen (6%) are also features to watch out for.
Lighting is important to you
85% of you updated your lighting fixtures during a kitchen renovation, with under-cabinet lights the most common addition (65%).
As for the choice of material for your illumination, a combination of metal and glass (43%) and all-metal (39%) are your key picks.
These brass and textured glass pendants, in a Kitchens by Holloways design, show one way to go with the look.
85% of you updated your lighting fixtures during a kitchen renovation, with under-cabinet lights the most common addition (65%).
As for the choice of material for your illumination, a combination of metal and glass (43%) and all-metal (39%) are your key picks.
These brass and textured glass pendants, in a Kitchens by Holloways design, show one way to go with the look.
Nickel beats brass
Brushed nickel cabinet handles, as seen in this Sustainable Kitchens design, take top spot. This soft, contemporary metal was chosen by 25% of respondents for their cupboards and drawers.
Brass, last year’s second most popular choice (behind brushed nickel), has dropped to third place (15%), overtaken by handleless cabinets (23%).
Brushed nickel cabinet handles, as seen in this Sustainable Kitchens design, take top spot. This soft, contemporary metal was chosen by 25% of respondents for their cupboards and drawers.
Brass, last year’s second most popular choice (behind brushed nickel), has dropped to third place (15%), overtaken by handleless cabinets (23%).
We’re spending more
Investment in kitchen renovations continues to grow, with over a quarter of renovating homeowners citing having the financial means for starting their kitchen update as a top motivation (29%).
The median spend for both major and minor kitchen renovations* increased by 34% to £17,500 from £13,000 in 2024. The median spend for a major kitchen renovation of a large kitchen (around 10 sq m or more), climbed to £20,000, up from £15,000 the previous year. The median spend on a major small kitchen renovation (less than around 10 sq m) is £4,900.
“We’re seeing a rise in overall kitchen renovation spend as homeowners invest in specific features and undergo major modifications, many of which require the expertise of qualified home professionals,” Marine says.
*A major kitchen renovation refers to a renovation in which at least all cabinets and appliances are replaced. A minor kitchen renovation refers to all other renovations.
Investment in kitchen renovations continues to grow, with over a quarter of renovating homeowners citing having the financial means for starting their kitchen update as a top motivation (29%).
The median spend for both major and minor kitchen renovations* increased by 34% to £17,500 from £13,000 in 2024. The median spend for a major kitchen renovation of a large kitchen (around 10 sq m or more), climbed to £20,000, up from £15,000 the previous year. The median spend on a major small kitchen renovation (less than around 10 sq m) is £4,900.
“We’re seeing a rise in overall kitchen renovation spend as homeowners invest in specific features and undergo major modifications, many of which require the expertise of qualified home professionals,” Marine says.
*A major kitchen renovation refers to a renovation in which at least all cabinets and appliances are replaced. A minor kitchen renovation refers to all other renovations.
Sustainability rises steadily
While there were no huge spikes in those of you creating your new kitchens sustainably, there continues to be a steady rise.
A few examples include the 11% of you who chose non-toxic, sustainable cabinet materials, up from 9% last year. There’s also a rise in those of you who opted for water-efficient features – 21% as opposed to 19% last year – while 44% of you opted for energy-efficient windows, up from 41%. And, in a new question on the survey this year, we learned that 3% of you hired a certified or licensed eco-expert professional.
Have stories on Houzz, such as the tour of this transformed Victorian terrace kitchen (pictured) by Cairn, using hempcrete, reduced-CO2 concrete and no steel or plasterboard, inspired your ideas at all?
While there were no huge spikes in those of you creating your new kitchens sustainably, there continues to be a steady rise.
A few examples include the 11% of you who chose non-toxic, sustainable cabinet materials, up from 9% last year. There’s also a rise in those of you who opted for water-efficient features – 21% as opposed to 19% last year – while 44% of you opted for energy-efficient windows, up from 41%. And, in a new question on the survey this year, we learned that 3% of you hired a certified or licensed eco-expert professional.
Have stories on Houzz, such as the tour of this transformed Victorian terrace kitchen (pictured) by Cairn, using hempcrete, reduced-CO2 concrete and no steel or plasterboard, inspired your ideas at all?
We love the look of wood underfoot
When it comes to flooring, the most popular aesthetic was mid-coloured wood (26%). Though, interestingly, we don’t need it to be real wood: vinyl (25%) and ceramic and porcelain tiles (23%) hit the top spots when it comes to flooring material.
The second most popular floor colour is classic grey (20%).
This kitchen, with surfaces by Neolith UK, ticks the materials box with the geometric tiles in the cooking area and hardwood chevron parquet beyond.
Tell us…
What choices did you make for your recent or upcoming kitchen renovation? Share all in the Comments.
When it comes to flooring, the most popular aesthetic was mid-coloured wood (26%). Though, interestingly, we don’t need it to be real wood: vinyl (25%) and ceramic and porcelain tiles (23%) hit the top spots when it comes to flooring material.
The second most popular floor colour is classic grey (20%).
This kitchen, with surfaces by Neolith UK, ticks the materials box with the geometric tiles in the cooking area and hardwood chevron parquet beyond.
Tell us…
What choices did you make for your recent or upcoming kitchen renovation? Share all in the Comments.
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We’re not tackling our kitchen renovation projects on our own and, with nearly three-quarters of homeowners changing the layout of their kitchens (71%) and more than three in five upgrading plumbing, electrical or heating systems (63%), the complexities of our upgrades mean we’re seeking a professional’s specialist skills. As a result, 93% of you hired a pro for your kitchen project.
Who are our top go-to pros? Tradespeople are in highest demand (61%), with other popular categories including kitchen fitters (45%), kitchen designers (44%), home builders (28%), architects (28%) and cabinet-makers (24%).