We take a look at the kitchen trends which will influence design in 2022

As we all started the New Year working from home, once again the focus of design is upon the increasing number of roles which take place in the kitchen.

It places a greater emphasis on use and segmentation of space, whether fully open plan or broken plan.

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And it means designers will need to carefully consider the specification now essential in the current COVID climate.

It will see increased emphasis on health and hygiene and acoustics, with quieter appliances as the kitchen is used as a home office.

Now a seamless part of ground floor living, the kitchen must also be able to transform from a work space during the day to an evening chill out zone.

In fact, it could be argued the greatest challenge for designers will be creating a space that no longer resembles a kitchen, paying attention to concealing appliances to create luxe interiors.

Of course, with COP 26 having been such a focus of 2021, kitchen designers may also naturally steer towards selecting more environmentally conscious products.

Appliances with low energy ratings, worktops with a greater use of recycled materials and the recommendation of selling on the kitchen being replaced may become second nature.

So here are five top trends set to influence kitchen projects

Segmenting space

First the emphasis was on open plan but as home working has played a greater role in all our lives, broken plan has increasingly come to the fore to create a sense of privacy.

As part of its launches for 2022, which has seen the addition of folding pocket doors and cabinets for a variety of living areas, including bedrooms, German kitchen manufacturer Rational has introduced Loft.

Category manager of LochAnna Kitchens Sinead Trainor comments: As families spend more time at home, not just for leisure and down-time but also for work, broken plan will likely overtake open plan. Broken plan keeps the open, spacious feel of an open plan design, but allows for smaller private and quiet areas to work in, whilst still feeling connected to the family.”

It could see a greater use of storage, to stow foods, work and also to conceal appliances so the kitchen can easily transform from office space to dining and through to an area of relaxation.

Head of UK operations at Rotpunkt Matt Philipps adds: “Modular furniture is adding extra flexibility to post-pandemic interiors with a wide range of top units and cabinets complementing the highly personalised, all-inclusive rest, work and play area which has developed around the traditional cook zone.”

He says: “Stand out schemes will be space sensitive with a wealth of open and closed shelving, decorative lighting, natural finishes and designer details that promote order in both the kitchen, living and utility space.”

Intuitive technology

Arguably one of the greatest legacies from the pandemic will be the boom in digitalisation and increased use of technology in the home.

Smeg has unveiled an industry first – Galileo – which combines steam, microwave, and traditional cooking all in one. According to Smeg, the ovens make food tastier, healthier, and can decrease cooking times by up to 70%.

Marketing manager of Kongistone Joanne Bull reports: “Our large, bespoke kitchen islands are increasingly being specified with pop-up sockets and rebate channels for cables.”

Expect to see home assistants and Artificial Intelligence play a greater role in kitchen specification from touch-free lighting through to connected appliances that can calculate the best way to wash clothes or cook meals to enhance convenience for the user and optimise resources.

Not only that, appliances can also continue to learn from the habits of the user and the environmental conditions.

Product manager -built-in cooking Chris Grundy comments: “Further integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including voice-assisted models and app-controlled products is increasingly becoming the norm in the kitchen.

“We have seen connected appliances really established themselves in the laundry sector in recent years and predict the focus to move more towards built-in cooking appliances as their benefits are more widely understood and appreciated.”

Health and hygiene

The pandemic continues to provide a laser focus on hygiene in the kitchen. It has seen the introduction of reduced contact or touchfree taps used in commercial bathrooms now enter the kitchen.

The Agilis mixer from Abode has been created for ease of use and added hygiene, with a handle located on the end of the spout which can be flicked on and off using a wrist.

Leader category UK, Lixil EMENA, Elina Enqvist-Twomey explains: “At a time when the pandemic has pushed the everyday necessity of handwashing into the spotlight, it is not surprising that seeking to invest in solutions that optimise hygiene remains a priority throughout the home.

“In response to this increasing demand there has been a surge in hygiene-focused premium products such as sensor-activated and lever-free taps.”

In addition, home appliances also offer consumers disinfection programmes to help improve hygiene levels in the home.

In fact, retail sales director of Fisher & Paykel Mark Young comments: “At Fisher & Paykel, we predict there will be a high demand for self-cleaning appliances such as our pyrolytic ovens as well as appliances that kill bacteria such as the DishDrawer, and our washing machines which are impregnated with microbials.”

Tactile timber

Balancing the need for a modern, functional cooking area and holistic living space, kitchens have embraced tactile materials, such as timbers.

Rotpunkt has unveiled Pavilio MX in Just Grey, a panelled door and has been combined with a flatfronted door Memory RI New Forest Oak with vertical grooves.

Managing director of Daval furniture Simon Bodsworth comments: “Timber will be a go-to product both providing traditional grounding for modern in-frame kitchens, as well as a tactile and organic contrast to pared back linear styes which nod to Scandinavian and eco-industrial influences.

“I see two key looks dominating the kitchen market next year – Refined Country, inspired by the timeless beauty of painted Shaker furniture and Natural Renewal, in which recycled materials and tactile surface treatments and finishes take precedence.”

Sustainability

Alongside protecting the individual, there has been a greater focus on environment, with the underlying ‘nature is healing’ narrative of the lockdowns and more recently the United Nations Climate Change conference COP26.

Mineral hybrid surface Silestone by Cosentino has introduced Ethereal, a collection of white marble-effect patterns made using its HybriQ+ technology. Each surface has a minimum of 20% recycled raw materials.

It has seen the greater use of recycled material in furniture, worktops and appliances, reduced energy and water use in appliances, and offers the opportunity for additional sales of waste disposers.

Marketing and retail director at Symphony Simon Collyns asserts: “We have seen greater interest in our environmental product credentials such as our timber-based materials, which are all FSC certified, meaning they are from responsibility resourced woodlands.”

And marketing manager at Cosentino UK Laura Davie agrees consumers are considering sustainability as a factor steering sales.

She concludes: “With the world continuing to combat climate change and environmental concerns, consumers are ultimately letting sustainability guide their purchase decisions and are more dedicated than ever to selecting the most eco-friendly products possible, including kitchen surfaces.

“From efficiently managing energy and water throughout the production process, to carbon neutrality and recycled product composition, homeowners are relying on the brands they use throughout their home to be demonstrating sustainable practices.