GROHE identifies sustainability and wellness trends

As many of us continue to incorporate hybrid ways of working with spending more time at home, and perhaps, sharing more of it on our social media channels, new trends are emerging for 2022. The kitchen and bathroom are leading the way when it comes to creating spaces which are both functional and well designed. Considerations such as sustainability, self-care, wellness, and multi-functionality are all high on the agenda for the year ahead, while style features and design nuances continue to play an important factor in renovation decisions.

Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design discusses the trends forecasted for the year ahead while identifying the key factors and influences informing these trends. As more consumers continue to live and work from home, technology and luxury will go hand in hand to create a seamless design experience. At the same time, individualisation continues to reign supreme with different choices of finishes, colours and remaining popular. Impacting on all of this, is the forecast that a sustainable home has become an important priority for consumers and therefore one that all leading brands and designers need to take note of and prioritise.

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Taking these trends straight into the bathroom, it seems some spa-inspired luxury right at home is on all of our wish and search lists. Living through a pandemic, coupled with seeing more of each other’s homes on Instagram Reels and TikTok hacks, means we’re all looking to invite more moments of indulgence and wellbeing into our homes. With searches for ‘freestanding bath’ and ‘slipper bath’ increasing by 228 per cent and 237 per cent respectively in the last year according to Houzz, it’s clear that creating a spa-like bathroom is an ideal first step to inviting luxury into our homes. Think calming scents, greenery and thoughtful design, to Japanese style toilets and step in spa showers at the top end of the scale. Wall-hung units and sanitaryware make for a more streamlined bathroom, ideal for smaller spaces, while metallic-finished brassware and soothing rainfall shower heads add a premium touch.

While relaxing showers, minimalist wet room designs and slim-line taps are growing in popularity, easily sustainable homes have also become a top consideration for us, with our impact on the planet being highlighted more than ever. GROHE continues to enable homeowners to live more sustainably without compromising on design or features, with product innovations which include cold-start taps to help save energy, and technology to reduce water flow across taps and showers without disrupting usage.

GROHE’s flagship Cradle-to-Cradle Certified and Level Gold product ranges have been designed to work towards a circular economy, meaning each component can be broken down and re-used endlessly in future products – helping homeowners’ shop with a conscious.

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While we might be saving hundreds of pounds a year forgoing a shop-bought coffee on our morning commute, filtered water to keep refreshed and hydrated throughout the day is a luxury we can keep, without the guilt of buying bottled water. GROHE has also used innovate design to ensure that we don’t miss out on that office cooler convenience as the shift from office to home is clearly here to stay. Swapping the office water cooler for your local tap water may not initially scream sophistication, but with GROHE’s Blue Home water system, the brand is encouraging the reduced use of plastic water bottles while enjoying the most convenient of refreshments. The system, which acts as a filter for tap water, refines the taste as well as offering chilled still, semi-sparkling or sparkling water in an instance. Staying hydrated throughout the day, without compromising on quality, has never been easier.

While both the kitchen and bathroom have always been of utmost importance when it comes to cleanliness, living through a pandemic has perpetuated the need for easy cleaning, and with that the demand for premium, hygiene-focused products. With GROHE’s infra-red taps, people can wash their hands without the need to touch any surfaces; offering efficient cleaning for the hygiene-conscious as it reduces the chance of spreading germs, with added water saving capabilities too. Complete with an adjustable temperature limiter to help save energy and cut the risk of scalding and low-energy electronics, the infra-red solutions are the go-to for those opting for more sustainable choices in the home. Plus, their slim profiles and sleek profiles make them the perfect design feature for smaller bathrooms and cloakrooms.

With the number of people regularly working from home and spending more time indoors continues to increase, coupled with taking inspiration from the home renovation industry’s micro-influencers, individual tastes are expected to be seen aplenty this year, especially in the realm of colour trends. Greens and neutral colours are expected take centre stage in the kitchen to help create the perfect hybrid space, while searches for coloured bathrooms are on the rise too – expect to see black finishes, darker tones and textures being incorporated into the bathroom as it continues to transition from functional room to a space of self-care and wellbeing. Metallic finishes, industrial design features and innovative technology are also on track to be in high demand, with hygiene playing a major part in home decisions for the coming years.

With all these options on the rise, along with the use of technology coupled with a concern for our environment, 2022 looks like it is set to be an interesting one on the design front, full of wellness and sustainability, not to mention some interesting colours and surfaces shifting the traditional kitchen and bathroom palettes into more interesting design territory.

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