The 10 hottest kitchen and bath trends that will take the design world by storm in 2023

At KBIS and IBS, new appliances and plumbing technologies capable of making life easier and simply better sat alongside a crop of exciting materials, fixtures and finishes that will push design into new aesthetic territories. I looked at plenty of great decor tips and styling inspiration to steal, and I’m sharing all the highlights with you here so you know what’s worth paying attention to when upgrading these hard-working areas of your home.

Designers have been pairing different finishes together for years now; it’s not uncommon to see a kitchen with a matte black faucet paired with brass lighting, for example, or copper pots hanging over a stainless steel range. The newest way to mix materials? Within a single fixture or piece. Wood accents appeared on everything from the interior of stainless steel refrigerators at KitchenAid to the teak and metal handles of the stunning The Frank Lloyd Wright Bath Collection by Brizo (the faucets are shown above), which was inspired by the iconic designer’s principles of ecological architecture.

The hardware on display at the show also had a lot of wood and other material accents, especially with the relaunch of Keeler Brass Company’s partnership with Monogram appliances, which boasts over 34,000 unique combinations of solid brass bases, stems and handles – engineered, American made series. At Emtek, ceramics, terrazzo, wood and exotic stones made a big impact, along with various metal surface treatments.

Pinterest declared 2023 the year of the luxurious, spa-like shower, and I’m happy to report that plumbing and fixture brands were way ahead of the curve at KBIS. In particular, Kohler introduced their new wellness-minded brand, Sprig, which speaks directly to this trend by offering innovative aromatherapy shower infusion systems (with shower infusion pads) that are both retrofit and rental friendly. Sprig launched with six fragrance blends that extend to other bath products, including bath bombs and body/linen mists.

Almost every major appliance company touted a new induction peak. Luxury Italian home appliance Bertazzoni led the category by adding to its already robust induction offering with the 36-inch pull-down induction cooktop, one of the industry’s first that does not require an independent overhead vent hood (making it a very flexible installation applications ), and a 48-inch induction range available in all three of the brand’s appliance ranges. In addition to the sleek aesthetics and energy-saving cooking power – the downdraft model is able to heat up to 60 percent faster than ordinary hobs – the practical benefits of induction are generally also real: a super easy to clean hob that’s cool to the touch, even when you have the burners on.

Ventless 2-in-1 washer/dryer combos, like the GE Profile UltraFast Combo with Ventless Heat Pump Technology launching in June, mean “laundry room” is no longer confined to the basement (or wherever your vents have been in the past). Doing laundry can feel like less of a chore when you don’t have to transfer clothes from machine to machine and you can place your laundry in a closet, for example right next to your bedroom, or if you’re a small-room dweller , any place where you can find a few extra square meters.

Sneakerheads and shoe fans can also participate in the laundering now. LG plans to expand its Styler collection with ShoeCare, a sleek enclosure capable of cleaning and refreshing four pairs of shoes in just 37 minutes. They’ll also launch ShoeCase, a UV light-absorbing rotating display cabinet that can keep your kicks and heels in perfect condition between uses. Can you imagine an entire closet or office wall built out of these modular cases? Now, that’s a wow-worthy home feature!

Soothing colors never went anywhere, but if this previous KBIS show was any indication, shades of blue and green will be making a strong comeback in all the hard-working spaces of the home. Cafe showcased their impressive Emerald range, which will hit the market later this year, while True Residential introduced their new finish, Bluestone, a serene blue with gray and purple undertones, now available on all of the brand’s full-size and indoor/outdoor under-table units.

If you want to go even more neural, matte white offers another option. Featured prominently around the aisles, these new white finishes undermine the rap this hue has traditionally gotten for being plain. The latest snow-colored appliances and fixtures are anything but ordinary.

Curved silhouettes have been popular for a few years now, but I noticed crescent and oval shapes in many of the stands’ mock kitchens and baths. The shapely seamless stone backsplash in one of the Cafe’s two trendy chef’s rooms was visually stunning in its semi-circular simplicity. You could definitely also try this idea in a bathroom on a sink. Additionally, many of the kitchen islands on the show had rounded edges, which not only feels a little unexpected, but also makes this high-traffic area a little easier to navigate around in terms of flow.

When it comes to luxury refrigeration, personalization is the name of the game, especially with the energy-efficient paneled French door-style machines that have dominated the market over the past few years. Samsung showed a range of new colors that can be used interchangeably on the front of their Bespoke fridges; they’re even launching a photo and art option called My Bespoke, which can transform panels into a favorite family photo or other personal design. Dubbed the “party fridge” at the show, the MoodUP by LG STUDIO has certainly earned that designation. Its LED-powered panels can be changed to different colors in real-time via the brand’s ThinQ app – and set to pulse to the beat of a song – resulting in a dynamic display that you and your houseguests can’t help but notice and smile at to. Did I mention the refrigeration and ice making capacity is also best in class?

Talk about contrast! So many of the fixtures, finishes, and building materials I saw had really unique textures that could work in either minimalist or maximalist settings—or in any space in between. Whether a glass vessel sink at Kohler or solid stone at Cosentino, fluting topped the list of texture trends. A close second might have been what Emtek called “knurled,” an edge-like texture that you can see in the brand’s Select Conical Knurled Knob.

Post-peak Covid, bidets are still a bathroom upgrade many people are looking to make in their homes. You can find them in all sizes, and you don’t need to buy a separate fixture – or a whole new toilet – to make one work in your pad. Check out Toto Washlet for more information on retro fit toilet seat bidets.

Brands are catering even more to small space dwellers these days, and that’s music to my ears. I have already mentioned some of the small cleaning and washing solutions, but innovation is also coming to the kitchen and bath. Take, for example, Duravit’s No. 1 collection of wall-mounted vanity, sink and mirror shown here. Tons of style—and plenty of function—are packed into these three pieces that can be installed on the tiniest of walls. The trio would be perfect for a powder room or small bath that you’re trying to squeeze in a shower without giving up all the amenities you still need to get ready.