There’s no doubt that the future of kitchen design will look different in a post-COVID-19 world. Besides social distances and washing hands repeatedly there is the need for more long-term storage of food, especially freezer space, and added dry goods storage. With that in mind, Jessica Petrino, educator & appliance expert at AJ Madison, a family-owned business & number one online kitchen appliance retailer in the country for over 18 years with luxury showrooms in Washington, D.C., and Brooklyn, has generated the following list for your consideration spotlighting ways COVID-19 will change kitchen design trends in the future.
1. More Refrigerator and Freezer Capacity
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Instead of going to the store every day, we’re buying and storing more food at home. Refrigerators are essential for short term fresh food storage and leftovers. Freezers are important for longer-term preservation and frozen goods. When designing kitchens in the future, we’re going to pay more attention to refrigerator and freezer capacity.
2. More Cooking at Home
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New kitchens will be designed for healthy meals, food prep stations, and storing leftovers. You might also find yourself using those fun small appliances like your juicer, slow cooker, ice cream maker, or food processor.
3. Cabinet Space, Pantry, and Dry Food Storage
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From COVID-19 we’ve learned that keeping an organized pantry is key for easier home-cooked meals. Dry goods such as rice, beans, grains, and oats are a low-cost way to feed your family. Elevate your cooking game with a hidden pull-out rack for spices and dry herbs. Airtight storage containers are a great way to store baking ingredients, cereal, loose-leaf teas, and coffee.
4. Easy-to-Clean Appliances, Kitchen Cabinets, Countertops, and Fixtures
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New kitchens will be designed with cleanability in mind. Low maintenance cabinet finishes, faucets, tile, and fixtures will be a top priority. For appliances, that means coated finishes like smudge-resistant stainless steel will become more popular. Consumers will look for countertops that are non-porous, scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and even antimicrobial.
5. Smart Appliances and Smart Home Technology
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Smart appliances help consumers troubleshoot service problems, reduce food waste, and explore new recipes.
6. Kitchen Appliances That Sanitize
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Dishwashers, washers, and dryers that are designed to keep your family safer. For large kitchens and homes, it’s convenient to have more than one dishwasher. Whether the extra dishwasher is in the kitchen, bar area, guest suite, or even outdoor entertainment space, having extra cleaning capacity is an added convenience.
7. Focus on Outdoor Living, Self-Sufficient Gardening
In some parts of the country, consumers are running supermarket shelves dry. COVID-19 proved that our food supply is limited. Starting a home gardening project is a great way to get homegrown veggies and save money. You can store your homegrown produce with a long-term food preservation technique like flash freezing or canning.
8. DIY Kitchen Remodeling Projects
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Replacing your old energy-hogging appliances can actually save you money in the long run. Consider an easy to replace appliances such as a freestanding refrigerator, front control range, faucet, or dishwasher. There are many fun appliances finish for a fresh new look. Stainless steel is forever, but consider alternatives like slate, black stainless, sunset bronze, Tuscan brass, or matte white. You can also easily upgrade the color palette in your kitchen. A new coat of paint on your walls or cabinets can give your kitchen new life.
9. Investing in High-Quality Home Appliances Built to Last
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Over the years, most appliances will require maintenance. If your appliance needs service, it pays to have a warranty in place. Investing in a warranty at the time of sale will give you peace of mind, and will save you hundreds of dollars.
