The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) recently released the results of its 2022 Design Trends Forecast whose goal is to identify styles, features and materials that are expected to be popular in the next several years and to identify products that are likely to have the most significant impact on kitchens and bathrooms.
The survey results mirror preferences among homeowners in West Virginia who want their new dream kitchens to offer flexible, multifunctional workspaces. Kitchens in West Virginia are now used as home offices, classrooms, studies and dining rooms among other purposes. Homeowners in West Virginia are attracted to large islands that can be used for prepare meals, function as dining tables and be used for office space, to do homework or double as an in-home office. Pantries will continue to be in high demand because of their ability to provide storage and working areas for small appliances.
Kitchen sinks also are serving multiple functions not only to wash and rinse dishes, but also to serve as workstations with built-in drying racks, colanders and cutting boards that provide another area to prepare meals.
Health, safety wellness and cleanliness is at the forefront of homeowner preferences. Antimicrobial, easy-to-clean surfaces are expected to increase in demand along with outdoor living spaces that connect the kitchen and home to mother nature. This bodes well for quartz surfaces continuing to grow in popularity along with larger format tiles and slabs that require less grout and therefore are easier to maintain and keep clean. Touchless faucets, voice activated LED lighting and recycling storage are other high demand products and will continue to trend into the near future along with mobile-friendly spaces, healthy cooking and app-controlled appliances.
Trends for the bathroom include high-performing large showers. For high-performing showers we often recommend the use of linear drains that do not require a curb and can eliminate the need for a shower enclosure. Environmentally efficiency is also on the top of West Virginia homeowners’ wish lists. Sustainable design, LED lighting, low-E windows and doors, energy-star efficient appliances, EPA WaterSense fixtures, VOC-free paint, radiant flooring and materials with recycled content also are expected to grow in popularity especially now because environmental efficient does not have to come at the expense of performance.
The bathroom will become smarter with connected products that allow homeowners in West Virginia to preset water temperature and connect to digital assistants for entertainment and communication. Curbless showers, universal design concepts, grab bars, hand-held showerheads and shower seats will also trend forward as more homeowners (in name of service territory) elect to age in place in their existing homes.
If you need additional suggestions to create a trend-forward kitchen or bath of your dreams, please call us at (304) 291-6991 or make an appointment to visit our showroom.
