2021 Kitchen and Bath Trends

Home renovations have been on the rise over the last year-and-a-half across Canada as home owners have been sheltering in place during the pandemic. A 2021 Renovation Investment Report commissioned by RE/MAX Canada earlier this year identified consumer home improvement trends across the country and also addressed where home owners found the best return on their investment (ROI).

The study reports that more than half of Canadians renovated their home last year for personal and non-ROI purposes, choosing to renovate for either “lifestyle” reasons or addressing necessary maintenance issues.

Nearly half (47%) of renovating Canadians indicated they wanted to keep their reno budget below $10,000, while 31% would bump up their spending to just under $50,000, and only 4% would consider spending more than $50,000 on reno budgets.

And regardless of the rationale for renovating, the report identified that during the current hot housing market ROI is always a consideration, and when it comes to the renovations that yield the best returns, 70% of Canadians state redesigning kitchens or washrooms is the place to start.

Manufacturer trends in kitchen and bath design are also reflecting the signs of the times. A comprehensive 2021 Moen Design Trends Report released this summer identified insights into homeowners’ evolving design priorities. The report called out three overarching design trends: hygiene consciousness, personal expression, and impact revolution (or environmentally conscious design).

Many of these trends were echoed in a recent House of Rohl 2021 design survey where 70% of respondents want their homes to feel like a calming retreat, and half wanted their bathrooms to feel like a personal spa. Also, 53% would consider touchless faucets, and that number increased to more than three-quarters (76%) for respondents with a combined household income of at least $150K.

Hands Free

American Standard Studio touchless toilet.

“In light of the increased focus on hygiene during the pandemic over the past year, it’s not a surprise that hands-free solutions in the home are becoming more popular,” said Jessica Birchfield, principal industrial designer, trend strategy, with Moen, commenting on their Trends Report.

Earlier this year American Standard introduced its Cadet touchless toilet with a hand-activated sensor module that can be installed up to three feet away. And touchless faucets with coordinating touchless soap dispensers for washrooms in the home are becoming common, as well as hands-free innovations for the kitchen.

Delta Touch2O faucet.

“Over the past year and a half, we have witnessed a growing desire among our consumers for products that increase cleanliness while also reducing touching points around their home,” says Marcelo Mellicovsky, senior marketing commercialization manager with Masco Canada. “Thanks to Delta Touch20 technology, which can be paired with Delta VoiceIQ technology, consumers can now control their faucet hands free with voice commands, reducing the spread of germs.”

Delta’s VoiceIQ connects with other smart home devices and can power kitchen faucets to turn on and off and even dispense set amounts of water.

U by Moen smart faucet.

The U by Moen smart faucet also includes touchless and voice-activated technology and can even be controlled by a mobile phone app. And the Kohler Konnect line of smart home products ranges from touchless toilets to voice-activated and app-controlled fixtures. User can even fill a tub to a preferred depth and temperature using an app.

Inspired by the nostalgic 1920’s, the new DXV Belshire collection, a full bathroom suite of faucets and fixtures, call on Art Deco period glamour reimagined for the 2020’s.

Personal Style

Aside from functionality, kitchen and bath design is also being influenced by social trends, including a nostalgic throwback to the roaring ‘20s, according the Moen report.

“As we approached the 2020s, our team predicted the up-and-coming revival of Art Deco and Art Noveau influence, which has only been accelerated by the atmosphere of almost post-pandemic life in the 2020s,” said Danielle DeBoe Harper, Moen’s senior creative style manager.

“Consumers are ready to express their desire for a hopeful future full of vibrant and saturated materials and finishes, taking inspiration from the elegant details, geometric patterns and mixing of black, white and metallics found in the 1930s.”

This influence is being seen in showrooms with a resurgence in gold fixtures. The DXV brand, part of the Lixil family, has introduced its Belshire collection offering a complete suite of bathroom products including faucets, tub, sinks, toilets and vanities that capture an art deco inspired design.

Sustainability

As consumers focus on creating a positive impact on the world, home design is also incorporating more sustainable products and nature-inspired design elements.

“We know consumers want to feel good about the products they bring into their homes, and it’s our job to ensure they have options to not only satisfy their design tastes, but meet their sustainability desires as well,” said Birchfield from Moen.

The new Ode collection from Riobel reflects the trend towards flowing, organic, design.

Water-saving features in faucets and showerheads are addressing environmental concerns, and from a design perspective, the trend is to mimic nature. Organic-inspired faucet designs are one common trend. Riobel, part of the House of Rohl, is introducing its new Ode collection of faucets presenting a seamless sculptural shape of line and circle—organic and minimalist.

The Nobua H2Flo Luxx line from Belanger is a new collection of nature-inspired kitchen and bathroom products.

And Quebec-based faucet manufacturer Belanger’s new Nobua H2Flo Luxx line of nature-inspired kitchen and bathroom products also relies on curves that evoke natural lines without any sharp angles, products that are practical and attractive.

Whether renovating for lifestyle or financial return, consumers are always seeking the latest products to keep their kitchens and bathrooms on trend.

Annually the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is a new product showcase for manufacturers launching new lines. Keeping up with developments from that event is one way to keep yourself and your customers on the leading edge. <>