It goes without saying that the pandemic has had a huge effect on every part of our lives, including how we use our homes, so what will the kitchen look like as we settle into ‘the new normal’? Many aspects of kitchen design – and kitchen trends – are likely to be impacted by the events of 2020, from the amount of time we spend in this space, to how we use it and the fixtures and fittings we choose for it. Daniel Bowler, Director for Eggersmann (opens in new tab), talked to Homes & Gardens about how Covid-19 has influenced the kitchen of the future, from hygiene and waste management to multi-functioning spaces.
1. Highlight on hygiene
A clean and germ-free kitchen in which to cook has always been important, of course, but with a focus on hand washing and many of us choosing to wipe down the grocery shop after a delivery since the pandemic first hit, features such as easy-to-clean surfaces, touch-free technology and pull-out spray taps will take on extra importance now.
2. Waste management
An efficient process for sorting recycling and food waste is a must in the modern kitchen. Having a bin close to the food preparation area is an important part of the working triangle to enable vegetable peelings to be quickly cleared away.
3. Go professional
Industrial-style kitchens were already a big trend before 2020, with the pandemic highlighting the need to take a more professional approach to its design. Commercial kitchens were able to re-open for business relatively quickly post-lockdown because good hygiene systems were already in place for instance, and these are now being emulated at home too. We’ll see this in the use of appliances too, with more in the way of tech that would normally be used by professional chefs, as more of us become confident with our own cooking abilities.
4. Multi-purpose spaces
We’re all spending a lot more time at home together, cooking, dining, working, learning and relaxing and many of these activities now take place in the kitchen, or open-plan kitchen/living area. Zoning is becoming increasingly important, with space to work, rest and play all factored in. There will be spaces dedicated to working from home, more of an emphasis on sanctuary and a push towards privacy too.
