It goes without saying that the global pandemic had an impact on virtually every aspect of our society. From the way businesses operate to the way students learn, everything changed one way or another. It isn’t a surprise then that COVID-19 has impacted home design.
Obviously, the general architectural design of buildings hasn’t really changed – but what’s inside of homes is definitely quite different than before. Hence, here’s how the pandemic is changing the home design.
#1 Cleanliness and Health
Unarguably, one of the most important things that became a top priority during the pandemic is personal hygiene. This is why there has been a much bigger focus on cleanliness and health when it comes to home design. People don’t want to get sick, so new measures were implemented to make personal hygiene more accessible.
For example, more homeowners are now choosing antimicrobial materials such as copper, bronze, and brass for things such as doorknobs or cabinet handles. Smart homes are also becoming more popular thanks to their touch-free technology (e.g. automated lights and voice-controlled smart devices) which can reduce the spread of germs.
#2 Privacy
During the lockdowns, families were forced to stay at home for much longer periods of time than they are used to. Naturally, this made it harder for individuals to truly get enough privacy. One of the home design trends that appeared was private spaces that allowed both parents and children to work, study, and relax on their own.
It’s difficult to redesign your apartment to have more privacy, but homeowners have been finding ways to get some sort of privacy. Apartments with smaller rooms feel cozier and give individuals living together in a single apartment an opportunity to feel a sense of ownership when they have their own room.
#3 Energy Efficiency
The global pandemic has been detrimental to the world economy with many people losing their jobs and businesses going bankrupt. Those who didn’t lose their jobs were still forced to stay home and wait until they can work again. Prices went up which made it even harder to stay afloat for many families. That’s precisely where energy efficiency comes in.
Many homeowners started making their homes more energy-efficient. Whether it meant installing low-energy lamps instead of regular lights or rethinking their utilities, energy efficiency became a priority because it allowed homeowners to save money and survive the pandemic. Many such changes will likely stay even after the pandemic.
#4 Mental Health and Comfort
While it may seem that the biggest threat from COVID-19 was physical, many people actually suffered mentally as well. Millions lost their loved ones while many more were worried about the possibility of losing a friend or family member. Moreover, spending so much time at home and seeing how the pandemic just worsened had a terrible effect on the mental health of billions of people.
That’s why designers have adapted the home design to accommodate mental health and comfort needs. New colors used in interior design are softer and lighter. The quality of new items homeowners acquired is also higher so that these items can last longer. Instead of pure aesthetics, many people now focus on comfort first and foremost.
#5 Multifunctionality
Speaking of comfort, multifunctionality was another prominent trend that will likely stay even after the pandemic is completely over. Home spaces are no longer designated for individual purposes but are rather used for a variety of activities. It is much easier to have multi-use spaces that provide more opportunities for homeowners to utilize.
For example, dining rooms and living rooms became personal home offices, study spaces, and even at-home gyms. Many people decided to try things they’ve always wanted to try such as taking up painting as a hobby. This is why many homes became personal creative studios, pet-training centers, and the like.
#6 Working from Home
As mentioned above, many people were forced to work from home during the lockdowns. This meant that homeowners had to adapt their homes into their personal office spaces, even if that meant working next to their kids and pets. Unfortunately, getting distracted when working from home is extremely common. That is why many workers tried to find a compromise with their family members and roommates.
It was still important to look professional even when working from home. Therefore, many people had to find just the right wall to sit against during a virtual meeting with their colleagues. Unfortunately, many people who transitioned to working from home found it hard to handle all their tasks in this new setup which is why outsourcing became more popular. Agencies such as the writing services reviews site Writing Judge allow those in need to quickly and easily find an experienced writer to outsource writing tasks or content creation.
#7 Remote Learning
While parents had to work from home, students had to learn from home. Even though younger generations are generally more adept at using modern technology, there were still issues that learners and teachers struggled with. For example, the good old distractions such as students’ pets or the parents themselves. Consequently, just as parents needed more privacy to work efficiently, students needed more privacy to study effectively.
Some students who don’t usually study at home had to find a way to create their own study spaces whether in their own room or elsewhere. Many homeowners started purchasing furniture (e.g. desks, chairs) that wouldn’t take up too much space while being comfortable for students to use for an entire day.
#8 Creative Adaptation
Despite some people feeling lonely, isolated, and depressed, others found a way to feel more energized by pursuing their passion or hobbies. In some cases, this meant getting creative with a home design which became a creative outlet for many people. Because homeowners now spent almost their entire time at home, they wanted to live in a place that looks good.
For instance, many homeowners started repurposing unused spaces for something completely new. It is possible to transform an empty basement or attic into an at-home gym, art studio, study space, personal office, leisure room, wine cellar, etc. Smaller changes like giving the bathroom a makeover were also commonplace. Even if homeowners didn’t have a big budget to spend, they would find ways to use available resources in a creative way.
#9 Outdoor Spaces
Last but not least, many homeowners started focusing on outdoor spaces more. While renovating interior design was important, other spaces got more attention too. Gardens, backyards, balconies – all of these became the only places where people could go during lockdowns. Therefore, many homeowners decided to improve them as much as they could.
Those who had no time to the garden before now found great pleasure in growing their own fruits and vegetables in their backyards. Balconies became mini-gardens as well. You can convert backyards into spaces for sports activities, pet training, sunbathing, and even studying or working.
Conclusion
All in all, home design as a whole is changing due to the pandemic. However, homeowners are ultimately the ones making their own decisions. Use the information from this article to help you decide how you want to renovate your own home.
In case you have any architectural, structural, and MEP design including fire sprinkler design requirements for your home design, or need remodeling of your home, feel free to contact us. We provide you with the full permit set design + T24 for your request.
Author’s Bio
Lillie Jenkins is a creative copywriter and content writer. She has worked as a copywriter since school, so her writing skills are well-honed. She currently works as a copywriter at the popular writing center BestWritersOnline. Also, she writes publications in such fields as marketing, business, education, and personal life. More than writing Lillie loves to travel and read professional literature.
