Fancier Kitchens, Higher Budgets: Homeowners Want to Renovate

The kitchen is often considered the centerpiece of a home, so it’s not surprising that it tops most homeowners’ renovation lists. Homeowners are spending more to outfit their kitchens, too. Kitchen remodel spending jumped 27% in the past year, reaching a median of $14,000 on upgrades, according to a newly released Houzz & Home survey of more than 140,000 homeowners.

© Houzz
After the kitchen, the next biggest remodeling expenditures are for guest and master bathroom remodels, which increased over the past year by 17% and 14%, respectively, the survey found.
The top home decor–related purchases among homeowners are:
- Pillows and throws: 51%
- Rugs: 50%
- Large furniture: 47%
- Artwork: 46%
- Small furniture: 44%
- Lamps: 39%
- Window treatments: 39%
- Storage/organization: 34%
- Mirrors: 28%
The top home improvement–related purchases among homeowners who renovated:
- Paint: 71%
- Light fixtures: 55%
- Faucets and shower heads: 52%
- Building materials: 44%
- Lawn and garden supplies: 44%
- Non carpet flooring: 43%
- Hardware (cabinets/doors): 39%
- Sinks: 35%
- Tile (walls/backsplashes): 33%
- Countertops: 33%
- Major kitchen appliances: 32%
- Hand and power tools: 32%
- Toilets: 30%
- Doors—interior/exterior: 28%
The top outdoor decor:
- Lighting: 26%
- Large furniture: 23%
- Small furniture: 20%
- Pillows and throws: 16%
- Fire features: 12%
- Rugs: 12%