After a year of spending more time than ever in our homes, many of us are ready to give our surroundings a refresh and improve functionality. A renewed interest in cooking and baking, extended periods of studying, or working from home have all highlighted the necessity for dedicated spaces for family members. In fact, according to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, 2020 was the first year that saw a reverse of the trend towards open-plan kitchens by nearly 10%. If you are looking for some inspiration—our curated look at 2021 Kitchen Design Trends from the Houzz study below is a good place to start.
A Place for Everything
Also, from the Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, increased storage was the largest 2021 Kitchen Design Trend. Perhaps because people have been bingeing Netflix’s “Get Organized with The Home Edit,” interest in dedicated pantries rose 46%. More than half of recent kitchen renovations included an upgraded pantry or created a walk-in one.
The most popular cabinet organizers are those designed to hold cookie sheets (48%) and spices (39%). The most common specialty cabinet drawers are pullout waste or recycling drawers (60%), followed by lazy Susan (38%) or pullout/swing-out (34%) cabinets. Built-in specialty organizers, drawers, and trays also saw a significant increase in new kitchen designs, Places for spices, large pans, and even charging drawers were popular.

Warm Neutrals and Classic Shapes
In terms of cabinet styles, Shaker-style continues to be the top cabinetry door choice among homeowners upgrading their kitchen cabinetry (57%), with flat-panel (21%) a distant second. Overall, neutral colors continued to reign supreme. Warm, natural shades of gray, white, and cream were the most popular wall colors. The more adventurous homeowners brightened them up their new kitchen designs with multicolor backsplashes or deep wall paint – with green and blue being the most popular shades. Transitional remained the top kitchen interior design style. It is actually a hybrid – including traditional touches and modern lines.
Ceramic and porcelain tile, which looks like hardwood but is often more durable and water-resistant, was the top choice for kitchen flooring. Vinyl is also becoming popular, being used in about a fifth of remodels.
Find Your Style
Finally, after the year we’ve all had, it’s no surprise that home design trends for 2021 focus on comfort—whatever that means for you. According to the Houzz survey, more homeowners are reaching out to professionals for design help. They want their kitchens to work better-most often within the same layout and square footage. We have experienced kitchen and bath designers on staff, and chances are we have just the look you are searching for in our showroom – come visit to check out over 250 door styles and multiple specialty storage solutions.