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The global pandemic spurred many changes and trends in the way we live and socialize. Many people have become accustomed to forgoing events and have drastically reduced their eating-out habits.
Some of these trends have already faded, while others seem to be sticking around for the long run. Cooking at home happens to be one of those welcome trends that have thrust many Americans back into the kitchen—and they aren’t leaving any time soon.
Along with getting to flex their creativity with new dishes and baked goodies—banana bread, anyone?—the interest in creating a welcoming, safe, functional space in this prominent room has awoken a surge of kitchen appreciation. Less time out in public and more time in this central hub of the home has prompted a few more trends that we’ll take a look at:
These trends are growing in popularity in the post-pandemic home and also coincide with other lifestyle changes that were creeping in before Covid-19 took over our world. Many homeowners have started to embrace the minimalist style, and are making eco-conscious purchases to do their part in the green movement.
Nowadays, everyone has a phone or tablet with them—pretty much all the time. Appliance manufacturers recognize the strong bond and reliance between the general population and their beloved mobile devices, so they’ve taken technology into consideration as they innovate their new designs.
For example, refrigerator companies like LG, Samsung, and Bosch have started to integrate Wi-Fi capabilities into their latest models so homeowners can monitor their units when they’re away from home. Some refrigerators are even designed with touchscreens that have a savvy internet connection that is able to monitor your inventory, so you can tell if you need to stop off for something before heading home.
More and more people are upgrading their refrigerators to commercial grade to take advantage of these technological advances. Not only do these upgrades offer more convenience with their smart tech, but they are far more efficient, and their food is preserved longer. This leads to less waste and more savings in the long run.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the surge in those pebble or nugget ice makers! These handy machines are skyrocketing in popularity—and for good reason. Those cute, crunchy cubes are definitely a crowd pleaser and are a convenient way to keep your water cold to support your personal goal of drinking eight cups a day.
GE’s latest model is a nugget ice maker that comes with a side tank to hold your water. It produces up to 24 pounds of ice per day, and has built-in Wi-Fi to monitor and schedule your fresh ice, right on your countertop. If you have frequent parties, this is a great addition to your home. Even if you aren’t the hosting type, this luxury item is still a handy gadget to have in your kitchen arsenal.
With smart homes on the rise, so is the demand for compatible tools to provide more convenience and reliability for our daily routine. It seems with every passing year our lives get busier. As a whole, we’ve come to realize the importance and sacredness of time—and if an appliance can save us some, sign us up!
Here are some more ways smart kitchen appliances that connect to Wi-Fi can enhance your living situation and make your life a little easier:
With minimalism on the rise and living in the Marie Condo era, people don’t like to have unwanted clutter on their counters. Homeowners with some extra space can opt for a secondary prep area where they can store their daily essentials and keep their counters clear. While a nice notion, not everyone has the extra space in their sometimes already crowded kitchen.
Luckily for everyone else, designers have stepped up to the challenge of keeping highly used items hidden, yet close by and easy to access when needed. The appliance garage trend involves built-ins that cleverly stow away common items or small appliances like your microwave, toaster, blender, teapot, or coffee machine when they’re not in use.
It eliminates the visual chaos of daily-use appliances and manages to keep any mess hidden and confined to one space. We all experience the inevitable stray coffee grounds and drips from this or that, so having a designated area for these things makes cleaning up a far less burdensome task.
Designers have gotten really crafty with their subtle hideaways, which can add a bit of fun to your kitchen as well. There are tambour doors, which are basically roll-up doors, that can be installed to hide away a coffee nook; strategically placed mirrors; or even cabinet plans that can blend in beautifully with your existing style.
There are a lot of ways to play with this growing trend. Even other appliances lean into this idea of what BMW has dubbed shy tech. Although mostly associated with the performance car, shy tech applies to appliance garages and several other digital appliances that feature button-less functionality to promote a seamless experience.
A massive trend we’re noticing in the post-pandemic home is undoubtedly incorporating efficient, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly appliances into the kitchen. Consumers are becoming more aware of the impact every individual home has on the environment, and they are making conscious efforts to lower their carbon footprint.
Consumers are trending towards smaller appliances that can do the same job as larger appliances, to conserve energy. One example of this is the air fryer. Instead of using a convection stove, you can simply use this handy device for a variety of dishes from veggies to fries.
Composting is another trend that has been getting a lot of attention lately. The big turn-off for most people is the time it typically takes to create soil from your kitchen waste. But thanks to recent innovations in this arena, this is no longer the issue it once was. Most of the newer countertop models accept the majority of common food scraps, leftovers, houseplant trimmings, and even paper. While this trend isn’t for everyone, it’s nice to have as an option for those wanting to break into the composting world.
People are also considering going pro when it comes to their kitchen appliances, since they realize the value manufacturers offer with their tech and engineering.
Many high-end brands like KitchenAid and Café are introducing induction ranges with double ovens so you can cook many things at once. Many people are entertaining their friends and family in the kitchen and are seeking appliances that can cater to their needs. These high-end brands also tick another crucial box that people want: energy ratings.
Energy ratings are high with luxury brands like these releasing their induction technology to the public, since induction cooking reduces the amount of wasted heat. More energy is conserved since it only heats when a pot or pan is in contact with the stove, instead of heating the whole cooktop—unlike traditional stoves that tend to heat up the whole kitchen!
Major appliances like ranges are gravitating towards the induction cooking trend since it speeds up the cooking process, is safer compared to their gas stove counterparts, and is more energy efficient overall. Steam ovens are also growing in popularity due to their ability to evenly cook food and maintain the nutritional integrity of their meals.
Homeowners are taking notice of climate change and want to support companies that make it a point to earn an ENERGY STAR® rating. Dishwasher manufacturers like Bosch insist on meeting these standards, so they meet consumer expectations and reduce greenhouse emissions whenever possible.
Throughout Covid-19, many families endured waves of quarantine and social restrictions. This prompted a mass return to the kitchen to cook for and entertain their respective quarantine groups in the comfort of their own home. Because of these big lifestyle shifts, people are more inclined to make home-cooked meals, spend less time out in public, and more time in the most frequented room in the house: the kitchen.
At Atherton Appliance & Kitchens, kitchen is in our name and we love helping our customers make their dream kitchen come to life. Our expert design team can help you with the whole process, from start to finish. Stop in and visit us, or find us on LinkedIn to discuss your vision and get your questions answered.