The kitchen remains the heart of the home, and Beko’s Mike Beech looks at how appliances are adding value within this space, and the key trends which are emerging from home buyers in 2024.
It stands to reason that new home buyers will focus their attention on the kitchen, with a stylish and multi-functional space likely to help in inducing a commitment to purchase. In order to create dream kitchens, housebuilders and developers will be looking to balance timeless features with a modern aesthetic, complemented with practical and stylish appliances designed to save homeowners time and money. Understanding current trends, lifestyle preferences and priorities are key to specifying suitable appliances to aid convenient living and ensuring products remain fit for purpose throughout their lifecycle.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
A recent survey has indicated that 90% of Brits consider energy efficiency a top priority when it comes to their home appliances as fuel bills spiral and users become more aware of their personal impact on the environment. Providers of new homes should be looking for appliances with favourable energy saving ratings, featuring innovative technologies and enhanced functionality to further improve efficiency and water consumption. This becomes all the more relevant as we move towards the Future Homes Standard on the road to net zero, with housebuilders and developers faced with the challenge of reducing their carbon emissions by 30% while also looking to improve their homes’ ongoing energy efficiency and water consumption. As well as satisfying these ambitious targets to secure planning approval, consideration must be given to homeowners’ concerns surrounding rising energy prices alongside an increased desire for responsible living.
INTEGRATED APPLIANCES
The rise in popularity of open floorplans has cemented the kitchen as a multi-purpose focal space for entertainment, fuelling a desire for appliances to blend seamlessly into the sleek lines of a modern kitchen rather than standing out as statement design pieces. Integrating built-in appliances within the design of a kitchen allows a clean and stylish aesthetic to be achieved without compromising on usability. Whatever the style of the kitchen, and however homeowners choose to personalise their spaces post-occupation, integrated appliances will stand the test of time as trends come and go.
SPACE-SAVING SOLUTIONS
Slimline and multi-purpose appliances provide practical solutions to maximise usability where space is at a premium. According to a recent study by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, 87% of specifiers and designers have mentioned the importance of supplying appliances with more than one function to satisfy customer demand for increased flexibility and versatility. Multi-purpose appliances eliminate the need for purchasing additional bulky freestanding products, saving valuable countertop space in the kitchen. Meanwhile, stackable washing machine and tumble dryer combinations offer a practical space-saving solution, providing the functionality of a side-by-side setup while only taking up the space of a single appliance.
ENHANCED CONVENIENCE
Busy lifestyles demand helpful technology to simplify day-to-day activities, and homeowners are increasingly looking for products designed to make their lives easier. Quick cycles on washing machines allow users to wash large loads up to 12 kg in just 28 minutes, while crease-reducing technology eliminates the need to spend hours ironing clothes after a wash cycle.
A host of easy cleaning solutions in cooking appliances translate to less time scrubbing, with helpful features such as pyrolytic self-cleaning technology and easy-clean induction hobs ensuring maintenance is hassle-free. Dishwashers already provide the ultimate time-saving solution, and fast programmes enable a full load to be washed in just 45 minutes, while higher spec options feature performance-enhancing technology with intensive cleaning zones where even the dirtiest pots and pans will be cleaned to perfection. Home appliances play a significant role in modern domestic living by streamlining household functions, and users will be looking for advanced features designed to make home routines more efficient.
SMART TECHNOLOGY
Further supporting convenient and modern lifestyles, smart technology is playing an increasingly pivotal role within our lives and homes, with research suggesting that almost half of home chefs now expect control over their ovens and hobs through their mobile phones, allowing users to schedule appliance activity remotely. Washing machines or dishwashers can be timed to suit users’ daily activities, with appliances automatically choosing the most efficient cycle based on soil level. Homeowners can now also be afforded the freedom of changing their oven temperature from their fingertips, and for peace of mind are able to ensure cooking appliances are turned off, even when away from home.
In order to attract homebuyers in a challenging economic climate and to maximise kerb appeal, current trends should be carefully considered when making appliance selections. Choices must stand the test of time, with guarantees of up to 10 years available on selected products demonstrating expected lifespans. With ongoing usage and operational costs in mind, housebuilders and developers will be looking to futureproof their homes by specifying timelessly-styled, yet highly functional products with innovative features designed to support modern living.
Mike Beech is appliance partner at Beko plc