What is hot in kitchen design for 2018? In mid-January Houzz released the results of its 2018 Kitchen Trends study, which revealed that homeowners are obsessed with clutter-free countertops (75 percent), ingenious storage options (66 percent) and easy recycling (49 percent). Sixty-three percent of homeowners said adequate storage was the most important feature in a kitchen, followed by the need for space to easily work, play and live (38 percent), entertain (32 percent) and clean (32 percent).
Houzz reported that homeowners are spending up to $42,000 to install pull-out waste or recycling baskets (67 percent), cookie sheet/tray organizers (58 percent), revolving corner trays (44 percent), deep drawer organizers (42 percent) and pull- or swing-out trays and shelves (42 percent).
Countertops Are Hot in Kitchen Design for 2018
Countertops continue to be hot in kitchen design for 2018. Countertops in particular are having a real moment today as homeowners focus on decluttering surfaces for a sleek and tidy kitchen post-renovation. Homeowners are also paying quite a bit of attention to countertops, which is the most common upgrade (94 percent) and is often the item renovators are willing to spend a little extra cash on (42 percent).
Surprise! Engineered quartz is hot in kitchen design for 2018. Now, homeowners, especially those in suburban and urban areas, are turning their attention to engineered quartz (43 percent).
Granite is not hot in kitchen design for 2018! When it comes to the material homeowners are choosing for their new, shiny countertops, granite is falling out of favor with a consecutive three-year decline in popularity (45, 41 and 34 percent in 2016, 2017 and 2018 studies, respectively).
Difference between granite and engineered quartz?
Granite counters are mined from pure stone. The stone is sawed into slabs or made into tiles and then polished for installation. Quartz countertops are manufactured from crushed quartz that is mixed with pigment for coloration and resin as a binder. The quartz content is typically 92% to 94%.
If you want authentic stone countertops, then granite is your only choice here.
If appearance is your main focus, then you should know that both types have their strong point. Granite shows slight, natural variations in the hue of the stone. Colors ranges from earth tones to blues, greens and roses. The coloration of quartz is more consistent, and it is available in a wider array of colors since they are produced with pigments added to the quartz.
Which one is “better?” Beauty is in the eye of the beholder here. They are both very good looking. As you browse your options, you’ll get a feel for which one you prefer. It’s really about a toss-up for price between the two materials. The cost of quartz ranges from $80-$140 per square foot installed and granite starts at about $80 and can go to $175 or slightly higher for high-end material.
Kitchen Decor Styles Are Changing
2017 saw 87 percent of homeowners change their kitchen decor style, with transitional (25 percent) and contemporary (17 percent) styles leading in popularity among suburban and urban respondents. Moreover, 50 percent of remodelers adjusted their kitchen layout, with L-shape countertops (35 percent) outperforming the U-shape (26 percent).
