12 Kitchen Upgrades That Are Worth Every Penny, According To HGTV's Mike Holmes

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Mike Holmes is a trusted source for getting home renovations right the first time. So when you're upgrading your kitchen, you need to know what features he thinks are always going to be worth the cash. He's honest about what works and what doesn't, but most importantly, he always shares why. Holmes isn't big on passing trends. Instead, he loves kitchen features that add resale value to your home and make your everyday life much easier. What's worth it will also change based on how long you plan to live somewhere. That is, the upgrades you make to your starter home are going to be very different than the you-specific features you install in your forever-kitchen. 

These Holmes-approved kitchen features might not always be the cheapest options upfront, but he's adamant they are always going to be a better value for cash in the long run. Whether that's through saving you money on energy bills over the years, or simply because of the material's longevity, which will save you cash on both maintenance and replacements. 

When you are upgrading your kitchen, Mike Holmes is a big fan of installing custom cabinets instead of pre-fabricated options. "I think custom kitchen cabinets are a great investment—but only if you do it right, the first time," he wrote for his blog, Make It Right. This is because custom cabinets tend to cost significantly more at the onset. Experts estimate you'll spend between $500 and $1,500 per linear foot on custom options, against just $60 to $200 on pre-fab options.

Holmes thinks this initial outlay is worth it if you can afford it. Custom cabinets will last basically forever, whereas mass-produced options will need to be replaced sooner, so you pay twice. "With custom cabinets, you're investing in solid materials, precise craftsmanship, and a tailored fit," he wrote. "This means fewer gaps, less wasted space, and longer-lasting construction. That's money well spent. And if you choose the right provider—like Milmonde—you can still keep things within a reasonable budget without sacrificing quality." With this level of freedom, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the level of choice. Luckily, there are also tips for choosing the right kitchen cabinet style for your space. For example, if you have a mid-century home, louvered cabinets match the aesthetic of that time period, while slab cabinets tend to better fit minimalist, modern spaces.

Holmes thinks that any upgrade that makes your kitchen safer and more functional is always going to be worth the money. For example, if your space doesn't have a modern Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), it needs one immediately. "Most older homes have 60-amp service, which should be brought up to at least 100-amps to match today's electrical demands," he wrote for Make It Right. "If you have a large home then it may need to be brought up between 150 to 200-amps."

GFCIs are special outlets designed to instantly shut off power if they detect even a tiny imbalance in the electrical current, like when electricity tries to travel through water or a person. They're a crucial safety feature that helps prevent electric shock. As Holmes warned, if your home is older, the electrical systems were not built to keep up with the needs of your air fryer, double-decker toaster, and Keurig all at once. However, Holmes also recommends never doing any sort of electrical work like this yourself. To truly keep things safe and up to code, hire a professional electrician to complete the work for you.

If you upgrade the size of your kitchen appliances, you must also upgrade the size of the vents associated with them, too. Even if you haven't swapped out the appliances yourself, it's worth it to investigate whether a previous owner did — and if everything matches up. "It might have started out correct, with a 4-inch duct line. But then somebody puts in a new kitchen with a microwave hood, which requires a 6-inch line," Holmes wrote for Make It Right. "Almost every time I see it, they never convert the duct size to match the new appliance. The venting above a kitchen island – if there's a burner in the island – is almost never done right."

Correcting this mismatch is always going to be worth the money because it can save you from needing even more expensive repairs later on. "The exhaust fan has to be the right size for your stove and house," Holmes continued. "If it's too big you'll waste energy and cause back drafting, which is when dangerous gases and fumes from other appliances get pulled back into your home." If you don't have enough carbon monoxide sensors in your home, back-drafting can even cause serious injury or death, as gases like this are tasteless and odorless — so you won't know until it's too late.

If you are renovating your kitchen, Holmes thinks that swapping your wood or linoleum floors for a type of tile will be a huge asset. "These are some of the most popular kitchen flooring choices," he shared on Make It Right. "Ceramic and porcelain tiles are my recommendation for kitchen floors. They are durable, attractive, easy to clean, and available in a large variety of patterns and finishes." He thinks that other popular opinions, particularly wood and stone, take an absolute beating in high-traffic spaces like the kitchen, so they simply aren't worth it.

Luckily, tile flooring is also a great way to express your personality. The color, pattern, and size of the tiles you choose can completely transform the look and feel of the space. Whether you go for sleek, large-format porcelain for a modern vibe or patterned ceramic for something more playful. Mixing tones or laying tiles in creative patterns like herringbone or checkerboard can make your kitchen feel truly one of a kind. Yet there are still the best and worst types of tiles to choose for your kitchen. For example, glossy tiles can be chillier underfoot, which you might not like if you live somewhere with longer winters.

Choosing the right countertop material for your kitchen is difficult, but if you're going to swap them out, Holmes has a clear favorite that's always going to be worth the cash: Quartz. "Quartz countertops have become increasingly popular due to their durability and versatility," he shared on Make It Right. "It is an engineered stone made of natural quartz crystals with resin binders, making it resistant to scratches, stains, heat, and even bacteria." The kitchen countertop is likely one of the highest-touch surface areas in the house, so quartz being so resilient is a major plus. In fact, Holmes likes quartz so much that he used the material inside his own gorgeous kitchen.

Yet the function of quartz isn't its only strength. "The best part is that quartz countertops resemble the look of actual stone, such as marble and granite, and come in a variety of colors and patterns," Holmes continued. Plus, if you are worried about price,  Holmes insists that good quartz tends to be less expensive than granite. Quartz also doesn't need to be resealed like marble does, making it less expensive over time.

When you buy your forever home, don't scrimp on kitchen upgrades that make real ergonomic improvements. For Holmes, one of these easy upgrades is a touchless faucet. "The great thing about this type of technology in the kitchen is that you don't have to touch the faucet to turn it on," Holmes wrote for Make It Right. "Instead, it is activated by a sensor located on the side of the faucet." 

There are two main reasons these faucets are worth the money. "This can come in handy for individuals with limited mobility who may experience difficulty reaching or grasping the faucet handle," he continued. Whether your reduction in mobility is permanent or temporary, such as after a surgery, this faucet type will make things easier for you. "They can also reduce germ transfer and contribute to a CLEAN HOME by eliminating the need to touch the faucet after messy tasks like preparing raw foods," Holmes wrote.

Because this is just a kitchen hardware swap, even those who don't have much DIY experience should be able to make this upgrade on their own. The Delta Leland Touch Kitchen Faucet with Pull Down Sprayer comes in a variety of different finishes and retails for roughly $320. The Kraus Oletto Kitchen Faucets Touchless Sensor Single Handle Pull-Down Sprayer is the same price, just with a thinner body shape.

Making your kitchen unique to your lifestyle is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. When planning your renovation and how to budget the funds available, Holmes makes it clear that you won't ever regret spending money on solving an issue that you have to deal with every day. "Before you start thinking about your finishing selections, pay attention to areas of your kitchen that you really want to change," he wrote on Make It Right. "If you've got a problem that really drives you crazy, like not enough space to prepare meals, make sure you're addressing that first. If you don't, you'll probably end up regretting it."

This could mean removing a wall to make space for a kitchen island, effectively doubling the amount of counter space. It could also mean adding a hot water tap directly above your stove because you're tired of boiling water. Some may lower the counters for easier access or choose one of the best floors for wheelchair accessible homes. 

Full kitchen upgrades can be expensive, but Holmes wants his readers to know that you don't have to lay out a lot of cash to make big changes to the space. "Even minor kitchen renovations will yield around an 80% ROI," he wrote for Make It Right. "I am talking about your door hardware, your kitchen cabinets, and your bathroom vanity hardware. It's an inexpensive job, and most homeowners can do it themselves. These small upgrades can make your house look modern."

If you have a small kitchen, for example, using one of the best cabinet colors to make a small kitchen feel more spacious can add instant value. Something like Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams or Classic Gray from Benjamin Moore. If swapping hardware, be sure to pick something with long-term potential. Things like textured hardware, champagne gold, and warm pewter are bathroom hardware trends set to dominate.

Holmes thinks buying a water-softening system so you can enjoy ultra-pure water to drink, cook, and wash dishes with is always going to be worth the money. This is because they solve two kitchen-related issues: mineral buildup on dishes and gross-tasting drinking water. "I had my water professionally tested after noticing my water was cloudy. And when I pulled out some of my pipes to look inside, I saw A LOT of scale buildup," he wrote for Make It Right. "I thought, seriously, have I been DRINKING this water? I had a very high level of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), which is the concentration of organic and inorganic dissolved solids."

For a whole-house water softening system, Holmes recommends using the brand Kinetico. The company offers both filtration and softening options with custom pricing depending on customer needs. These systems are one of the most effective ways to purify your household water and eliminate harmful toxins.

If you have a kitchen that you feel is too bold for your taste, Holmes is quick to point out that having an all-white base gives you plenty to work with, while still leaving things flexible. "I think the classic white kitchen is always a good idea," he told Kinetico. "And you can introduce splashes of colour and texture in an accent wall, a kitchen island, fabrics, or even a backsplash."

This is especially true if you aren't living in your forever home. White backsplashes and countertops give you a neutral backdrop that works with any style, which is a huge advantage when trends change every few years. From a practical standpoint, keeping the "big ticket" items simple helps protect your resale value. That is, buyers can picture their own style in the space, and you're not locking yourself into something that might feel dated later. Instead, commit your personality to things that are easy and inexpensive to update, like funky barstools or even peel-and-stick backsplash panels (like the Rabat Pink Tiles from Smart Tiles Store). Future owners can make those swaps without touching the cabinets or redoing the counters, which saves everyone time and money.

Mike Holmes is a huge fan of smart appliances. If you're swapping out your appliances, he thinks it's always worth the money to go for them. "Smart kitchen appliances are a good choice when you're upgrading. Why? They're more energy-efficient, saving you money in the long run," he wrote for Make It Right. "They also connect directly to your smartphone, alerting you when the water filter needs to be replaced, the fridge's temperature is too high, or the door is left open."

Smart features can also make your kitchen feel more functional and future-proof. Many models now offer things like remote preheating, built-in cooking guides, and energy-use tracking, which can genuinely simplify your daily routine. Plus, the ability to sync appliances with voice assistants or home automation systems gives you more control over how your kitchen runs. This is something today's buyers increasingly expect in an updated home.

In 2021, Mike Holmes recommends swapping your kitchen lights to LED. "When you switch to LEDs, you are helping the environment, your home, and your wallet," he wrote for Make It Right. Since then, the government has implemented programs that are phasing out the sale of halogen bulbs — aiming for them to be completely off the market by 2028. 

If you are planning to purchase new lighting for your kitchen, you might as well make the switch now, as it's only inevitable. However, you will begin saving money on your energy bills nearly immediately. "LEDs can be used on dimmers and use about 20% less energy," he continued. "You can also get LEDs for under-cabinet lighting. LEDs may cost more, but they're worth it. The money you save on energy (not having to buy more bulbs and the benefits to the environment) doesn't compare."

There are two main ways to incorporate LED bulbs into your kitchen. First is to simply swap the light bulbs in your existing fixtures to something like the Amazon Basics A19 LED Light Bulbs, which come in a pack of six. Or, you can invest in undercabinet lighting, like the MCGOR 10-inch Under Cabinet Lighting, which is motion sensitive and rechargeable. Under-cabinet lighting like this can instantly warm up your kitchen by subtly adding extra brightness.