While most homeowners (64%) keep their kitchens the same size as the original during a remodel, more than a third (35%) increase the footprint. To gain more square footage, some homeowners steal space from the dining room (29%) or living room (12%). Nearly 1 in 5 homeowners (18%) build additions, while a smaller portion include adding space to hallways (10%) and closets (7%).
After renovating, the majority of homeowners (53%) have kitchens of 200 square feet or more, up 1 percentage point year over year. Medium-sized kitchens (100 to 199 square feet) make up 34%, while 13% of renovated kitchens are less than 100 square feet.
“Nearly half of the homes in America are 42 years or older and were built to serve homeowners of a different era,” says Houzz staff economist Marine Sargsyan. “As the kitchen plays a more centralized role in daily activities, homeowners are choosing to give up neighboring rooms and outdoor spaces for additional kitchen square footage to meet their needs.”