You are what you eat—are you paying attention to where you cook your food? Sustainability is a key focus of every design at MOTIV, and we are sharing our favorite sustainable kitchen design trends to keep in mind when creating a healthy space for you and the environment. 

Trend 1: Net Zero or Energy Efficient

While high-efficiency (HE) appliances are common these days, there is now more of a move toward net zero or energy efficiency throughout the kitchen. 

And with so many new products on the market, upgrading to energy-efficient models often means you will make your investment back in lower energy bills in a matter of months. 

• Kitchen Appliances 

In addition to HE dishwashers and refrigerators, some truly amazing new appliances are on the market. The Wolf Steam Oven uses a minimal amount of water to cook your food and has a plethora of functions, making it a true workhorse and perfect whether you’re a culinary novice or a seasoned chef. For instance, instead of using a large pot of water to boil potatoes, you can use the steam function for perfectly boiled potatoes right on the pan—no heavy lifting required! 

• Lighting

Swapping to LED is a worthwhile investment. I love “warm dim” bulbs, which mimic the lighting temperature of a traditional light bulb as they fade. Creating a layered lighting plan that is both functional and appealing is essential to a sophisticated kitchen design. 

• Faucets

The design world has really stepped up its game, and there are many options for sustainable faucets in an array of styles and finishes. While low flow is a wonderful way to reduce consumption, some brands now incorporate aeration to maintain high-pressure cleaning power.  

As a bonus, these are all sorts of wonderful ways you can make your home more CLIMATE CHANGE RESISTANT. 

Trend 2: Reduce and Recycle

Yes, my friends, reduce and recycle can be applied to what is coming into your kitchen, not just what you are tossing out. By simply being mindful of the choices you make for your kitchen, you can open up a world of possibilities that you’ll never encounter at the neighborhood big box store. 

Reusing existing cabinets and refacing them or giving them a fresh coat of no-VOC paint is a wonderful way to avoid wasting cabinetry that is in excellent condition. 

I also love sourcing products made from recycled materials. For example, Paperstone countertops are made from recycled materials and come in beautiful finishes. For your flooring, a great option is to have salvaged wood milled into tongue and groove made from sustainable materials to reduce your impact. 

When recycling isn’t possible, opt for materials like cork or hemp wood flooring to ensure it’s been sustainably developed.

Trend 3: Composting

If you’re new to composting, organic waste is an incredible fertilizer for the garden when naturally broken down by microorganisms and insects. But when disposed of alongside inorganic materials, this same waste can become quite toxic as it’s trapped inside clothes and containers and cannot break down appropriately. 

When looking at the best option for composting, consider a composting tumbler or check to see if a composting service is available in your city. For those in Nashville, Compost Nashville is a fantastic option, coming in at just $40/month for weekly residential pickup. 

Trend 4: Air Quality

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: air quality is one of the most overlooked and yet one of the most important aspects of sustainability. Thanks to widespread production of low and no-VOC paint and finish selections, we now have more awareness of the critical role air quality plays in our health. 

Taking an intentional approach to the windows in your kitchen is also a wonderful trend. It’s not merely a decorative element, but it also adds ease of functionality and makes it much easier to ventilate your kitchen and let in fresh air. 

Finally, my favorite trend regarding air quality in your kitchen is ditching those toxic non-stick cooking tools. I recommend investing in sturdy pans made from layers of steel, such as 5-ply from All Clad or 7-ply from Wolf. 

If you’re looking for more non-toxic options to ensure air quality, you can also check out our Top Non-Toxic Materials for Your New Build. 

Looking for more sustainable trends for your home? Download our free guide, 10 Easy Steps to Remove Toxins From Your Home.  Also, we have some fun news! We’re developing an online course, 8 Weeks To A Deeply Nourishing Home, which will cover everything from low-tox living to feng shui. Sign up to be the first to know when the course is released.