Three popular rooms to remodel

Key Insights

• More than 50% of homeowners undertook a home renovation project last year.
• Kitchens and bathrooms (both guest and primary) are the most popular rooms to remodel.
• Living rooms saw more cosmetic updates with paint, lighting fixtures and new furniture.

Homeowners often renovate to turn a decaying or uninspiring room into a space that meets their needs in form and function. For homeowners looking to get the most out of their budget and space, high-traffic or well-used rooms are often first on the list for a makeover that combines form and function.

According to the 2025 US Houzz and Home Study, 54% of homeowners completed a home renovation project in 2024. Here are three of the most popular rooms to remodel, and here’s why they are worth the time and cost of a renovation.

#1 Kitchen remodels

Let’s start with the kitchen, which has been the most popular room for updating for a number of years. 24% of home renovation projects in 2024 centered around this pivotal room with an overall median budget of $22,000.

This makes sense, as many know the kitchen is about more than cooking – it’s a high traffic room where people gather to eat, talk and even work. Among the most popular updates were replacing cabinets and updating appliances.

For those thinking of updating their kitchen before moving, the 2024 Cost vs. Value Report shows that minor kitchen remodels in the Twin Cities (about $28,000) have a cost recoup of 80.9%, which means it could be a good investment.

#2 Bathroom remodels

While most bathroom remodels focused on guest bathrooms that got more eyes (and tushes) on them, creating a spacious, well-functioning primary bathroom was close behind. The average spend for guest bathrooms was $6,000, while primary bathrooms saw more than two-times the budget with $13,000.

Common bathroom updates included new vanities (cabinets and countertops) and toilets, as well as updated faucets and shower heads. In addition to aesthetic updates, there was also a need for about a quarter of remodelers to tackle infrastructure updates for plumbing (27%) and electricity (25%).

#3 Living room remodels

Indoor living spaces saw a lot less attention than kitchens and bathrooms when it came to remodeling, but still ranked third in top spaces remodeled in 2024. As a great space for family and friends to gather, living rooms accounted for about 20% of remodel projects, with an average spend of $4,000 (down 20% from the year prior).

Updated paint and light fixtures were some of the top updates made. There was also a trend to move to non-carpet flooring (38%) vs. carpeting (12%). Purchases such as rugs (49%), pillows and throws (45%) and large furniture (41%) were popular, and smart light fixtures and TVs saw an increase from years prior.

Updating your space

Whether you want to tackle an outdated space or need to because of damage or your home’s age, an expert REALTOR^Ⓡ can help you determine what updates will provide you the greatest ROI in the future, whenever you choose to sell. Feel like your home needs more than a few projects to make it work for you? Contact Edina Realty today to start your home search.