Kitchen of the Future: What to Expect and What's Available Today

While scientists predict that real robots will soon appear on our kitchen countertops and a full meal can be printed on a 3D printer, some future technologies can already be used right now.

With the brand Gorenje, we share what will surprise us in the kitchen of the future and how to keep up with time by creating our own.

What can we expect from the kitchen of the future? The cooking surface will no longer be just an integrated household appliance with clearly defined boundaries and heating elements. It will become a countertop that serves as both a work surface and an interactive panel for cooking. You can place a pot anywhere, and the control will be done via a display.

Home appliance manufacturers are increasingly concerned about the ecological footprint of using various gadgets. In the future, dishwashers will be able to 'sort' water used in different washing cycles. The liquid containing cleaning agents will drain off, while clean water will remain in a special container — homeowners can reuse it for watering indoor plants or mopping floors.

The kitchen cabinet will continue to shrink in size, while its functionality will increase. Conscious consumption and household efficiency in action. With the growing number of gadgets requiring regular charging, even countertops will become wireless charging stations. That way, you won't worry about your tablet or phone running out of power before finishing a recipe.

The refrigerator will no longer just be an utility item for cooling food, but a personal secretary. With it, you can post photos on social media, send an email to your boss and call your mom. The shopping list will be compiled automatically based on the products already in the fridge. What about an exhaust hood that can replace a tablet screen? Thanks to wireless internet connection, you can watch videos and recipes without leaving the stove. No need to figure out where to hang a TV.

Until all these bold ideas are fully developed, we'd like to show you existing solutions for the kitchen of the future.

Kitchen of the Future: What's Available Today?

'Smart' Assistants

It's not necessary to outfit your apartment with 'smart' appliances to the fullest extent, but a few gadgets that make life easier and more comfortable are not a bad idea right now.

For example, the oven will send a message to your mobile phone when it needs cleaning or when the door is not properly closed, and can even shut itself off if food starts to burn. How pleasant it is to start the day with a refreshing cup of coffee that's already made while you're making the bed — of course, not without the help of a smart coffee machine controlled from your smartphone.

Innovative Materials

Less wood, more modern durable materials — this is the direction many foreign furniture manufacturers have chosen. Today you can buy a cabinet with facades covered in so-called liquid metal. This material significantly reduces the weight of the facade, does not rust, is highly resistant to scratches or dents and has a stylish modern appearance. Perfect, agree?

Energy-Efficient Appliances

Conscious consumption is a trend of modernity. Kitchen appliances should meet new demands. For example, modern energy-efficient appliances rated 'A' not only reduce electricity bills but also decrease the load on electrical wiring. New dishwashers use less water and detergent in one wash cycle than older models.

Design: Tatyana Sever

Individual Approach and Transformability

The era when you could only buy standard-sized cabinets has passed. Today, individual manufacturing allows planning a kitchen that fits as perfectly as a suit tailored to your measurements.

The height and size of cabinets, the distance between functional zones — all adhere to ergonomic principles. Or there's the ability to transform when necessary. For example, some manufacturers produce modules with sockets that can be rearranged as easily as moving a cup from the table to a shelf. No extension cords required!

Minimalism and Practicality

Despite the abundance of materials and design options, kitchens are becoming increasingly minimalist each year. This is not only due to fashion trends: it's easier to maintain cabinets with clean facades without handles. Brightness and atmosphere can be added using color or accessories.

Design: Mikhail Novinsky

Creating the Kitchen of the Future: What You Need Now?

New generation household appliances are multifunctional and adaptive. Gorenje Simplicity ovens remember the selected temperature for each program and, upon next use, offer either the last setting or the most frequently used program.

A countertop light is useful for growing and maintaining a home garden of herbs and greens in less time.

In the Gorenje Simplicity refrigerator, an intelligent system maintains optimal temperature regardless of how often you open it. The fridge constantly monitors usage frequency and adjusts the temperature automatically to prevent any rise and preserve food freshness.

In future kitchens, additional pantries, islands, and countertops with many drawers are indispensable for more convenient and functional storage.

For quick meal preparation, Gorenje's Simplicity collection cooktops automatically detect where the pot is placed and turn on the appropriate burner — either separately or in conjunction with another burner depending on the size of the pot. This function can be activated manually at any time during cooking.

The kitchen of the future cannot do without combining functional zones, such as a kitchen island with a dining table. With this layout, it's much easier to serve prepared dishes on the table.

On the cover: Design project by Mikhail Novinsky