Kitchen Remodeling Ideas to Add Value to Your Home This 2021

Houzz.com has recently come up with a study showing the top remodeling projects done by homeowners in 2020. The underlying goal for most of these projects is to make the kitchen more inviting and practical as people spend more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’re planning to sell your Atlanta home in 2021, you can enhance its value with a kitchen remodeling project. Consider adopting the most popular changes done in 2020 to help make your property appealing to more home buyers.

Here are some of the top changes as revealed in Houzz.com’s study:

1. Increase storage

Almost all kitchen renovations in 2020 included some work on the cabinets, with more than half of renovators changing their cabinetry completely. Of those who did a partial change on their cabinets, more than a quarter added new ones.

The need to stock up on supplies during the pandemic has heightened the demand for more storage. Increasing storage space while keeping the same kitchen square footage was the biggest challenge renovators had to face. The most popular solutions were to upgrade pantry cabinets and add a walk-in pantry.

2. Add built-in organizers

Renovators in 2020 added built-in organizers to make tidying up around the kitchen quick and convenient. People want to easily find what they need for everyday activities like cooking, baking, and serving.

Popular kitchen additions included organizers for cookie sheets and spices, recycling drawers or pullout waste bins, and pullout or swing out trays that make it easier to access tight or hard-to-reach spaces.

3. Ditch the open floor plan

Open floor plans that provide a seamless flow from other rooms to the kitchen have always been popular. In 2020, however, the trend has somewhat diminished with less renovators opting for this change. What continues to be popular, though, is opening up the kitchen to outdoor space, emphasizing the growing trend for indoor-outdoor living.

4. Add splashes of colors

Colors are making a comeback in kitchens, although at still muted schemes. In the Houzz survey, around 47% of renovators opted for contrasting colors for their island cabinet counters to make them pop out, with the most popular color choices being blue and gray.

Around 18% went for multicolored backsplashes, while 14% chose gray flooring. About 13% opted for blue and gray for the main cabinetry, while only 7% went for color on the wall, with blue as the primary choice.

5. Incorporate island appliances

Islands continue to be popular kitchen features, as shown by 63% of those surveyed who opted to maintain or add an island. There was also a noticeable trend of adding appliances on kitchen islands, with microwaves and dishwashers as the most added appliances.

6. Extend your backsplash upward

Renovators in 2020 opted for backsplashes that went all the way up to the upper cabinets or range hood, showing a growing preference to make a design statement using the backsplash. White is still the most popular color choice for backsplashes, but an increasing number is choosing a multicolored design.

Give your kitchen a timely update and get better value for your home. Talk to your kitchen renovation expert about the best changes to make for your home.

Sources:

2021 US Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, Houzz.com
Here’s What 2021 Buyers Want In a Kitchen, AtlantaAgentMagazine.com

Chad Robichaux

August 17, 2026

Sterling did an amazing job on our bathroom / laundry room renovation. We now have a beautiful space that fits well into our life for years to come!!

fin mad

February 26, 2026

Philip and the entire crew are amazing! Very thorough with special attention to detail and nothing short of quality work. They make sure everything is perfect. Would definitely want to use them for future projects. Strongly recommend.

Kate Hodgins

December 30, 2025

Philip and the Sterling Works team were wonderful to work with on my bathroom renovation! From the estimate to completing the final punch list, the project went smoothly and stayed on schedule. Philip was at my house daily for the bulk of the project, ensuring that all of the subs were coordinated and completing the project exactly as promised. Any small issues that arose were met with solutions from the experienced team. I highly recommend Sterling Works for your next home renovation!

Kate Ravin

June 2, 2025

My husband and I cannot praise Sterling Works highly enough! Philip has assembled and overseen a team of pros who do gorgeous, precise work, turning our cramped, hideous 1970s bathroom and small walk-in closet into the Japandi retreat of our dreams--a room we can age into with confidence. Would we use Sterling Works again? Absolutely! If you're lucky enough to find them free, grab them fast! A+++++++++

Nicole Zavodnick

May 4, 2025

Philip was hands down the best contractor from start to finish of a project we could have asked for. His attention to detail and understanding my vision for our kitchen was so easy to communicate. The crew he hires from demo and structural engineering work, to cabinet making to local recommendations for suppliers of appliances, countertops, etc are all top notch. The best part was his timeline and budget were accurate and we had no surprises there. I hope he never retires for my own sake. Most of all, he is an in town local and kept our house and dogs safe while we underwent this huge renovation! Peace of mind while turning a project over was such a relief.

Sam Burnwall

April 14, 2025

Sterling Works did an absolutely incredible job giving us the kitchen of our dreams. They weren’t the first business we met with when planning our kitchen renovation, but we knew after meeting with the owner, Phil, that we had found the right company for the job. Phil understood our vision for our kitchen and was really invested in giving us exactly what we wanted. He was the first contractor that we met with that actually had suggestions and gave some of his own ideas that helped us to make some key decisions. As far as timing goes, I know it’s impossible to promise an exact date for a project, but despite the hiccups that come with renovations in a 70+ year old house, they moved swiftly (not too swiftly as to make mistakes) and finished right on time as promised. 10/10 would absolutely work with Sterling Works again and would recommend them to anyone.

Stephanie Kelly

October 24, 2024

I am so happy with our our 2nd floor renovation project turned out from Sterling Works. Everyone was wonderful to work with, from the flooring crew who had to pivot when the original plan wasn't going to work, to the carpenter who built our custom vanity and the rest of the crew who did excellent work. They all took our wishes into account, offered suggestions based on their professional expertise, and made sure we were happy with the end results. Our house finally feels more like a home than an apartment and we are thrilled with the results.

Benjamin Kodish

June 16, 2024

We recently completed a project with Sterling Works and could not be happier with the experience and outcome. We updated both our kitchen and primary bathroom and they both turned out great. The entire process working with Philip and his team was easy from initial planning to completion. Philip’s team is wonderful. They are all very talented and do meticulous work. Also, they are also extremely friendly and polite. In addition to the great work, they also do the “little things” like cleaning up the work site at the end of every day, which really does make a huge difference with all of the work taking place in the house. Overall, the project was completed on time and there were no surprises on cost. We would highly recommend Sterling Works and are already considering updating a guest bathroom with them later this year.

Mark Caridi-Scheible

January 13, 2024

Had my kitchen completely redone with a lot of special requests and Sterling Works managed it all beautifully. They were extremely professional and all the work was done on time. Philip was so easy to work with and highly responsive, as were all of his crew. The subcontractors he chose were also highly professional and easy to work with. My kitchen turned out stunning, so if you want quality work done on time, these are the guys.

Erin F

October 28, 2023

I just finished a kitchen and second room remodel, working with Phil and his crew. I cannot say enough about the process and the results. Phil really helped guide me through the whole remodel process and communicated with me next steps, schedule and the all-important budget. As we came upon a couple of issues and choices, he and his crew were able to offer solutions and options and implement them to perfection. For example, my house is very old so I was terrified of what we would find once we opened the walls. And we did find something – some of the pipes were split and leaking beneath the house, as well as into the basement. Phil and his crew were able to deal with this new situation almost immediately. Going into this, I also worried about having a whole crew in the house for such a long period of time. His crew is really the best group of guys. But by the time the project was finished I could not imagine, not having them around! They are really good people!!! I cannot overstate that! This whole scary process was so easy and enjoyable due to their knowledge, experience and ingenuity. My remodel is absolute perfection. I definitely recommend Phil and hope to have future projects with them. Sincerely, Erin