Love Your Kitchen Island? We Already Knew That.

To create a kitchen style that's worth the investment (and won't look dated in a few years), your best bet is to blend modern taste with timeless kitchen trends that will never go out of style. A design element that doesn't appear to be going anywhere? The kitchen island.

The 2022 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report pulls data from over 2,000 Houzz users who have completed a kitchen reno in the past 12 months or plan to start one in the next three months. Among the results in the 2022 report is this interesting nugget: One in five homeowners report to their kitchen island for work. So it's no surprise that kitchen renovators are incorporating and/or upgrading a cool kitchen island.

The Popularity of Kitchen Islands

According to the study, a whopping 57 percent of kitchen renovators plan to include an island in their finished kitchen, with 27 percent upgrading an existing island and 30 percent adding a brand new island to the space. Used for more than just meal prep, the kitchen island serves as a gathering spot in the home for dining, entertaining, socializing–and, apparently, Zoom meetings with one's boss. It seems for a lot of people, the kitchen island is the heart of the home.

Contrasting Kitchen Islands Are Trending

In terms of style, kitchen islands that contrast with the cabinets are all the rage right now. That doesn't necessarily mean two high-contrast colors, but even pairing a wood island with white cabinets adds some visual interest to the room, while keeping the color palette neutral.

According to the study, 22 percent of remodeling homeowners are opting for a contrasting countertop material on their islands. The number one choice? Butcher block (35 percent). By outfitting their islands with functional butcher block, homeowners gain an enormous new workspace for chopping vegetables or preparing meals.

As a practical space for meal prep, a gathering spot for family, and an eye-catching design feature, the contrasting island is a triple-threat kitchen design choice. Not to mention a great place to get stuff done.