One-size-fits-all appliances in the neutral color spectrum had their day in the sun, but now consumers are looking for appliances that add a pop of color to their homes and optimize their lifestyles.
Neutral shades like white, black, gray and its shimmery cousin silver have dominated consumer electronics design. Bright daisy yellow toasters, burnt orange refrigerators, or even cool aquamarine ice boxes have been viewed as outdated or gaudy. Sleek stainless steel and shiny onyx appliances evoke modernity, style, sophistication and safety, making them attractive across demographics. That is, until now. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) released its 2024 Kitchen Trends Report in October 2023. It revealed some intriguing insights into what consumers want from their kitchen experience in 2024, and it is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
While minimalism will not go away anytime soon, consumers are moving away from the greige (gray and beige) color palette for their kitchens. According to the report, “Seven in ten designers say homeowners don’t want a cookie-cutter kitchen and are looking for a design that is uniquely personal and just for them.” Color typically appears in the kitchen on cabinets, backsplashes and islands, but appliances can also join in on the fun. Whether it be highlighting a specific theme running through the home or simply acting as a statement piece, consumers are looking for appliances that are as stylish as they are functional.
Why the Change?
Consumers’ move toward more colorful products and design trends can be attributed to the pandemic. A 2022 Architectural Digest article explains that “color can trigger certain emotional reactions (reds stimulate excitement, and blues tend to calm, for example).” Shades like gray, however, have a dulling effect on the senses. While this may have been a relaxing effect for the overstimulating hustle and bustle of pre-pandemic life, it does not suit consumers who have lived through the isolation of the pandemic.
At the 2022 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), Gary So, Samsung Electronics Vice President of Demand Generation at Samsung Electronics America, cited the pandemic as a major indicator of color trends in appliances. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, “the approach to design was a lot more functionally driven and a lot more utilitarian,” but “post-pandemic, designs have moved on to become much more about expression.” So elaborated further that “rather than just products to cook and clean with, consumers are seeing appliances as an extension of who they are and their design aesthetic.”
Bertazzoni Professional Series 30-Inch All-Gas Range
Italian appliance manufacturer Bertazzoni understands that ovens and ranges can be as colorful as the food they cook. The 30-inch All-Gas Range from the Professional Series is a high-efficiency all-gas range and oven that comes in three vibrant colors: Giallo (yellow), Arancio (orange) and Rosso (red). It has four brass burners that consist of a dual ring 19,000 BTU power burner and three MonoBloc burners of variable size and intensity to suit any cooking method. The 4.7 cubic feet oven cavity houses seven shelves, dual convection fans for temperature control and balanced airflow, and an extra wide infrared gas broiler. Customers cannot go wrong with any of the colors offered. But for any particularly trendy individuals, red has been cited by InStyle, Marie Claire and Vogue as the it-color for the Fall/Winter 2023 fashion season. Users can roast, sear, and toast to red-hot perfection with the All-Gas Oven Range from Bertazzoni in the finish Rosso.
ZLINE DuraSnow Wall Mount Range Hood
Every gas range should have a range hood to help capture, filter or vent out any cooking grease and steam that appears during the cooking process. Beyond practical utility, range hoods can also make great statement pieces for a kitchen, depending on their shape and finish. The ZLINE DuraSnow Wall Mount Range Hood is crafted with ZLINE’s DuraSnow stainless steel, a long-lasting material that is scratch-, rust- and fingerprint-resistant. For maximum customization, it comes in ten different finishes, including red, to stay up-to-date on trends and match the Bertazzoni range in Rosso. The range hood comes equipped with powerful and quiet fans with max airflows of 120/240/320/400 (CFM) for the 30-inch and 280/420/560/700 (CFM) for the 36-inch and up varieties. Fan speed can be controlled via the push-button control panel, which adjusts two directional LED lights and a three-minute auto-timer with delayed shutoff.
Samsung Bespoke 4-Door French Door Refrigerator
Samsung has been ahead of the curve when it comes to statement appliances. The electronics company launched the Bespoke appliance line to embrace “emerging home design trends that express personality and style using bold colors, new materials and artful designs.” One of the most popular offerings from the Bespoke line is the 4-Door French Door Refrigerator with customizable and changeable glass door panels in the colors Morning Blue, Sunrise Yellow, Rose Pink and Clementine. Between the refrigerator and the freezer drawers lies a middle compartment called the FlexZone drawer, which is customizable to the user with five different temperature settings for multiple food storage options. For ultimate convenience, the Bespoke 4-door French Door Refrigerator has smart capability. Through the SmartThings app, users can receive alerts to changes in temperature, if the door is ajar and when the water filter needs to be changed. The app also allows users to monitor their refrigerator’s power usage and gives them energy-saving tips.
Our Place Wonder Oven
Who remembers when Our Place’s multifunctional and colorful Always Pan took the internet by storm? Well, the brand now has a countertop appliance that continues the tradition. The Wonder Oven is a countertop appliance with a 6-in-1 air fryer and toaster oven in four colors: Char, Blue Salt, Spice and Steam. Its steam infusion technology, which encompasses a heat range of 200 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, makes it versatile, allowing it to bake, roast, toast and broil. Despite its compact dimensions (11.6 in. height, 10.6 in. depth, 11.5 in. width), the Wonder Oven can pack a punch and be the perfect accent to any kitchen.
Appliances may have become a standard aspect of our routines and lifestyles, but that does not mean they must be mundane in their design. Consumers want colorful appliances that lift their spirits, spice up their homes and highlight their personalities and unique senses of style.
