Charles Dickens put it well: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” His fitting words pretty much sum up the state of kitchen design over the past 12 months. While dealers saw a 20% increase in demand for large appliances during the first half of the year, supply chain issues stretched wait times like never before, and the issues likely are not going away in 2022. Here’s a look back at the trends and events that impacted the making of kitchens in 2021—as well as a peek at what’s ahead in the new year.
Demand Soared for Home Improvement
Without a doubt, the pandemic has changed the way we live and how we use our homes. For many, creating a comfortable, functional living environment moved to the top of the priority list this year. And they invested more than ever before in improving their nests.
Demand heated up as owners sought to recast their spaces—including the kitchen—to meet expanding needs. Some sought a kitchen that could accommodate multiple cooks or one that easily morphed into a home office; others placed a premium on pantry space. It appears demand for kitchen remodels won’t be cooling off any time soon. In fact, Economist Abbe Will predicts that “a shift to more professional projects should boost annual homeowner remodeling expenditures to $370 billion by early next year” in an article for Kitchen and Bath Design News.
Supply Trailed (Way) Behind Demand
Hurry up and wait was the name of the game in 2021. While clients clamored for home and design services, disruptions in the global supply chain complicated matters. From dishwashers to sofas, delivery times lengthened as manufacturers struggled with shortages of parts and labor, not to mention increasingly complex and expensive logistics.
Appliance backorders certainly frustrated the kitchen-design process. We saw backorder times ranging from 6 weeks to 10 months or more in 2021, and we can expect the supply-chain challenges to follow us into the new year. The supply-chain challenges will follow us into the new year. Early communication and selections will be the keys to keeping projects moving forward.
Feel-Good Design Gained Footing
Now more than ever, people are craving design that lifts their spirits and soothes their senses. Color, particularly hues inspired by nature, made its way into more kitchens (and shades of green will retain their popularity next year). Introducing natural materials also helped to create the kitchen sanctuaries that homeowners were after. Judging by the dramatic spike in biophilic design-related searches on in 2021, homeowners long to incorporate nature into their designs. For example, searches for “biophilic architecture” saw a 150% increase, while searches for “biophilic office design” and “floral ceiling” tripled.
All in all, 2021 was a good year for kitchen design, as long as you packed your patience. Here’s to a continued boom and an easing of the current challenges in 2022! All of us at ADU look forward to partnering with you throughout the year.