The growing trend toward multifunctional kitchens has impacted many aspects of design, but nowhere is this more evident than in interior fittings and accessories. In a challenging economy that has consumers less willing to expand the footprint of the kitchen, designing greater functionality into smaller spaces becomes essential.

Additionally, demand for greater time efficiency means consumers not only want to maximize every square inch of storage space, but they also want accessories that simplify and streamline everything from meal planning and cooking to clean up, recycling and entertaining.

As a result, designers are being forced to think big and small at the same time. Organization and functionality are the buzzwords, but keeping the kitchen aesthetically pleasing is also key.

“With the hectic lives in today’s world, this new center of the household must be organized,” says Mark Mrozik, national sales manager for Hettich America L.P., in Alpharetta, GA. “Time can’t be wasted looking for ingredients or utensils.”

“Organization has become a key element in almost every aspect of a person’s life,” agrees Jan Fitzpatrick, customer & market relations manager for Grass America, in Kernersville, NC. “People are so busy that they have to be organized to fit in all of their activities. The kitchen is no different. One likes to open a drawer or cabinet door to find exactly what one is looking for, always in the same place, quickly and efficiently.”

One way to organize the kitchen is the concept of specific zones, such as food storage, food prep, baking, cleaning and recycling centers.

“Designers are selling these concepts to consumers as part of the overall kitchen layout, not just as add-ons,” says David Noe, general manager, Rev-A-Shelf, in Jeffersontown, KY.

Orderly Fashion

There’s no question that consumers are more space conscious than ever, and this has made organization an increasingly important priority in kitchen design. Additionally, kitchen accessories that promote greater convenience and time savings are also in high demand.

As a result, “You could say that kitchens are being built ‘smarter,’ with more of an eye toward value than extravagance,” says Daniel Tripp, product marketing manager for Häfele America Co., in Archdale, NC.

Consumers have become accustomed to better organization in other aspects of their lives, from custom closet systems to multifunctional cell phones to cars, so it is only natural that they would expect a similarly high level of organization in the kitchen.