Rising Single-Person Households Drive Popularity of 'Minimal Appliances' Combining Function and Trend

Applying Minimal Design to Functionality... Increased Demand from Homebodies Due to COVID-19

Coway Noble Built-in Water Purifier. Photo by Coway

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] As the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs and more people stay home, interest in ‘minimalist home appliances’ is increasing.

Market research firm Euromonitor forecasted that the domestic small home appliance market size will grow by 8% from last year to 8.3205 trillion KRW this year. It is predicted to expand further to about 9.6238 trillion KRW by 2025, an increase of approximately 15% compared to this year.

In response, the industry is competing to introduce minimalist home appliances that retain the functions of existing appliances while catering to consumers’ lifestyles.

Water purifiers for daily drinking water designed to maximize space utilization

Water purifiers, considered one of the essential kitchen appliances, have also undergone changes with minimalist designs. Coway recently launched the ‘Noble Water Purifier Vertical’. It features a design using simple lines and surfaces and is available in six different colors.

This new product is the first domestic water purifier to be equipped with the ‘Smart Motion Faucet Function’. A smart sensor automatically recognizes the cup and only dispenses water when in use, retracting the faucet when not in use. When the faucet retracts, ultraviolet (UV) care is performed for 3 seconds.

It also features a ‘Smart Filter Sensing Function’ that allows anyone to easily manage it themselves. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are applied, enabling AI smart diagnostics to detect the current status, progress, and any abnormalities of the water purifier and provide voice guidance.

Bambino Mini BES450. Photo by Breville

Semi-automatic coffee machine that handles espresso as well as steamed milk

With outdoor activities restricted due to COVID-19, enjoying an Americano at a cafe has become a daily routine at home through one’s own home cafe.

Australian premium home appliance brand Breville recently released the semi-automatic coffee machine ‘Bambino Mini BES450’, which combines both design and functionality. The Breville Bambino Mini BES450 is compact in size and features Breville’s signature stainless steel design, making it suitable for any interior.

The Bambino Mini BES450 is equipped with Breville’s proprietary technology and a 54mm stainless steel portafilter, allowing beginners to easily extract cafe-quality espresso. For experienced users, four types of portafilter baskets are also provided to enjoy delicious coffee. The product exterior includes four buttons designed for user convenience, and the attached steam wand generates smooth micro milk foam with powerful steam pressure at 93°C, enabling the enjoyment of various coffees such as flat white and cafe latte at home.

LG Wine Cellar Mini. Photo by LG Electronics

A must-have for ‘Warini’ (wine + child) who love home drinking

The stay-at-home culture has expanded not only home cafes but also home drinking culture. Recently, home drinking culture is characterized more by light enjoyment than getting drunk. In this trend, wine consumption is rapidly increasing, and a new term ‘Warini’ (a portmanteau of wine and child, meaning wine beginners) has emerged.

In response, LG Electronics introduced the small wine refrigerator ‘LG Wine Cellar Mini’. It is popular for its practical capacity that can store up to 8 bottles and its compact size. Its slim and luxurious design makes it practical to install anywhere in the home, including the kitchen, study, and living room.

Additionally, the tempered glass blocks ultraviolet rays, and the triple-layer wine care system with insulated glass and argon gas reduces cold air leakage. Users can adjust the internal temperature of the wine cellar from 8°C to 16°C in 1°C increments.