HACKETTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY – The annual Design Trends study has been released by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), a pioneer in delivering resources, research, certification, and events for its 50,000 members and kitchen and bath professionals throughout the world. The 2022 study, which looks at all elements of kitchen and primary bathroom design, projects the most popular styles, features, materials, and technologies in the next two to three years. Consumer interest in the adoption of important trends in their homes, such as smart technology integration, multi-functional spaces, and natural and nature-based designs, has increased as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, according to the current study.
“We’ve seen the pandemic have an effect across all sectors in our society and we’re now starting to see how the change in human behaviors is shifting the way we design our homes,” said Bill Darcy, Chief Executive Officer of NKBA. “Consumers are more eager to embrace new technologies, innovative ways to provide multi-functional options to maximize their space to fit any occasion and are opting for surfaces and designs that make it easier to clean, as well as address health and wellness.”
Smart technology has long been a promised integration into the house, and its popularity among customers will only continue to grow. COVID-19 raised awareness of high-contact surface locations, prompting an increase in the use of hands-free and voice-activated technology to prevent disease transmission. Touchless technology products, in particular, have become breakout stars in the kitchen and bath, making consumers' lives easier and reducing high contact surface areas.
Despite the hoopla over technology's involvement in 2021, the market is still relatively untapped, with only 30% of kitchen projects and 21% of bathroom designs including some form of integrated equipment.
In addition to smart technology, 58 percent of designers believe that multifunctional spaces will become more popular in 2022 and beyond. New millennial homeowners are aiming to maximize their kitchen space by installing islands that can be used as a food prep area, work station, dining table, and entertaining area. Furthermore, younger customers want laundry facilities built into their bathrooms, optimizing space while freeing up space in other areas of the house for other activities. The option to modify the home space for specific requirements will only become more important for homeowners as work from home and flexible work days gain acceptance in the national workforce.
Millennials are also driving an upsurge in natural and contemporary designs, particularly in the kitchen and bath. Designers predict nature-inspired colors, such as greens and blues, to take the place of white and gray as primary colors. More matte and brushed finishes in black, stainless, nickel, and pewter are becoming popular for fixtures. Additionally, as homeowners continue to develop outdoor living, dining, and cooking facilities outside the home, designers envision greater natural light with huge high-performance windows and doors for outdoor access becoming more prominent.
"Aside from the pandemic, another rising factor in the design trends we're seeing for 2022 and beyond is the growth of the Millennial and Gen X customer base, as these homeowners are now reaching a point in their lives where they're increasingly working with designers to create their ideal homes rather than attempting it themselves," Darcy said. "These homeowners demand a particular level of elegance and flair from their homes, as well as a distinct perspective of what their home should offer to their lives. For example, people need both a place to work and a place to unwind, resulting in designs that are both soothing and energizing."
While Baby Boomers continue to constitute a significant portion of designers' clientele, the demographics are shifting toward a younger generation that is increasingly driving future trends. While Gen X continues to be the largest age group, with 49 percent of design projects tailored to them, designers report a 6% rise in work for Millennials. This has resulted in a shift in how designers conduct business, as Millennials are more inclined to conduct virtual meetings and are nearly 10% more likely to want to complete the entire project electronically.