The Future of Kitchen and Bath: 4 Trends from KBIS
Consentino Italian Stone Counter,
Consentino (2023)
Earlier this month in Las Vegas, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Builders’ Show (IBS) featured the best debuts in the kitchen and home industry. As market researchers, tracking home trends fascinates us, especially as we continue to conduct research with some of the biggest names in this space.
Here are some of our favorite showstopping innovations and key trends from these recent shows:
Sustainability Reigns Supreme
Over the past decades, consumers and businesses alike have experimented with sustainability―whether thrifting clothes, relying on renewable energy sources to power facilities, or even designing kitchen surfaces made from ultra-compact stone.
Spanish manufacturer Consentino collaborated with architect Daniel Germani to create Italian stone featuring a mix of three unique textures with a priority to reduce energy consumption in the production process. With a sophisticated mixture of 20 minerals, they were able to produce a high-end, ultra-compact stone, available in seven trendy earth tones.
The Samsung MyBespoke Refridgerator,
Samsung (2023)
Have It Your Way:
Personalizing in the Kitchen
A reoccurring trend of customization was seen throughout including Monogram’s debut of the Monogram Designer Collection with Nashville-based kitchen designer Richard T. Anuszkiewicz. Anuszkiewicz says he finds joy in customization and we should enjoy that same indulgence with our refrigerators. MyBespoke is the new highly personalized refrigerator series by Samsung. This generative art refrigerator allows you to edit fridge panel designs by adding and uploading any type of artwork or image, including from the 100 generative art prints by Matt Jacobson.
Brass & Titanium Finish Designer Collection, Monogram (2023)
Modern, but Classic: A Revival of Vintage Designs
Customization and sustainability weren’t the only trends. KBIS awarded the Best of Show Booth to Kohler who introduced glass sinks with newly reissued color palettes with a revival of vintage styles. Spring Green, launched in 1927, and Peachblow launched in 1934, were voted to make a return. Kohler pulled the two adored colors out of the vault for their limited-edition release. Guess the old adage is true, classics never go out of style.
Staying Connected:
Ease of Use with New Wi-Fi-Enabled Products
Convenience was another key element including Delta Faucet’s state-of-the-art shower system. Their ShowerSense Digital has built-in Wi-Fi that customizes temperature control as well as water flow. Its Audio Sense and Chroma Sense also makes it easier to enjoy your favorite music. Moen showcased a multifunctional kitchen sink―Workstation. This space-saving series with a built-in ledge makes washing, cutting, and drying very convenient to free up counter space. GE Appliances challenged the multifunctional sink with its multifunctional laundry machine. GE’s UltraFast Combo now allows you to wash and dry your loads in under two hours. No more transferring clothes from one machine to another. UltraFast Combo is also paced to save 50 percent more energy than a traditional dryer. Talk about saving time and money!
Key Takeaways
It’s safe to say both KBIS & IBS showcased a range of innovations and exciting new products this year. With record-breaking attendance both in audience and participants, the kitchen and home industry is beyond buzzing. It’s always interesting to see manufacturers explore customer preferences and tie them into these common themes:
Brand sustainability
Personalization
Returning trend cycles
New technology
From a marketing research perspective, W5’s Solutions framework could help home and bath companies understand homeowners, evaluate current offerings, and of course, create even more new and exciting products.
Did the KBIS or IBS have anything exciting to pull into your next remodeling project? Will you be connecting your dishwasher to Wi-Fi? Did these innovations spark ideas for your next marketing research initiative? Let us know!