The 5 most exciting home and kitchen trends we spotted at the biggest housewares trade show of the year

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Business Insider sent our home and kitchen reviews editors to scope out the newest and most exciting housewares products at The Inspired Home Show, where industry stalwarts and up-and-coming innovators showcase their latest ideas. It's a chef's paradise and a home organizer's dream, with no limit to the inspiration of what your home can accomplish.

From the best cookware to air purifiers, there was no shortage of color and beautiful designs, sustainable alternatives, and smart home products spanning cooking, cleaning, smart home, organization, and decor. Here are the trends that dominated the show and some of the products we saw that we can't wait to get our hands on.

Connected cooking

We saw brands across the board using technology and smart capabilities to elevate home cooking. Basic small appliances are being transformed into sous chefs, recipe books, and multicookers. This trend has the potential to make every home chef deliver professional results.

Sustainability and alternative materials

Eco-friendly materials are at the forefront of home and kitchen design. From bamboo to recycled materials like ocean waste and wood fiber scraps, sustainable and repurposed materials are being used to make statements out of basic housewares.

Maximalism and color stories

The Inspired Home Show was an explosion of color. From earth tones and pastels to vibrant collections, you can coordinate your kitchen in monochrome hues, prints, and textures. 

Convenient problem solving

These days, we want our meals prepared and homes cleaned as quickly and easily as possible. In a keynote presentation, Joe Derochowski, Circana industry advisor, said, "Never, ever underestimate how lazy we (as consumers) can be." He identified categories of heat and eat and portability as major trends in housewares.

Space saving profiles

Home and kitchen brands have heard the pleas of consumers running out of space and are delivering compact solutions. When every inch of your countertop or studio apartment is at a premium, look for multifunctional appliances and clever designs.

What we're looking forward to

The Inspired Home Show is also a good launchpad for items that are not quite yet available but will be in the coming months. Here are a few that caught our attention.

Brabantia Refresh and Steam Collection: Foldable Steam Board

Brabantia has targeted steam cleaning as its next frontier in the laundry room and is launching a whole suite of products and garment racks dedicated to making steaming easier. This new foldable steam board is travel-friendly and takes minimal space hanging in your closet. It provides a safe and stable steaming surface instead of trying to hang garments over the back of a door or on a wall. Estimated to launch Summer 2024. 

Everest Home: Shoe Bench

Everest Home is a new brand devoted to making storage, specifically utilitarian places like the garage, beautiful and maximized with modular organization ideas. The hallmark of the collection will be its metal storage cabinets, available in three colors. We're most excited about the Shoe Bench, which lifts to reveal ample space for shoes, an additional front-facing tilt-out bin to access the interior while sitting, and a metal grated bottom with a rubber under-tray to allow for drainage and airflow. Launching May 2024.