Kitchen remodeling trends showcase sustainability and wellness.
Not very long ago, homeowners’ concerns for the environment frequently took a back seat to the higher price tag for environmentally friendly products. Whether because of changing cost incentives, the increased buying power of eco-conscious Millennial and Generation Z homeowners, a growing awareness that what’s good for the planet is also good for its people, or perhaps a combination of these factors, a dazzling 92% of Houzz survey respondents report incorporating sustainable features in their kitchen remodels. Houzz is a leading platform for home design and remodeling.
The good news for many of these 3,600 respondents is that some of their choices can help support the five facets of wellness design – health, safety, functionality, accessibility and comfort – of their household members too. Here’s where they overlap.
Lighting
Popular (65%) sustainable kitchen renovation choices include LED bulbs. This can make it easier to include energy-efficient task lighting to the space, especially illuminating countertops shadowed by the wall cabinets or shelves above them. That makes reading recipes accurately and safely chopping vegetables easier.
LEDs can also tie into circadian lighting systems, letting kitchen visitors enjoy energizing light in the morning and more relaxing light in the evening, without doing anything to achieve this effect. The benefits of this technology on human health have been proven in recent years.
Appliances
Energy-efficient appliances garnered a strong (61%) response, and can not only lower energy use and cost, but upgrading to new models often means enhanced wellness features too. Cooking examples include safer, easier-to-clean, faster induction cooktops and ovens with steam or air fry capability for healthier meals. Refrigeration examples include produce preservation technology to keep fruits and vegetables fresher longer. Cleaning examples include sanitization features, smart detergent dispense for using just the right amount, and the functionality and convenience of phone alerts or operation. More than a third (39%) of respondents are opting for these smarter appliances with connectivity and smartphone/tablet controls, Houzz reports.
Faucets
Choosing water efficient fixtures was cited by 34% of respondents. More than half (51%) of the surveyed homeowners are choosing faucets with high-tech features too, such as touch-only/touch-free activation. This not only helps them cut their consumption, but also potentially reduce germ spread – especially helpful during cold and flu season.
Windows
More than a quarter (27%) of Houzz respondents are opting for energy-efficient windows. In addition to cutting utility bills, this can make a home more comfortable during frequently longer, hotter summers. Some window choices can also include privacy glass that will be especially valuable as neighborhood density increases in many metro areas around the country.
While cooking activities might seem less important for privacy, many more activities take place in kitchens than just meal prep and cleanup today. “While the majority of homeowners (96%) use the kitchen for cooking, they also… entertain (57%) and socialize (46%) there,” the report notes. “Nearly a quarter of homeowners (23%) also work from their kitchen, which remains relatively unchanged since 2019.” No one wants their social time or work activities being eyed by passersby. Privacy is a wellness feature.
