home design trends

These are Houzz's top kitchen remodel trends for 2026

If the new year signals tackling long-awaited renovation projects for Houston homeowners, then an outdated kitchen should be high on the priority list, according to Houzz.

The online interior design platform just released its 2026 Kitchen Trends Study, which surveyed nearly 1,800 homeowners to discover emerging trends for recent, current, or planned kitchen renovation projects.

Compared to last year's report, more homeowners are becoming fed up with the lack of functionality in their deteriorating kitchens, a third of respondents are pursuing renovations because they finally have the financial means, and a quarter are seeking improvements to boost their resale value.

Depending on the scale of the remodel, major projects have a median cost of $55,000, while minor kitchen renovations can have a median cost of around $20,000, the report found. For a large kitchen area bigger than 250 square feet, homeowners are spending a median $75,000 for a major remodel, whereas smaller kitchens are netting $46,000 for major renovations.

A majority of homeowners (78 percent), are changing their kitchen style during their remodel, with transitional still leading as the hottest style. In descending order, the second-to-last most popular styles are traditional, modern, contemporary, farmhouse, and midcentury.

Top style choices
In a shift from previous years, white cabinets are losing their spark as the most sought-after cabinet color. Wood tones have surpassed in popularity, with medium wood tones becoming the next trend, followed by light and dark tones.

However, shades of white are still the most preferred color for homeowners who are picking contrasting colors for their upper and lower cabinets. White and off-white dominate the list of trending upper cabinets, with wood tones, blue, and green topping the list for contrasting lower cabinet colors.

Neutral color palettes are still drenching the walls and floors of kitchen remodels this year, according to Houzz. Off-white and white are the leading wall color choices, while wood dominates homeowners' flooring choice during renovations.

2026 Houzz Kitchen renovation trends report, wood toned cabinets and flooring Wood tones are all the rage in 2026.Photo by Robert Peterson (Rustic White Photography) for Mister + Mrs. Sharp

2026 Houzz Kitchen renovation trends report, neutral color palettes

Photo by Leigh Ann Rowe for Studio Willow/OC Builders Group

Neutral color palettes and "timeless" style are still top choices for kitchen renovations in 2026.

Ceramic tile leads as the most popular new backsplash material, and engineered quartz tops the choices for slab-style kitchen backsplashes. Engineered quartz also remains the No. 1 countertop pick for renovating homeowners, but interest has been waning since 2024.

Butcher block (also known as wood slab) is surging in popularity for contrasting island countertops, while engineered quartz and granite are the second- and third-most popular choices.

Addressing needs for aging household members
A separate 2025 Houzz study analyzing home renovation trends revealed the most sought-after upgrades centered around "aging in place," meaning renovations that addressed the future needs of aging homeowners that don't want to move. And that trend is continuing into 2026, the latest report found.

"When addressing current special needs in kitchen renovations, homeowners most often focus on aging household members (31 percent), and the share is up by 5 percentage points year over year," the report said.

Almost all homeowners (90 percent) who are addressing aging-in-place needs are adding features to improve accessibility and safety.

The top aging-in-place upgrades are:

Pullout cabinets with wide drawer pulls
Additional lighting (such as recessed and undercabinet lights)
Rounded countertops
Nonslip floors
Wheelchair-accessible doorways
Lower fixtures and countertops
Shallow sinks

Trending upgraded products and features
Many large kitchen features are getting a big makeover this year, as 91 percent of homeowners say they are upgrading their countertops, and 85 percent are upgrading their backsplashes and sinks.

Over three quarters of homeowners are adding built-in features during their remodel, such as pantry cabinets, beverage stations, banquettes (upholstered bench seating most often built into walls or corners), wine fridges, walk-in pantries, and more.

"Baking stations (9 percent) and butler’s pantries or prep kitchens (7 percent) appeal to smaller shares of renovating homeowners," the report said.

2026 Houzz Kitchen renovation trends report, butler's pantry Butler's pantries with pantry cabinets are a luxurious upgrade for some kitchens.Photo by Joe Purvis for Pike Properties

When upgrading cabinets, almost all homeowners are incorporating built-in storage for specific needs. Having a visible trash can in the kitchen is falling out of fashion, as 64 percent of homeowners said they were adding pullout cabinets for waste or recycling to keep them hidden. Other top enhancements for specialty storage include dedicated space for cookie sheets or trays, spices, cutlery, a microwave, revolving corner trays, pullout shelves, deep-drawer organizers, and organizers for pots and pans.

As for major appliances, dishwashers and microwaves are the most frequently installed upgrades during renovations.

"Renovating homeowners also often add or update cooktops (40 percent) and wall ovens (29 percent), while smaller shares opt for
food refrigerators (19 percent), beverage refrigerators (18 percent) or wine refrigerators (13 percent)," Houzz said.

Sustainability features
Energy efficient upgrades are not only environmentally friendly, they're also the most cost effective choices that can improve a home's value. According to the report, LED lightbulbs, energy-efficient appliances, and a "timeless design" are the top three choices homeowners are incorporating as sustainable kitchen renovation features.

Other sustainable remodel choices include:

Light dimmers
Water-efficient fixtures
Energy-efficient windows
VOC-free paints, finishes, and coatings
Eco-friendly flooring and materials in general
Nontoxic, sustainable cabinets
Recycled materials
Hiring an "eco-focused" professional

houzz home design home design trends kitchen

Marburger Farm updated

Round Top's 43-acre antique show unveils renovations for spring 2026

Courtesy of Marburger Farm

Visit Marburger Farm March 24-28.

The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus believed that the only constant in life is change. Since 1997, the Marburger Farm Antique Show, which typically closes out both the spring and fall editions of the Round Top Antiques & Design Show, has largely remained unchanged. As enthusiastic Marburger tailgaters listen for that opening triangle to ring, everyone has their well-established and particular beeline-paths prepared in advance. But this year, change is a’comin’.

When the fall show closed last October, Marburger began a huge renovation project that included the full restoration of its historic buildings, including the original Marburger Farmhouse, Legler House, Coufal House, Zieger House, Silver Dollar Saloon, Gulf Warehouse, Dance Hall, Bingo Hall, Blacksmith Shop, and the General Store. Notably, the restoration has made it possible to add heating and air conditioning to these structures.

New additions debuting this spring include The Canteen, which is a large food pavilion overlooking the previously-underutilized pond; The Parlor, a design showcase space; a live music stage; enhanced pathways; and a communal green space designed for gathering and celebration. Over the summer, the addition of two large climate-controlled sheds and updated seating and lounge areas throughout the grounds will complete the project.

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“This is a much more intentional undertaking to really breathe life into those buildings,” Marburger CEO John Sughrue tells CultureMap. “It’s going to be very obvious — when on the property — what we’ve done. The vision for what we’re doing was establishing a greater sense of place, and a greater sense of community.”

While fans may worry that these improvements may impact the charming and rustic aesthetic that shoppers have come to expect at Marburger, the overall experience should remain the same. Once randomly strewn across the 43-acre property, the historic structures have been gathered together around a newly-hardscaped central square. New green spaces are intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia, the layout inspired by the Texas Courthouse Square. At one end, the western-facing pavilion will overlook the pond and rolling hills, and adjacent to that, the familiar 90,000-square-feet of tented shopping remain unchanged.

“One thing that is apparent about Marburger is that people have a real sense of connection with it, a sense of history, and take a personal interest in it,” says Sughrue. “You’ll see that in the level of craftsmanship, the placemaking, and how we have, in essence, redeveloped the existing historical buildings.”

One of the things Sughrue is enthusiastic about is the ability to participate in the winter show, as well as inviting exhibitors who left for climate-controlled venues to return home to Marburger. Improved facilities for their local and beloved food and beverage vendors make for expanded offerings and shorter lines — a notion sure to please even the most staunch Marburger purists.

“We are trying very much to maintain the Texas heritage of Marburger,” Sughrue says. “I consider us guardians or stewards of the brand. I consider Marburger a brand like Blue Bell Ice Cream or the State Fair of Texas. There is something very much rooted in the land, very much rooted in how generations now have engaged with Marburger and in Round Top. We are trying to hold tight to being a heritage brand, while positioning for the future — that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Sughrue is all too aware of some of the sentiments that were shared five years ago when Marburger was purchased by “these Dallas guys” [real estate development firm Brook Partners]. In the last four years, they have listened to vendors and guests alike to learn how they can improve the show experience for their core audience: top exhibitors, designers, architects, and vendors. While he finds the relatively-recent glitterati element in Round Top to be amusing, it’s not something he’s interested in attracting or catering to specifically. So, everyone can let out a sigh of relief on that concern.

“These are designers who come into Round Top, and to Marburger in particular, and they are very important to our success. We attract some of the best exhibitors in the country, if not the world,” explains Sughrue. “Day one they meet with designers who have flown in from all over the country. Our focus is being a resource to those designers and architects — that’s what’s driving our business. We are not a lifestyle offering, and we are not trying to be all things to all people.”

At the end of the day, Sughrue’s overall goal is connecting the best exhibitors to the best buyers. “Everything else that happens in Round Top is just noise.” He loves the generational aspect of Marburger, oftentimes noticing three generations shopping together in the tents.

“Y’all make a tough crowd, I’ll tell you that,” Sughrue says with a laugh. “I think we are going to get more of it right than wrong, and what we get wrong — we are going to listen very hard to people — we are going to make that right. I promise you that. Marburger captivates me. It just devours all of my time and attention, but how lucky am I?! All these issues surround purpose-driven lives, and we get to work on Marburger to bring a community of people together to celebrate design, antiques, Texas. It’s like the American Dream is alive and well on the Round Top fields during Marburger. It’s just an incredible collection of people.”

Visit the refreshed Marburger Farms from Tuesday, March 24 to Saturday, March 28. Purchase tickets at marburgerfarm.com.

Courtesy of Marburger Farm

Visit Marburger Farm March 24-28.

marburger farm round top shopping