1. Wood Cabinets Are Back in a Big Way
Wood has officially moved into the top spot as the most popular cabinet color, chosen in 29% of renovated kitchens — slightly surpassing white (28%). Medium wood tones lead the way (15%), followed by light (11%) and dark (3%).
2. Cabinetry Upgrades That Do More
Cabinet upgrades remain almost universal, with 84% of homeowners updating their kitchen cabinetry. And within those upgraded kitchens, 94% include specialized storage options such as:
Pull-out waste & recycling bins (64%)
Cookie sheet and tray storage (55%)
Spice storage (41%)
Cutlery organizers (38%)
Homeowners are also improving those hard-to-reach spaces using corner trays, pull-out shelves, and deep drawer organizers (34% each).
3. Butler’s Pantries Are Becoming a Must-Have
For homeowners adding a butler’s pantry, it’s all about hiding the “everyday stuff” and keeping countertops clear. The study shows:
Small appliance storage (67%)
Prep counters (61%)
Enclosed cabinetry (59%)
4. Bigger Kitchen Islands Are the New Normal
Kitchen islands continue to be a major upgrade, with 58% of homeowners adding or updating one. And many are going bigger than ever:
52% exceed 7 feet
30% are between 6–7 feet
18% are under 6 feet
Rectangular islands remain the top choice, making up 80% of upgraded island shapes.
5. Transitional Style Still Leads the Way
Transitional design remains the most common kitchen style at 25%, followed by:
Traditional (12%)
Modern (11%)
Contemporary (10%)
Interestingly, the number of homeowners reporting “no specific style” doubled to 6%, showing more people are mixing looks instead of sticking to one design category.
6. Slab Backsplashes Are Growing Fast
Tile still dominates backsplash choices (72%), but slab backsplashes continue to rise and now account for 28% of designs.
Ceramic tile leads tile options (49%)
Engineered quartz is the top slab choice (39%)
7. Stainless Steel Appliances Are Still #1
Stainless steel remains the most popular appliance finish at 72%, with other options far behind:
White (6%)
Black stainless (6%)
Black (5%)
Off-white (2%)
8. Engineered Quartz Continues to Dominate Countertops
Engineered quartz remains the most popular countertop material at 32%, though its share dropped 7 points year-over-year.
Other popular countertop choices include:
Granite (15%) (down 4 points)
Quartzite (10%)
9. Layered Lighting Makes a Big Impact
Lighting continues to be one of the most important kitchen upgrades. Homeowners most often choose:
Recessed lighting (72%)
Undercabinet lighting (72%)
Pendant lights (56%)
Chandeliers (21%)
10. Tile Flooring Is Rising Again
Ceramic and porcelain tile flooring has climbed into the top spot, now tied with hardwood flooring at 22% each.
What This Means for Today’s New Home Kitchens
The message is clear: homeowners want kitchens that feel beautiful and work effortlessly. More storage, more function, more purpose — and less clutter on display.
At Sunlight Heritage Homes, we pay attention to trends like these because they reflect how families actually live today. Whether it’s maximizing cabinet storage, designing larger islands, or creating smarter kitchen zones, the goal is the same: a kitchen that feels great every day, not just when guests are over.
✅ Thinking about building a new home with a kitchen designed for real life?
Visit www.sunlighthomes.ca to explore our homes or book a tour.
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This was a great experience! Stephanie was fantastic and very helpful. The design centre has many great options, we can’t wait to see our design choices come to life in our new house!
~ Hannah & James