As hard as you try to give your home a fresh, new look, there is still one room that is painfully behind the times: your kitchen.

As the main gathering place in the household, the kitchen is where you entertain guests, cook the family meals and help the kids do homework. It is truly the hearth of the home and the area that everyone visiting your house sees.

Contemplating a kitchen update? You're not alone. According to Kitchen & Bath Business magazine, more than 4 million homeowners plan to remodel their kitchens this year -- a 7.1 percent increase over last year.

So what is on every consumer's wish list to make their dream kitchen a reality? The magazine asked this question of 300 kitchen dealers, designers and remodelers. Of those surveyed, 78.2 percent said their clients want an updated appearance and new features, and 64.7 percent wanted a more efficient layout. Other top responses included increased storage space, new cabinets, unique designs and new appliances.

According to the survey, while most Americans still feel comfortable with pale woods, granite tops and stainless steel, European décor trends are infusing new materials and colors into kitchen design.

"Europeans are moving to full walls of kitchen cabinetry that mix and match walnut wood with bright lacquers. These cabinets offer plenty of display areas and sliding doors, all influenced by the look of furniture," said Wendy Silverstein, former editor of HomeStyle Kitchen & Bath magazine. "Here in the United States, manufacturers are putting a lot of thought into how people use their kitchens with innovative new products such as ovens that can cool and sinks that double as dishwashers. Customization is also big for Americans, from dishwashers that offer movable racks to sinks that have plenty of add-on gadget choices. Overall, people are investing in their kitchens no matter what the size."

New Countertops

The survey revealed that the top priority on consumers' kitchen upgrade wish lists was a more expensive countertop material such as granite. Granite offers the benefit of minimal maintenance and will retain its good looks for years to come. It is the most durable and least porous of all stones and offers a rich look in the kitchen. Plus, each piece of cut granite is unique. Because remodeling with granite for all countertop surfaces can get costly, experts advise that mixing and matching materials is becoming popular. A homeowner might use granite solely on an island countertop to serve as a focal point.

A new countertop material coming onto the scene this year is concrete. Comparable in price to granite, concrete opens up the possibility of having customized colors mixed into the countertop. Tiles can be added to the concrete to create a one-of-a-kind look.

Solid surface countertops are also at the top of consumers' most-requested list. Because of their smooth and non-porous texture, solid surfaces will not promote the growth of bacteria or mold -- an important feature when working with raw meats, vegetables and other food products. Available in a wide array of colors, solid surfaces offer seamless construction and the option of an integral sink. Nicks, scratches and burns can be buffed out if necessary. Corian, Surrell and Avonite are common trade names of solid surface countertops.

Last, but certainly not least, is tile. Decorative, hand-painted tiles can be used for trim and backsplash areas; and ceramic, porcelain or quarry tile for main countertop areas can be added to create a distinctive or highly personalized look.

Faucets

Another "must-have" kitchen upgrade is a new faucet.

"One of the easiest and most inexpensive changes a homeowner can make to a kitchen is installing a new faucet," said Kathleen Yates, Moen Group product manager, kitchen. "Today's faucets have so much functionality that they make quick work out of kitchen tasks. In addition, these faucets add a sense of style to the kitchen."

Cabinets

Not long ago, homeowners thought their kitchens were well equipped if they had built-in spice racks. Today's consumers can take storage options to a new level. Manufacturers offer all sorts of tailor-made storage solutions like wine racks, roll-out shelves, pullout doors with special shelves for pots and pans, and holders for things like recyclables, garbage bins and canned goods.

Yet, not everything is hidden behind the cabinet door. Modern kitchen designs offer plenty of display space with plate racks, open shelves for books and collectibles, and glass-front cabinets for displaying china and crystal.

Cabinet manufacturers now make it easy to hide trash compactors, dishwashers and icemakers behind paneled doors that match cabinetry. Coordinated cabinet inserts are made to store everything from a stand mixer to a full set of carving knives.

The single biggest cost in a kitchen remodeling job is new cabinets, which can account for 60 to 70 percent of a kitchen's total makeover cost. For this reason, finding a cabinet style and finish you will treasure for many years is very important. Current trends in finishes lean toward darker stains and glazes on cherry and maple woods. Distressed finishes are all the rage.

Varying the heights of cabinets to give the kitchen a more interesting look is a current kitchen design trend, as is staggering the range, cooktop and sink areas to add to the visual appeal. The "kitchen-as-furniture" look -- like a sink with fancy feet and decorative molding creating the look of a freestanding piece -- is also a hot style. Finishing touches to your cabinetry selection can be distinctive decorative hardware and under-counter lights, all of which add ambiance to the room.

Appliances

Stainless steel continues to be the rage when it comes to kitchen appliances. Stainless offers a neutral, sleek image with a commercial feel -- it is available in all price ranges for remodelers who need to stick to a budget.

But if stainless isn't your style, manufacturers are coming out with new looks that infuse color into the room, including sunburst yellow, candy apple red, robin's egg blue and mint green. For those hesitant to use bold colors on large appliances, a splash of color can be added with one of the many small hand appliances now available in these bright colors.

New Lighting

Nothing livens up a kitchen like new lighting fixtures. According to the experts at GE Lighting, a blend of general, task and accent lighting is needed to properly illuminate a kitchen. For general lighting, they recommend large surface fluorescent lamps, allowing for plenty of light while remaining extremely energy efficient. As an alternative to fluorescent lighting, homeowners can install recessed ceiling fixtures. This option provides crisper, truer light and enhances the colors and textures of the room.

Task lighting for areas like the sink or range is best achieved by installing recessed downlights. Low-voltage linear systems equipped with miniature incandescent bulbs can be installed inside cabinetry and used to accent china and collectibles. Miniature, low-voltage pendant lighting can enhance an island counter. For accent lighting, a decorative pendant lamp over a kitchen table with a dimmer switch will set the mood for special occasions.

Lighting fixtures are available in many different styles to match any taste in style and décor. Fixtures in all price points can be found at home centers, hardware stores and kitchen showrooms.

Covering Your Walls

Neutrals are no longer in vogue in kitchens. Homeowners today are making a statement with cobalt blues, pinks, turquoises, oranges, reds and greens. In many cases, white has been relegated to a smaller role as accent or trim. These colors are finding their way onto kitchen walls through new faux finish designs, including sponging techniques and stencils that personalize a look. Besides being inexpensive, painting is one of the easiest do-it-yourself projects and can immediately make a dramatic difference in a room's appearance. A kitchen can be further personalized by using borders and wallpaper.

Flooring

This year, floors are going back to basics with wood. As many homeowners opt for cool, stainless steel appliances, wood brings back warmth into the room -- and, blends in with virtually any room's color scheme. Available in strips, planks or squares, wood flooring now comes with a urethane or acrylic finish. These finishes hold up in the kitchen environment and provide protection from spills and wear.

Another popular flooring option this year is ceramic tile. Today's tiles mimic real stone, but have the benefits of lower cost and easier installation. Available in every shade of the rainbow, tile is a great way to upgrade your kitchen. Design experts report that neutral colors and European styles in ceramic tile are what everyone is looking for this spring.

So bring that kitchen of yours into the 21st Century. Maybe it's not a complete overhaul this time, as just a couple of these upgrades can significantly give you and your family that 'new kitchen' feeling.

Courtesy of ARA Content