You might think that appliances don't change all that often; however, that isn't the case at all! Like any other piece of technology, appliances are constantly innovating and improving. Beyond simply using less energy, there are several great advances in appliances that are coming out this year.
1. Black Stainless Steel
Stainless steel appliances have been a mainstay in homes for many years now. The durability of stainless steel appliances is second to none, but this often came at the cost of these appliances clashing with the rest of the kitchen. Black Stainless Steel solves this problem with style!
Black Stainless Steel appliances are just as durable as their normal variants but have a black finish that provide a modern look for your kitchen. Most of the top brands currently come in a black stainless steel variant but Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Samsung have the most varied selection at the moment. But expect this to change through the rest of the year and into 2020!
2. Flexi-Fridges
I have no proof of this, but I suspect that when Kelvinator produced their first self-contained refrigerator in 1916 people were having discussions as to whether they had enough freezer space. This conversation is still occurring, now adding the possibility of a stand-alone freezer to the discussion. (Editor's note: I couldn't find when the first modern commercial freezer went into production). Fortunately for everyone, Flexi-Fridges are here to solve this debate.
A Flexi-Fridge is a refrigerator that has a specific section or compartment that doubles as both a refrigerator and a freezer. Having a party on the weekend and need more room to store meat for the grill? You can switch the compartment to the proper temperature to store meat and switch it back to normal once the party is done! You can see how it works in the video below:
Samsung has the most products available with this feature and their Flex-zone, but other manufacturers are creating Flexi-Fridges as well. This feature can only continue to grow in usage and availability during the year.
3. Smart Appliances
It's not just light bulbs and speakers that can sync up with your smart home now, appliances are also gaining the ability to sync with your smart home. You probably know this already, but just as a refresher, a smart device is a device that can work with a smart assistant, such as Amazon's Alexa or Google Home. Appliances coming out this year now not only allow you to connect them to your home's Wi-fi, but they also have a wide variety of other smart features available.
What each smart appliance does varies by the appliance itself. Samsung's Family Hub has a camera that takes a picture every time someone opens the door. And as a bonus, it's also a Flexi-fridge! LG's line of Smartwashers can analyze each load of laundry and determine how much water and detergent is needed for each load. LG also has dishwashers that let you download additional cycles to your smart phone, so you can wash items that normally couldn't go into a dishwasher. We're only scratching the surface of smart appliances, these devices will only improve and have more features added as the year goes on.
4. Retro Appliances
You can't keep a great design down! Retro designs have been coming back for some time now, with Edison Bulbs and Pixel Art becoming more prominent. This trend is now moving to appliances and Smeg is leading the charge.
Just because these designs look retro doesn't mean the technology behind them is outdated. These are very much modern appliances, just given that sleek retro look so everyone can tell you that your new kitchen is just the ginchiest. Smeg also has a wide variety of retro appliances available, from dishwashers, refrigerators, and ovens. If you ever wanted to have a kitchen that looks like it could belong in I Love Lucy or Leave it to Beaver, now's your chance!
5. Under Counter appliances
Whenever you think about moving an appliance, where do you think to place them? You probably just think to put them in the spaces that you already have in place. And that's if you've got the space available! You may just have to place the microwave somewhere on the counter simply because that's the only place you can put it.
Fortunately, the growing trend of under counter appliances can help you reorganize your entire kitchen! Designed to go where counters would normally be placed, these appliances can help you maximize your kitchen space. KitchenAid has a line of microwaves and refrigerators that can easily slide in under your counters, leaving you to decide what you'll do with that large space that your fridge used to occupy!
What appliance trends are you most looking forward to in 2019? Are there any that we missed? Make sure to let us know in the comment section!
