The interior designer is advancing - and it is not without consequences

The open kitchen has now become so natural that consumers increasingly desire an interior that forms a unified whole. The kitchen is no longer a separate project, but an integral part of the living space. And that is radically changing the playing field for the traditional kitchen specialist. This will not be new news to you - dear reader. But the question is: Are you already acting on it in the showroom?

Most showroom salespeople have been shouting it for years: the open kitchen is the standard. And they're right. In the average new construction home today, the kitchen flows seamlessly into the living room. No walls, no doors - just a kitchen island, bar or wall arrangement that visually matches the rest of the interior.

But if you look closely, you will see an interesting development: with the disappearance of the kitchen wall, the obviousness of the traditional kitchen specialty store as the sole discussion partner for the customer is also disappearing. Because today's customer wants more than just a kitchen. They want harmony. An overall picture. A space where kitchen, floor, furniture, lighting and color palette are in harmony. And who delivers that? Exactly: the interior designer.

Interior designers have historically already had a broader perspective. They think in continuous lines, recurring materials, proportions between spaces, light. And: they often simply include the kitchen in their overall design. Not an island in itself, but part of a living environment.

That approach is catching on. Increasingly, consumers are opting for one party that provides "the whole picture" - and that is no longer always the kitchen specialty store.

From kitchen domain to living environment

So the key question is: Do kitchen showroom sellers already have this competitive battle in their sights? And more importantly, are they already taking action on it?

Because let's face it: when the kitchen is no longer a closed domain, as a salesperson, knowing only about fronts, handles and countertops is no longer enough either. You also need to know something about floors. About wall colors. Of furniture fabrics. Maybe even about sofas, lighting and acoustics. After all, an interior is more than the sum of its kitchen elements.

That doesn't necessarily require a career switch to interior stylist, but it does require a broader view. A realization that your advice affects the entire space. And that a kitchen that looks "loose" is less likely to sell than one that matches the rest of the house at a glance.

Five tips to be stronger in the battle with the interior designer 

• Tip 1 Ask about the rest of the house
  Start every sales conversation not with the kitchen, but with the customer's lifestyle and furnishings. What does their living room look like? What materials and colors are they already using? How do they live in the space?
• Tip 2 Work with interior design professionals
  Find collaboration with interior designers or stylists in your area. You don't have to invent the wheel yourself. By joining forces, you can offer the total picture as a kitchen specialist.
• Tip 3 Broaden your showroom presentation
  In your showroom, display not only kitchens, but also sample combinations with furniture, flooring or accessories. That way you help the customer visually and aesthetically put choices in context.
• Tip 4 Train your employees on interior design trends
  Make sure your team knows what "ton-sur-ton," Japandi or biophilic design means. That makes consulting conversations richer and shows that you think more broadly than just the kitchen.
• Tip 5 Think in scenarios, not parts
  Don't sell a "corner kitchen with an island," but "a spacious living kitchen for a family of four that loves to cook and lounge together. People don't buy kitchen cabinets, they buy a feeling.

The future is integral

So the rise of the interior designer is not a threat, but an invitation. An opportunity to reposition your role as a kitchen specialist: not as a seller of individual elements, but as a director of a spatial overall picture. Because if you want to win in the showroom, you have to look beyond the kitchen. Literally.