Fewer Kitchen Remodels Include Open Floor Plans, Reports Houzz

After the pandemic revealed the impractical side of many popular design trends, professionals and homeowners are making some changes this year. The flaws of open floor plans became clear as more homes became offices, classrooms, and daycare. Going into 2021, fewer homeowners and remodelers are opening up their kitchens to other spaces, according to Houzz’s recent survey. Just 43% of respondents said they opened up kitchens, a 10% drop from last year’s share. Storage space grew in popularity for kitchens, with 94% of those surveyed saying they plan to or did work on kitchen cabinets.

This may be because the pandemic made amateur chefs out of people more accustomed to dining out.

“Storage has really come into focus as people have spent more time at home during the pandemic,” Liza Hausman, Houzz vice president of industry marketing, said in a statement. “More homeowners are reaching out to professionals ... for help making their kitchens work better, most often within the same layout and square footage.”

Despite the recession and economic hardships, homeowners spent a median $35,000 upgrading their kitchens, the same as last year.

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