This Minimalist Kitchen Upgrade Is 2026’s Most Popular Renovation, According to New Data

According to a new survey released by data analysts at home services provider Angi.com, kitchen and bathroom remodels are going to dominate home renovations in 2026. Detailed in Angi’s 2026 State of Home Spending report, millennial homeowners are investing heavily in these projects — and it seems that minimalist designs are dominating new renovation requests. 

There’s a particular home renovation trend that contractors are racing to perfect in a bid to make spaces feel more upscale: continuous countertops.

Angi’s State of Home Spending Report states that 22% of those surveyed will be installing continuous countertops — that means installing the same material used in a backsplash into countertops — in kitchen remodels. Why? The design creates a sleek, unified look throughout the room, which is exactly the look that Angi analysts say homeowners are going for in 2026.

You most often see continuous countertops done in marble (a Nate Berkus favorite!), quartz, or stone, but you can achieve this look with a variety of other materials. If you’re opting for a tiled countertop, you can plan to carry the tiles onto the backsplash. Concrete is another option, or even wood to match your butcher block if you want to get super creative.

Angi reports that homeowners are leaning into minimalist design in many different ways through their kitchen remodels. Natural wood tones, especially for kitchen islands and butcher block countertops (Erin Napier stands by these), are set to be the biggest trends in 2026, with 25% of respondents saying they’re including wood in their remodels. 

Secret walk-in pantries, which homeowners are hiding behind cabinet doors, are also trending. Hiding the pantry gives the kitchen a more streamlined look (and also gives you a great party trick when you have guests over!).

However, if minimalism isn’t for you, Angi also included data that suggests 19% of homeowners surveyed are considering installing “statement backsplashes” like heavily veined marble, patterned tiles, and colorful grout, or even a textured stone. It’s a you-do-you situation!

So if you’re one of those millennials with a big kitchen remodel planned, use this data as inspiration — continuous countertops, natural wood, and hidden pantries are in. Minimalist designs may just be the way to go for a home that’ll be set up for great resale value in the future.