1. Large islands with storage<\/b><\/h2>\n
Photo:\u00a0crateandbarrel\/Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n A whopping 98 percent of homeowners who add or upgrade an island choose to integrate storage, whether it be open shelving, cabinets or pull-out drawers.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0parkandoakdesign\/Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n All-white kitchens had a good run, but homeowners are increasingly looking to add a pop of color to their kitchen islands \u2014 gray and blue have proven to be the most popular hues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0pikeproperties\/Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Homeowners are mixing and matching their countertop materials like never before. A sizable 29 percent of contrasting island countertops are white and wood \u2014 think butcher block paired with brilliant quartz.<\/span><\/p>\n\n Photo:\u00a0erinkestenbaum\/Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Among the 85 percent of homeowners who opted to change their kitchen style, 21 percent went with transitional, which is defined as a blend of traditional and contemporary.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0recharmed\/Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Kitchen backsplashes have reached new heights. Designs that extend all the way to the ceiling have increased in popularity by 11 percent. Don\u2019t be afraid to go all out with a feature wall!<\/span><\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0enkontrast\/Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n While neutral tones still reign supreme, blue kitchen walls are gaining traction with 7 percent of remodelers adopting the trend. Hey, repainting the walls is a helluva lot easier than refinishing kitchen cabinets, why not experiment with bold color?<\/span><\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0lindsay_hill_interiors\/Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n After being knocked out of the top spot in 2019, hardwood made a powerful comeback as the year\u2019s top flooring material with 29 percent of the vote. Surprisingly, vinyl\/resilient flooring fell to number three, favored by 14 percent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0centered_by_design\/Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Durable quartz has been rising in popularity since 2017 and remains the top materials in upgraded countertops, although at a slower growth rate (51 percent versus 48 percent a year ago).<\/span><\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0russelljmilligan\/Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n L-shaped kitchens are total workhorses and provide plenty of space for those coveted islands. It\u2019s no wonder they\u2019re favored by 40 percent of\u00a0remodeling homeowners who choose to change up their layout.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/islands.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n2. Contrasting island colors<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gray-island.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n3. Contrasting island countertops<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/wood-island.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Transitional style<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blue-kitchen.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n5. Full height backsplashes<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/backsplash.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n6. Blue kitchen walls<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blue-walls.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n7. Hardwood flooring<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/wood-floor.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n8. Engineered quartz<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/quartz.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n9. L-shaped layouts<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/L-shape.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n10. Recessed lighting<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pot-lights.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n