3 Macro Trends That Will Guide Kitchen and Bath Design in 2020

Cabinets, appliances, color palettes...the devil is in the details. If builders want to create a show-stopping house, getting the kitchen and baths right is crucial. Sometimes, it is beneficial for designers to take a step back and consider the clients’ values and how those values will shape what they want on a higher level. Following these macro trends can help ensure homes are desirable to the new wave of buyers who crave simplicity, convenience, and intuitive smart technology.

Before you look at what’s trending in layouts, cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring and all of the other components that go into creating a successful kitchen or bath, it’s helpful to understand the macro trends driving the particular choices homeowners make. These are more revealing, more important and more enduring than the paint color of the year or the latest appliance finish. Macro trends showcase what people value in their lives and what they prioritize with their home investment dollars.

I’ve asked five industry pros to weigh in on these macro trends for the first in a three-part 2020 kitchen and bath trends forecast series. They are:

Michele Alfano, principal at Michele Alfano Design, design blogger and influencer;
Janice Costa, editor of trade magazine Kitchen & Bath Design News;
Lee Crowder, Dallas-based designer for national homebuilder Taylor Morrison;
Erin Gallagher, chief of insights for RICKI (Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence);
J. Pickens, host of HGTV’s The Work Around.