7 Exciting Design Trends for Kitchens and Bathrooms
See the smart looks and features for saunas, sinks and more that debuted at the KBIS 2025 trade show in the US
An outdoor sauna. An in-home ice bath. Customisable elements. And a workstation sink large enough to cater for the biggest of gatherings. Those were just some of the standout new products and features on display at the recent 2025 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas. Here, we highlight several eye-catching trends spotted at the event.
If a dry heat is more your speed, check out Klafs’ new Taras outdoor sauna. It’s crafted from sustainably sourced woods, aluminium framing, around 20cm-thick walls and mineral wool insulation. It also has triple-pane glass windows on the front and one on the back, allowing in views of nature. The ideal temperature? Try 87°C for 15 to 20 minutes.
Also turning up the heat is the Aladdin sauna by Effe. The indoor sauna features a mirrored border inside and out that gives the impression the unit is floating. Two floating wood benches inside add to the effect. The sauna won Best in Show for the Best of KBIS 2025 awards.
Find reviewed kitchen and bathroom designers near you on Houzz today.
Find reviewed kitchen and bathroom designers near you on Houzz today.
Too hot for you? Few things drew crowds at KBIS quite like the Ice Bath from Kohler x Remedy Place. The freestanding unit can keep water at a chilly 4°C. Try working up to seven minutes. Keep in mind, staying too long can lead to hypothermia so, you know, be careful.
The ice bath features ambient lighting and can be installed indoors or out with a drain and water supply. It also filters the water and treats it with UV light, allowing the water to be reused for weeks, depending on how often and how many people take the plunge.
The ice bath features ambient lighting and can be installed indoors or out with a drain and water supply. It also filters the water and treats it with UV light, allowing the water to be reused for weeks, depending on how often and how many people take the plunge.
Meanwhile, Kohler added several new features to its Anthem+ shower system, which debuted last year. The system now features the aforementioned Invigoration steam, as well as shower speakers and an ice shower function that drops the water temperature from 37°C to 14°C gradually or suddenly, or starts it at 14°C.
2. Endless curation
It’s difficult to overstate how prevalent mixing, matching, coordinating, customising, personalising and curating has become for many kitchen and bathroom products. Manufacturers are offering seemingly endless options for playing with styles, finishes, textures and colours for things such as cabinet and appliance hardware, tap and handle combinations, and other elements.
Emtek launched its new Transitional Stem line for its Select program. The cabinet hardware lets people customise the designs by mixing finishes, textures and styles.
It’s difficult to overstate how prevalent mixing, matching, coordinating, customising, personalising and curating has become for many kitchen and bathroom products. Manufacturers are offering seemingly endless options for playing with styles, finishes, textures and colours for things such as cabinet and appliance hardware, tap and handle combinations, and other elements.
Emtek launched its new Transitional Stem line for its Select program. The cabinet hardware lets people customise the designs by mixing finishes, textures and styles.
KitchenAid’s display for its new Juniper (deep green) and Black Ore finishes featured these interchangeable handles and knobs in bronze, brass and stainless steel.
Other manufacturers, including ILVE and BlueStar, touted their ability to personalise appliances in virtually any colour imaginable. KBIS was also buzzing with fridge-freezers, such as the Midea 50/50 Flex 3-Way Convertible Freezer, that have flexible cooling zones, compartments or both that easily convert from fridge to freezer and vice versa.
Alternatively, freezers, fridges and wine coolers in different widths, such as those presented by ZLINE, can be installed side by side or separately, depending on one’s preference.
A handful of KBIS exhibitors, including Samsung and SKS, showed off appliances with integrated AI technology that actually learns and adjusts to users’ habits and preferences – for example, recommending recipes and cooking times based on past behaviour.
Other manufacturers, including ILVE and BlueStar, touted their ability to personalise appliances in virtually any colour imaginable. KBIS was also buzzing with fridge-freezers, such as the Midea 50/50 Flex 3-Way Convertible Freezer, that have flexible cooling zones, compartments or both that easily convert from fridge to freezer and vice versa.
Alternatively, freezers, fridges and wine coolers in different widths, such as those presented by ZLINE, can be installed side by side or separately, depending on one’s preference.
A handful of KBIS exhibitors, including Samsung and SKS, showed off appliances with integrated AI technology that actually learns and adjusts to users’ habits and preferences – for example, recommending recipes and cooking times based on past behaviour.
3. Workstation sinks
The popularity of workstation sinks, which typically combine a sink with additional built-in work areas, keeps growing – as does the size of the sinks. We saw many extra-large designs, such as Blanco’s new Inteos workstation sink, shown here in a 45in (115cm) model. It’s also available in 30in (76cm), 33in (84cm) and 39in (99cm) designs. The accessories, which include oven-safe metal trays, fit all sizes.
The popularity of workstation sinks, which typically combine a sink with additional built-in work areas, keeps growing – as does the size of the sinks. We saw many extra-large designs, such as Blanco’s new Inteos workstation sink, shown here in a 45in (115cm) model. It’s also available in 30in (76cm), 33in (84cm) and 39in (99cm) designs. The accessories, which include oven-safe metal trays, fit all sizes.
Not to be outdone, Elkay launched this whopping 59.5in- (151cm-)wide workstation sink called the Circuit Chef. It comes with four chopping boards that can completely cover the sink, creating a continuous, substantial work surface. A two-tier design lets users layer accessories such as stainless steel colanders and drying racks.
Kohler launched its spacious Billings Neoroc workstation sink, which has a deep bowl with a right rear drain placement that increases workspace within the sink and maximises storage underneath. It also includes the usual accessories, such as a chopping board, draining board, colander and drying rack, a soaking bin with drain and a stainless steel bottom rack.
The Neoroc is available in three sizes and several matt finishes, including white, taupe, grey, graphite, brown and black.
The Neoroc is available in three sizes and several matt finishes, including white, taupe, grey, graphite, brown and black.
OK, not all workstation sinks are growing in size; some are shrinking to deliver high function in limited space. Ruvati launched the new Alto laundry workstation sink. The 30cm-deep sink features an angled wood washboard for hand-scrubbing soiled items, as well as a drying rack that can hold 36kg, doubling as a spot to place a soaking tub or bucket full of water. There are also 40 accessories to consider. The Alto comes in 21in (53cm), 23in (58cm), 25in (64cm) and 27in (69cm) sizes.
Ruvati also announced a small bathroom workstation sink intended for tiny properties and motorhomes. The company launched an outdoor workstation sink last year.
Ruvati also announced a small bathroom workstation sink intended for tiny properties and motorhomes. The company launched an outdoor workstation sink last year.
4. Texture
Also dominant at KBIS this year were surfaces begging to be touched. As in previous years, knurled, fluted, ribbed, chamfered and other textures ruled designs.
Kohler introduced the Calpa vanity unit collection, shown here in emerald green. The exterior panels feature a linear texture meant to evoke the look of reeded glass.
The collection, also available in white, comes in five sizes and several hardware finishes, and includes a rectangular vitreous china sink in white and a pre-cut marble-look quartz worktop.
Also dominant at KBIS this year were surfaces begging to be touched. As in previous years, knurled, fluted, ribbed, chamfered and other textures ruled designs.
Kohler introduced the Calpa vanity unit collection, shown here in emerald green. The exterior panels feature a linear texture meant to evoke the look of reeded glass.
The collection, also available in white, comes in five sizes and several hardware finishes, and includes a rectangular vitreous china sink in white and a pre-cut marble-look quartz worktop.
5. Versatile surface materials
A peculiar thing is happening with worktops. They’re showing up on floors, walls, ceilings, cooker hoods, you name it. That’s because many of the durable engineered surfaces commonly used for worktops are now being made thin enough to mount elsewhere.
Caesarstone launched its new ICON series that’s crystalline-silica-free and made with about 80% recycled materials. The Ocean Sage style is used in the kitchen shown here for the worktops, splashback and island cladding.
A peculiar thing is happening with worktops. They’re showing up on floors, walls, ceilings, cooker hoods, you name it. That’s because many of the durable engineered surfaces commonly used for worktops are now being made thin enough to mount elsewhere.
Caesarstone launched its new ICON series that’s crystalline-silica-free and made with about 80% recycled materials. The Ocean Sage style is used in the kitchen shown here for the worktops, splashback and island cladding.
6. Green appliances
Although stainless steel is still the go-to finish for kitchen appliances at KBIS, green stood out as a colourful contender this year.
True Residential’s colour of the year is Olive, a deep greenish-grey that’s pictured here on its new 60cm fridge, freezer and wine appliances.
KitchenAid made a splash with a suite of appliances available in Juniper, a dark green with a touch of blue and metallic flake. BlueStar featured its new 120cm Platinum series induction range cooker in an earthy sage, and Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens displayed its CUBE modular kitchen in a similar shade. The colour even made its way inside the newest dishwashers from Smeg in the form of mint green rack accents.
Although stainless steel is still the go-to finish for kitchen appliances at KBIS, green stood out as a colourful contender this year.
True Residential’s colour of the year is Olive, a deep greenish-grey that’s pictured here on its new 60cm fridge, freezer and wine appliances.
KitchenAid made a splash with a suite of appliances available in Juniper, a dark green with a touch of blue and metallic flake. BlueStar featured its new 120cm Platinum series induction range cooker in an earthy sage, and Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens displayed its CUBE modular kitchen in a similar shade. The colour even made its way inside the newest dishwashers from Smeg in the form of mint green rack accents.
7. Cool tech features
What would KBIS be without cool tech features? Grabbing lots of attention was FreePower, the integrated worktop charging system that debuted at KBIS last year and won the Best in Show award during the Best of KBIS awards. New this year is a three-way partnership that combines FreePower with James Martin Vanities and Cosentino’s Silestone worktops.
What would KBIS be without cool tech features? Grabbing lots of attention was FreePower, the integrated worktop charging system that debuted at KBIS last year and won the Best in Show award during the Best of KBIS awards. New this year is a three-way partnership that combines FreePower with James Martin Vanities and Cosentino’s Silestone worktops.
Also creating a buzz was Emtek’s new smart lock, EMPowered 2. It features fingerprint access for up to 20 fingerprints, so you can share with trusted family and friends permanently, on a scheduled basis or temporarily.
What’s great is that, in addition to fingerprint access, you can unlock it using a keypad code, a smartphone or a good ol’ key. It’s available now.
What’s great is that, in addition to fingerprint access, you can unlock it using a keypad code, a smartphone or a good ol’ key. It’s available now.
Wellness features have been ascending in recent years, but it seems they’ve reached escape velocity. You couldn’t walk 10 paces at KBIS without encountering a feature or product intended to pamper, relax, invigorate, rejuvenate or calm.
Kohler’s new Invigoration Series steam system epitomises the approach. The system has steam generators, controls and steam outlets to create a spa-like experience in 60 seconds.