Following are key takeaways from the report. Click here to view the entire report.
In this Restb.ai Special Report on Kitchens, we unveil a comprehensive analysis of six years of trends in kitchen design across the U.S, as well as a deeper look at five select markets: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Miami, and Los Angeles. By leveraging our market-leading proprietary computer vision technology, we unlock otherwise unavailable insights into the heart of every home: the kitchen.
According to a study by Rocket Homes, a property’s kitchen could make or break a home sale. 55% of 1,002 consumers surveyed said that a good kitchen could convince them to buy a home they otherwise wouldn’t. Conversely, a similar number of buyers said they’d be unwilling to buy a home with an ugly kitchen.
These statistics underscore the kitchen’s pivotal role in both personal satisfaction and as a key driver of property valuation, highlighting the importance of understanding current design trends and consumer preferences.
This Restb.ai Special Report is designed to equip real estate professionals, designers, and developers with actionable insights by focusing on three critical areas of kitchens: layouts, cabinet colors, and cabinet styles. By analyzing the photos of millions of single-family property listings across diverse markets over the last six years, we reveal national patterns and regional distinctions for the first time.
Key National Insights
- Kitchen layouts: Islands dominate, featured in 73% of new homes and steadily increasing in existing properties. Peninsulas, while less common nationally, retain regional significance, particularly in Miami and Los Angeles.
- Cabinet colors: White cabinets continue to dominate kitchen design and remain the most popular choice in new (69%) and existing (45%) homes.
- Cabinet styles: Shaker cabinets maintain their position as the top cabinet style, appearing in 86% of new kitchens and 57% overall. Raised cabinets rank second at 34% of listed properties in 2024.
Regional Variations
- Atlanta kitchens show the largest preference for islands, while counter to the nationwide trend, Miami kitchens favor peninsulas over islands by more than a 2-to-1 margin.
- White cabinets are the most common color among all 5 sampled cities, holding the highest share in Atlanta at 58% and the lowest share in Chicago at 41%.
- Shaker cabinets have the greatest presence in Denver (64%) and Atlanta (62%), while more modern flat panel cabinets hold a comparatively larger share in Miami (16%), the only market with a greater than 10% share.
Key Takeaways
Design Preferences are Evolving
White cabinets, shaker cabinets, and kitchen islands dominate across the U.S., highlighting a clear preference for clean, modern aesthetics. White cabinets, now featured in 69% of new constructions and 45% of existing home sales in 2024, have shown steady growth, while shaker cabinets appeared in an astounding 86% of 2024 new builds. Kitchen island’s sustained presence in more than 70% of new homes over the six year study underscores the demand for multifunctional, open-concept spaces. These trends show a broader consumer shift toward timeless, flexible designs that appeal to the widest range of buyers.
Regional Nuances Matter
Distinct city-level preferences reveal the importance of tailoring marketing and design strategies to align with local buyer expectations. Miami, where islands are only present in 17% of kitchens, may require a different approach than markets where islands are strongly preferred. Alternatively, it may not be a requirement to paint your wood-stained cabinets in a market like Chicago, where there is a much lower prevalence of white cabinets. These differences illustrate how design can vary market-to-market in step with the truism that all real estate is local.
Kitchens are a Market Driver
Kitchens continue to anchor buyer decisions, with design choices like white cabinets and shaker styles often enhancing perceived value. As buyers prioritize updated, functional spaces, trends like the rising prevalence of kitchen islands in Denver and Atlanta (43% and 42%, respectively) illustrate their appeal. The bottom line: modern, well-designed kitchens boost buyer interest and should result in fewer days on the market.