“Home has become a sanctuary for many during the pandemic, and the kitchen is moving away from clean and modern, or what people typically think of when considering the future,” designer Tiffany Leigh Piotrowski says. “Kitchens seem to be moving toward a more livable, cozy, and approachable environment.” After months of profound uncertainty and vital flexibility, the post-pandemic kitchen will reflect a collective need for calm. But in the midst of relaxing and mood-boosting enhancements, these spaces will heed the lessons learned from this period, too. Real Simple spoke to four design experts about what they think the main features of future kitchens will be, considering everything from quarantine and disinfecting to fresh air and friendship. These are the nine components of future kitchens, according to their predictions, and some of them are already making an appearance. “For instance, installing historic beams would ground the room, and real marble countertops patina over time. In the past, a wine stain would have been a major problem, but I hope it’ll now be embraced as a reminder of evenings well spent with friends and family, which is something that we took for granted before the pandemic,” Piotrowski says. “For so long the kitchen has been about perfection, and I hope design will move toward making memories instead—less stress and more laughter. The future doesn’t always mean modern, minimal, and super techy. I think the pandemic has made us more nostalgic for real connection and warmth.” Besides ensuring that these appliances can sparkle with ease, Barney also notes that they’ll most likely complement soothing shades on the walls and cabinets. “All-white kitchens are a thing of the past, but people aren’t trying to go too bold with their color palettes, either,” she notes. “We will be seeing a lot of natural colors, such as tans, grays, and beige, as well as soft colors like light blues and greens.” “A little sunshine on our faces and a hug from a loved one will never be taken for granted again,” she says. “If one thing is clear, it’s that having a large window or a doorway into a greener space is a must. This could be a window with a box full of herbs, a pair of French doors leading onto a small vegetable patch, or just a balcony with a chair so you can enjoy fresh air.” Parker isn’t counting out major renovations to make indoor-outdoor living happen, since homeowners may be very familiar with the pitfalls of their current layout. “It is possible that they knock walls down to create bigger spaces,” she adds. “They could decide to dedicate some money toward having more glass and doors that lead directly to an outside space. In other instances, people may actually decide to move in order to get the lifestyle they now know is so important.” But besides making these eco-friendly factors as familiar as a dishwasher and oven, Alfano thinks owners will also keep sustainability in mind when sourcing materials in the first place. “Ash timber for cabinetry has low-VOC emissions, which promotes better air quality in the space and is also a more cost-effective material. There’s also Compac stone, which has low-VOC levels as a countertop option, and the company collects and stores rainwater during the production of the stone,” she says. “Post-pandemic kitchen design will marry technology and nature.” Hands-free fixtures and voice-activated solutions will no longer be a luxury item in the kitchen of the (near) future. This includes everything from smart lighting, to touchless faucets, to knock-front drawers and cabinets. In many homes, the kitchen has evolved to not only be a place to cook and eat, but also entertain, do homework, or take Zoom calls. Built-in cabinets will be designed to answer all of these varied storage needs—think, a beverage cooler and a spot to stash homework and laptops. In this rendering created by Rush, the kitchen blends into this entryway area, which is equipped with a sink for washing your hands and floor-to-ceiling cabinets for storing coats and shoes as you walk in the door. Since the entryway has also taken on new importance during the pandemic, kitchen designs that flow into the entryway will include extra storage and more sanitary design considerations throughout. The messy under-sink cabinet that’s long overdue for a makeover will also get an upgrade. Elkay’s upcoming Water Center (pictured, launching in 2022) combines a deep sink basin with pull-out storage drawers below so you won’t have to hunt for items in the far reaches of the cabinet. There’s even a flip-down compartment with ventilation for stashing sponges and dish brushes out of sight.
