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DESIGNING FOR 2022
COVID-19, millennial influence driving kitchen & bath trends BY T E D M c I N T Y R E
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), a leader in providing tools, research, certification and events for its 50,000 members and kitchen and bath professionals around the world, has released its annual Design Trends report. The 2022 study, a deep dive into all aspects of both kitchen and bathroom design, forecasts the styles, features, materials and innovations expected to be most popular over the next few years. The current study finds that the pandemic has accelerated consumer interest in and adoption of key trends in their homes, such as integration of smart technology, multi-functional spaces, and natural and nature-based designs. “We’ve seen the pandemic have an effect across all sectors in our society and we’re now starting to see how the ohba.ca
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change in human behaviours is shifting the way we design our homes,” said NKBA Chief Executive Officer Bill Darcy. “Consumers are more eager to embrace new technologies and 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.” As expected, smart technology remains white hot. That includes hands-free and voice-activated technology to reduce the spread of diseases. In fact, devices offering touchless technology have become the breakout stars within the kitchen and bath space, the report suggests. That said, the market remains largely untapped, as only 30% of 2021 kitchen projects and 21% of bathroom
designs included some type of integrated appliances. In addition to smart technology, 58% of designers predict spaces that serve multiple functions will become increasingly popular in 2022 and beyond. New millennial homeowners are looking to maximize their kitchen space with islands that serve as a mealprepping area, a work station and a dining table, as well as a place to entertain guests. Furthermore, younger consumers are looking to include laundry facilities inside their bathrooms to free up space elsewhere. With work from home and flexible workdays gaining traction, the ability to customize the home space for specific needs will only continue to grow in importance. In that same vein, millennials are leading the increase in natural and ONTARIO HOME BUILDER WINTER 2022
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