The kitchen of the future – what will it look like?

Bring your kitchen into the future with expert kitchen designers and fitters

Once just a room where meals were prepared and cooked, as the kitchen has evolved it has become a dining room, a family room and a place for the kids to do their homework. Over recent months more of us have needed to work from home, and as this is likely to have become the norm for many, this means that the kitchen has also become the home office.

As we expect the kitchen to become many things, it needs to adapt to meet new requirements and new technology.

Kitchen statistics

Over the last couple of decades, the kitchen diner and open plan living have been really popular with households – in fact, approximately 1 in 3 UK homes* have a kitchen/diner. In addition, according to the LABC (Local Authority Building Control), the average kitchen size is a fairly moderate 14.96m2 (that’s 2.69m2 larger than kitchens of the 1930s).

Although there is a rise in open plan living, UK householders only spend an average of 3 years of their life cooking**.

How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen?

The average price of a new kitchen in 2020 is around the £8,000† mark. However, top of the range kitchens can set you back anything up to £40,000 and beyond.

Average running costs of appliances

Whether you have a kitchen and utility room or just a kitchen, the various appliances that we use take quite a bit of energy throughout the year. The following is a breakdown of appliances and the running cost to the average household‡:

• Dishwashers £48.86 per year
• Boiling a kettle £45.58 per year
• Fridge freezers £32.56 per year
• Washing Machines £29.30 per year
• Ovens £26.86 per year

Average amount spent on smart tech

Smart tech has moved on from smart TVs that allow you to record programmes by an app on your phone, and doorbells that let you see and talk to whoever is at your door when you are away from home.

Smart tech is now moving into kitchen appliances, but it can be costly. In a study conducted by Statista, householders are willing to pay on average £707 for smart fridges and £844 for smart ovens. As the technology improves and it becomes more popular, the price of smart tech appliances will surely drop.

What does the future hold for kitchens?

As technology evolves, so will the kitchen. Trends will come and go, but technology to make our lives easier will be here to stay. Although the actual kitchens of tomorrow will look very much like they do today – cupboards, work surfaces, tiles, sinks etc. – the appliances within will be much more efficient.

Saving money on our fuel bills, using less water and a greener way of eating will direct trends and developments in technology and smart tech will play a huge part in this.

From interactive induction hobs that heat the entire saucepan, allowing food to be cooked faster and more evenly, to intelligent washing machines that are able to detect the weight and softness of the wash load in the drum and automatically choose the best wash cycle – appliances will help householders save money and time.

Five key trends in the kitchen of the future

What will the kitchen of the future look like? We have already mentioned interactive induction hobs and intelligent washing machines which are already on the market, but here are a few things we will be seeing in kitchens in the near future:

1. The kitchen will become the central hub of the home. A multi-functional space where families can cook, eat, work, watch internet-connected smart TVs and update their social media pages, as well as relax.
2. Smart refrigerators where perishables can be stored at optimal temperatures, as well as keeping track of what’s inside them.
3. Cookery books will make way for overhead projectors that will beam recipes and cooking information directly onto the counter top – no more oil or sauce splashed book pages!
4. Lighting that will adapt to match the time of the day, and even our emotional mood or the type of food we are cooking.
5. Connected appliances linked to your smart phone to allow you to manage your cooker, washing machine and heating system.

Whether all of these will be in every home or just a select few, only time will tell, but as technology moves forward so will our kitchens.

Montagu are your expert kitchen designers and fitters

Whatever you need doing to your kitchen – a refit, remodel or update – whatever your budget, our team of expert kitchen designers and fitters will ensure your project is completed to the highest quality, on time and to budget.

With over 40 years’ expertise, we can help you build the kitchen of your dreams. We can give you advice and help you choose the right smart tech for your lifestyle and budget.

To find out more about our kitchen design and fitting service in London, or to speak to us about your kitchen project, please call us on 0207 723 5463 between 8am and 6pm, or send us an email.