Sustainability in Kitchen & Bath Design
August 2026
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) has released its Sustainability in Kitchen & Bath Design research report, examining how kitchen and bath professionals view sustainability and how it is evolving from a “nice to have” into an expected part of good design. The study explores designer attitudes, homeowner demand, sustainable solutions, barriers to adoption and the role designers play in introducing sustainable options.
The research is based on an online quantitative survey of NKBA community members across the U.S., including interior and kitchen and bath designers, remodelers, showroom professionals and related trades, with representation across all four U.S. Census regions.
Findings show that sustainability is becoming a core expectation among design professionals, while homeowner interest is expected to grow. Health, wellness and long-term savings resonate more strongly with homeowners than environmental benefits alone, while cost remains a significant barrier to broader adoption.
Key Takeaways
- Sustainability Is Becoming a Core Design Expectation: 75% say sustainability is personally important, while 68% say it is professionally important.
- Demand Is Expected to Grow: 70% expect homeowner demand for sustainable kitchen and bath design to increase over the next two years.
- Health Is the Strongest Driver: 53% cite family health and well-being as the most important benefit driving sustainable design.
- Designers Are Leading the Conversation: Designers are more likely than clients to initiate sustainability discussions, giving professionals an opportunity to educate and influence homeowners.
- Sustainable Practices Are Becoming More Common: LED lighting, recycling storage and energy-efficient products are among the most frequently integrated solutions.
- Barriers to Adoption Are Declining: Lack of information, limited product availability and perceptions that sustainable options are less attractive have all declined since 2025.
- The Industry Is Approaching a Tipping Point: 59% expect sustainable design to become a “must have” in the next few years, compared with 37% today.
The report highlights how sustainability is reshaping residential design and the opportunities to make sustainable solutions more practical, attainable and commonplace.
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