'The kitchen will be increasingly personally configured in the future'

Sophie Werbrouck of the Van Opstal company from Belgium finds it difficult to answer the question: what will the kitchen in the year 2030 look like? Well... you name it! Can anyone predict the future at all? "In any case, it seems that all technological changes are happening faster than ever," she says. "Products are evolving at the fastest pace. But if I have to make a prediction: a kitchen will become more and more personal and consumers want to influence it. For example, by configuring it more to their own taste."

This is exactly where Sophie believes the challenge for the kitchen industry lies. "The consumer is naturally much better informed than before about what is possible. They get their inspiration from multiple places and that then gives them ideas of how they want to furnish or design their own kitchen. While the kitchen industry already responds to this fairly well, it will continue. Compare it to configuring a new car. There, the consumer has a lot of direction. I think the kitchen industry is moving in that direction as well. However, this will require kitchen manufacturers to face new challenges in terms of their own digitalization and getting your sales structure in order. More customization in the products you supply is therefore a must if you want to survive in this market."

In addition, Sophie sees two other developments. "It will come as no surprise that in recent years the kitchen has become much more of a living space. It will continue to be. Therefore, there will also be more demand for high-tech around The Internet Of Things. Connectivity will increase tremendously. And as a result, so will convenience. In the oven, no more apple pie need fail."

"At the same time, I see that living and living spaces in homes are getting smaller. Therefore, the focus on providing convenience in those more limited square footage will continue to be as great - if not greater. However, it all has to remain affordable. I don't need to tell anyone about inflation: everything is getting more and more expensive. We, too, see that consumers are already calculating much more in the meantime. Not so surprising: you can only spend a euro once. So there too lies the challenge for the kitchen industry. Nice of course all those technical gadgets that make life easier, but will people still be able to afford them at some point?"

Yet at the same time, Sophie believes that the "look and feel" of the kitchen in 2030 will not be too different from what the kitchen looks like today - anno 2023. "One thing is for sure: sustainability will be an even bigger part. But fortunately all of us in the industry are already well on our way to achieving that."

About Van Opstal

The company Van Opstal - based in Aartselaar (Belgium) imports furniture fittings and accessories for the kitchen, furniture and interior design industries. Van Opstal has existed since 1959 and is a true family business. Currently, the second generation is at the helm under the leadership of Jacques Werbrouck, who this year -2023- is now 40 years with the company. His daughter Sophie, meanwhile, has been with the company for just over three years.