Kitchen & Bath Trade Assoc. Reveals 2021 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends
Hackettstown, NJ, November 16, 2020- The National Kitchen & Bath Association 2021 Design Trends Research reveals the COVID-19 pandemic will have a substantial lasting impact on kitchen and bath design, including in several areas related to flooring. As homeowners spend more time at home, kitchens and primary bathrooms are getting larger, the volume of outdoor living projects is increasing significantly and there is a need for easy-to-clean surfaces, flexible living spaces and seamless technology integration for added convenience and peace of mind.
Aesthetically, design preferences in both kitchen and bath will continue to be more contemporary and transitional in style, with added influence of a new leading trend of “natural/organic.” This combination feels more European in style and scale, with clean lines, minimal detailing, the warmth and texture of natural finishes, and larger windows to bring the feeling of the outdoors inside. The influence of natural/organic catapulted into the top three design styles respondents expect to increase in popularity in the kitchen and bath over the next three years. This is a significant shift from the NKBA 2019 study, where this same design style ranked 10th. Conversely, traditional design, which consistently had been one of the top three kitchen and bath styles for more than a decade, is now anticipated to be one of the least popular.
KITCHEN TRENDS RELATED TO FLOORING INCLUDE
SURFACES
- Quartz, particularly in lighter colors, will continue to be the driving material for countertops
- Large-scale backsplashes featuring a solid slab or long subway tile
- Mixing complementary colors and materials on perimeter countertops and islands
BATHROOM TRENDS RELATED TO FLOORING INCLUDE
FLOORING
- Radiant heated flooring
SHOWER/TUB/FAUCETS
- Larger freestanding showers to accommodate two people with zero-clearance entry, integrated seating and grab bars
- Larger-format surrounds with fewer grout lines
- Linear drains
VANITIES
- Floating vanities with integrated electrical outlets, charging capabilities and storage
The results of this study are based on data collected in Q3 2020 from more than 700 design professionals in North America, representing industry segments including designers (52% of respondents), showrooms, dealers, manufacturers, remodelers and architects. Of the respondents, 78% are NKBA members.