Kitchen Facelift

How Homeowners Are Overhauling Their Outdated Kitchens

Nearly half of homes in the U.S. are more than 40 years old and likely have kitchens reflecting styles of a past era. That’s helping to lead to an increase in kitchen remodels, and homeowners are shelling out more money for an upgrade.

Kitchen remodelers are prioritizing some of these latest trends.

While the kitchen is often a focal point of the home, a renovation can be costly. Homeowners tend to recover about 75% of the cost of a kitchen overhaul at resale, one of the highest ROIs for home remodeling projects, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ Remodeling Impact report.

The amount homeowners are spending on a kitchen renovation continues to grow, with the median spend rising to $60,000 over the past year, according to the 2025 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, a survey based on more than 1,600 renovating homeowners. What’s more, the number of homeowners taking on a “premium kitchen renovation”—spending a minimum of $180,000—has grown by 20% over the past year, the survey shows.

“As kitchens take on a more centralized role in daily activities, homeowners are choosing to surrender neighboring rooms and exterior spaces for additional kitchen square footage to meet their needs,” says Marine Sargsyan, staff economist for the home remodeling site Houzz. Indeed, more than a third of renovating homeowners say they increased the square footage of their kitchens by sacrificing other spaces—typically, the dining room or living room, the survey shows.

So how are these renovating homeowners allocating their money to pay for kitchen makeovers? The Houzz survey uncovers some of the following priorities.

Backsplashes are reaching for the ceiling.

Full backsplash coverage, stretching to the cabinets, range hood or even the ceiling, is becoming more appealing to consumers. Also, while the majority of homeowners choose tile for their backsplash (76%), about a quarter are opting for larger, bold backsplashes, according to the Houzz survey.

Photo credit: Joe Hendrickson / Getty Images

Countertops go dark.

White remains the top choice for kitchen countertops—favored by 41% of consumers—but black is gaining popularity. Nearly one in five homeowners chose black for a contrasting island countertop, the Houzz survey finds.

Photo credit: Joe Hendrickson / Getty Images

Some touches of glass.

Glass-front accent cabinets are adding display spaces into the kitchen, like a more modern form of the china cabinet. For example, homeowners are mixing in glass-front accent cabinets with shaker cabinets, which are the most common style. They’re using these accent cabinets to show off glassware, decorative items or dishware.

Photo credit: PC Photography / Getty Images

Hardwood flooring loses some appeal.

Hardwood flooring for the kitchen is declining slightly in popularity, with only 24% of renovating homeowners selecting it for their remodels. Meanwhile, vinyl or resilient flooring and ceramic or porcelain tile are increasing in popularity, at 22% and 20%, respectively.

Photo credit: Artem Perevozchikov / Getty Images

Smart cooking device upgrades.

More smart home tech is entering the kitchen, and a smart oven is a bigger priority for renovators, the Houzz survey finds. Nearly two-thirds of homeowners chose ovens with specialty features, like phone monitor controls, remote timer activation, control locks, precise temperature control and automated cooking, according to the Houzz survey.

Traditional styles make a comeback.

Transitional style—a blend of traditional and modern elements—is the most popular for kitchen design, but the number of renovating homeowners opting for a more traditional look is gaining attention. In fact, traditional now ranks as the number two most popular kitchen style, nudging out modern and contemporary kitchen designs, the Houzz survey shows.

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

July 27, 2023August 8, 2024

Garage Floor Upgrade

How to Update Your Garage Floor

New garage flooring is an easy fix — pick the right option for how you’ll use the space.

You can make your garage look a lot better by updating just the floors. Yes, garages deserve love, too. And new garage flooring is a relatively simple improvement that can make a big difference in how the space looks and functions. Sure, concrete slab floors are functional, but other garage flooring ideas are more stylish and can boost your home’s overall value.

Choosing the right garage flooring depends on how you intend to use your garage and how it’s built. So, whether you plan to turn your garage into a workspace, a man cave, or an art studio, there’s a garage floor covering designed for that use.

Here are some considerations when you’re choosing garage flooring. We’ll also help you pick the best flooring for your garage makeover by weighing the benefits and costs of popular options like garage floor epoxy, interlocking tiles, paint, and vinyl sheets. Let’s go!

Factors to Consider When Selecting Garage Flooring

Before you choose garage flooring, think about how you intend to use the space, the climate where you live, and your budget.

How You Use Your Garage

What you’re going to do in your garage is the biggest consideration when you’re sifting through garage flooring ideas. If you plan to park your vehicles or repair them in there — you know, use your garage for cars — you’ll want garage flooring tough enough to withstand tire skid marks and oil spills. If you plan on leaving your cars in the driveway and using your garage as an extension of your home — a place to watch movies, shoot pool, or let the kids have sleepovers — you can choose flooring meant for human use. Think carpet or tile.

Or maybe you’re going for an in-between option, where you turn your garage into an art studio or workshop. Define your goals before you start shopping for garage flooring.

Weather Conditions

If your garage isn’t climate controlled and will experience major temperature changes or exposure to moisture, choose tough flooring. Pick a surface that can resist mold, mildew, and cracking caused by extreme temperature swings.

Keep the climate in mind when installing garage flooring, too. Most garage floor installs go better when the materials are warm. So, if you’re installing your flooring in fall or spring, bring the materials inside to warm up overnight before laying the floor.

Floor Conditions

Take a look at the condition of your garage floor right now. If the concrete floor has cracks, stains, or moisture issues, you’ll need to clean and repair it before putting in a new floor. Existing oil and grease stains almost always bleed through a new coat of paint. And no floor material will get rid of moisture coming in through the doors or up through the floor.

The condition of your existing floor will determine the scope of the project and impact your garage flooring options.

Installation and Maintenance Costs

You’re not made of money, so keep your budget in mind as you shop materials and contractors. Get quotes from at least three companies so you can price shop and make the best decision when choosing one to do the work.

Be aware of what the maintenance costs will be on your new garage flooring, too. Flooring that’s cheap to install initially (hello, standard latex floor paint) may cost you more in the long run if it doesn’t last or requires a lot of upkeep.

Best Garage Flooring Options

You can choose between coatings and coverings, paints, stains, carpets, floor mats, or tiles. Here are some pros and cons of popular garage flooring options.

Garage Floor Concrete Sealer

Concrete sealers can protect your garage floor from weather, oil spills, moisture, and water. The types of floor sealers are penetrating sealers, acrylics, polyurethanes, and epoxies.

Benefits

These sealers repel moisture and extend the life of concrete garage flooring. They also help your floor resist stains so cleanup is easy when your 14-year-old spills lawnmower oil on the garage floor.

Square Foot Costs

The price of a concrete sealer depends on the type. A basic sealer can cost 15 cents to 25 cents per square foot, while a high-end sealer can run up to $2.50 per square foot.

Garage Floor Epoxy Coating

An epoxy coating is a two-part treatment applied to the top of your garage floor, much like paint. But epoxy coating is tougher than paint because it contains a resin and hardener that combine to form a durable shield for your garage flooring.

Epoxy coating comes in several designs and color options. Some contractors add mica or quartz to give the coating a speckled look or metallic sheen.

Benefits

Since epoxy coating can go on top of your existing garage flooring — assuming the floor’s in good repair — it’s more affordable than tile or vinyl.

Epoxy can cover minor defects and imperfections in the floor. It also protects your floor from cracking, staining, and moisture damage.

Square Foot Costs

Epoxy flooring ranges from $3 to $12 per square foot.

Garage Floor Concrete Stain

Concrete stain gives your garage flooring an aesthetically pleasing marble effect. It makes the floor look like natural stone instead of poured concrete. It’s a good choice if you plan to use the garage as a living area or a studio. The application process is straightforward, but concrete stain needs to be refreshed regularly to protect your floors and maintain their looks over time.

Concrete stain is either water-based or acid-based.

Water-based

Water-based concrete stain comes in more colors and dries quickly. It contains fewer toxic chemicals, so it’s better for you and the planet. You need to use a concrete sealer with a water-based stain to increase its longevity.

Acid-Based

Acid-based concrete stains create a chemical reaction that will alter the look of your concrete. So, the final appearance can be a bit hard to control. For this reason, applying acid stain to a garage floor isn’t a job for a first-time DIYer. However, acid stain lasts longer than a water-based stain and doesn’t need a sealant. So, while you’ll need to pay a pro to install acid stain, you’ll have less long-term maintenance.

Benefits

Concrete stains are fire resistant and low maintenance. Stained garage floors are durable and long-lasting because the stain penetrates the concrete surface rather than sitting on top of it.

Square Foot Costs

The cost of concrete stain is around $2,000 for a 200-square-foot space — about $10 a square foot.

Garage Floor Paint Coatings

Paint can give your garage floors a protective, attractive finish. It’s a good choice because you can DIY. You don’t need to pay a pro to roll a few coats of paint on your floors.

You can use latex or acrylic paint.

Latex

Latex paint is water-based and contains a small amount of acrylic resin. It costs less than epoxy or acrylic paint, dries quickly, and doesn’t have harsh fumes. Latex paint won’t offer your floors much protection from weather or stand up to parked cars. So, it’s a good choice for a garage that will be used as a converted living space and won’t be exposed to the elements.

Acrylic

Acrylic paint is easy to apply and has a higher acrylic resin content, so it’s less likely to crack and chip over time. It’s more durable than latex paint, but it costs more. Acrylic paint also doesn’t fade in sunlight, so colors stay brighter longer.

Garage Floor Interlocking Flexible Tiles

Interlocking flexible tiles are another flooring option to give a garage a facelift. They’re a good choice for a garage with a concrete slab that’s badly stained or cracked. Tiles are available in hard plastic or polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, and are easy to install. A reasonably handy person could DIY.

Rubber PVC Garage Tiles

These tiles are watertight (not waterproof) and resist mold and mildew.

Plastic Garage Tiles

Plastic garage tiles are made of high-impact polypropylene and come in a range of styles and colors. They allow for air and water drainage underneath, so they’re a good pick for a humid climate. They can withstand the wear and tear of vehicles pulling in and out of your garage.

Benefits

Installing interlocking is simple. They lock in place, and the job requires minimal tools. If you decide to DIY, you can save money. You can also customize the design for your garage floors with tiles. For example, you can pick different color schemes — like a checkerboard pattern — that will protect your garage floor and give the space some design chops.

Square Foot Costs

Interlocking garage tiles cost $2 per square foot to $20 per square foot, depending on the material’s thickness.

Garage Flooring Mats

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to upgrade a garage is to roll out mats made from rubber or PVC. Like garage tiles, garage floor mats come in different styles and colors, and they can be installed over concrete floors that have minor stains or damage with no prep work. Some mats are like rugs while others are like padded gym mats.

Benefits

Garage floor mats are super easy to install, easy to clean, and durable. You can totally DIY. They also resist oil, chemicals, and stains, so they’ll protect your garage floors.

Flooring mats warm up a garage a bit by insulating those cold concrete floors, so they’re a good choice if you use your garage as a yoga studio, a workshop or something other than parking space. Garage floor mats can also absorb sound.

Square Foot Costs

Most garage mats cost $3 to $10 per square foot.

Garage Flooring Vinyl Sheet

Vinyl sheet flooring is an economical, durable option for your garage. It resists stains, scuffs, and scratches and you can install it easily and quickly.

Benefits

Vinyl sheet flooring resists water, oil, salt, antifreeze, grease, and chemicals. To install it, you just cut it to size with scissors or a knife and roll it out. There’s no need to hire a pro. To clean it, just hose it off.

Square Foot Costs

The square foot cost of sheet vinyl for your garage ranges from $1 to $5.

Other Garage Remodel Ideas When Your Floor Is Finished

Once your new garage floor covering is in place, you’ll have a solid foundation for making other improvements. How about converting your garage into a living space or home gym? Or  creating a simple garage workshop  where you can do woodworking and art projects?

A finished garage — one that’s been cleaned, glammed up, and organized — makes your home a nicer place to live. And while a finished garage may not add much to an appraisal outright — you have to do a full conversion and hook the garage up to a climate control system to directly impact the appraisal — it does add a wow factor that could impress buyers.

So, whether you opt for a finished garage that’s an attractive and functional indoor-outdoor space, or a fully converted garage that extends your home’s indoor living area, a new garage floor is a good first step.

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July 26, 2023August 8, 2024

Real Estate Podcasts

May 7, 2023August 8, 2024

Make a Small Kitchen Feel Larger

5 Ways to Make a Small Kitchen Feel Larger

If you work in a small kitchen for part of your waking hours, then you know how frustrating it can be to work in a tiny space. A small kitchen can cramp your style and make cooking and entertaining more challenging. Yet it doesn’t have to be a limiting space. All kitchens will need some extra organization and planning to function properly, whether they’re big or small, so let’s look at some ideas for making a small kitchen easier to work and cook in.

Using Space-saving solutions

If your kitchen is cramped, you may need to look for space-saving solutions. You can get more counter space by investing in a portable island. Even small ones come in handy when you have limited choices for a workspace. Many of these units come with drawers that work for storing utensils and dishware. You can also place the pots and pans on the unit’s shelves, so they don’t take up valuable workspace on the countertops. You can even use a portable island as a table in a pinch.

Buy Multifunctional items

Another way to get the most out of your kitchen is to invest in appliances and utensils that do double or triple duty. For instance, if you have a small blender, give it more than one assignment. Don’t just use it to make blended drinks. You can also use it to make sauces and soups. Another great multi-tasker are ice cream maker machines, which can make both frozen desserts and sorbet. Only invest in items that can perform more than one function if you have limited space and you’ll get more done with less.

Add Visual Size with Mirrors and Bright Colors

How about adding the illusion of more space? Wake up a small kitchen and give it more visual presence by adding mirrors and extra lighting. Smaller kitchens tend to be dark and the darkness diminishes their size even more. The simplest way to do this is to add brighter bulbs. Switch those 60-watt bulbs for 100-watt ones and watch your kitchen come to life.

Another trick is to add lighting underneath the cabinets. Fluorescent light bars are one option, but you can also use LED light bars. Mirrors add the illusion of more space too. Add a mirror to the backsplash for more visual space while keeping your kitchen looking open.

Cook More One-Pot Meals

You can also make your kitchen work more efficiently for you by cooking more one-pot meals. You can make casseroles, stews, or even fish in a baking dish that just needs to be put into the oven. There’s no need to have the stove going all the time if you can do everything in one pot. If you’re worried about the cleanup part, get some good non-stick cookware so that food will come off easily and won’t stick or burn into your pans.

Consider a Dutch oven too. You can move it from stove to oven and use it for everything you want to bake. A crockpot will also come in handy as an alternative to the stove. That way, you can prepare a meal in one pot and eat it later. With a Dutch oven, you can bake bread and other items, prepare soups and stews, braise, meat, and more. The results will be delicious, and you will save time and energy by cooking in one pot rather than on the stovetop or in your oven.

Also, use smaller pots and pans for easy storage. If you’re buying new ones, make sure they are small enough to fit into your cabinets or drawers without taking up too much space.

Create More Kitchen Space in Unexpected Ways

If your kitchen is small and space is at a premium, you can create more space without moving walls or rearranging things. One way is to place shelving above the counters to store things. It’s all about making better use of your limited space so that you can find the best practical use for it.

How about adding a shelf to the under-stair space for more room to store kitchen items? Another option; invest in a rolling cart you can wheel in and use as an island or a tired trolley with three shelves you can move around as needed. Kitchen space is something you can maximize, but if you want to make your small kitchen feel more spacious, you’ll have to work at it.

The Bottom Line

There’s no way of getting around it, a small kitchen is harder to work in. But as long as you are creative with your solutions and do everything you can to make it more functional, you can make the most of your small space. One advantage of having a small kitchen it forces you to think about everything you buy. Do you really need it and do you have room for it? In the long run, it can be a money saver because it will save you from extraneous purchases. Your credit card will thank you! Plus, most people buy things they don’t need on impulse. You’re less likely to do that if your kitchen is tiny.

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