The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a host of changes to our everyday lives, but the biggest one is people who prefer to stay at home. It has converted our houses into sanctuaries, where we have to spend more of our time all day long. The work-from-home movement has made us understand the importance of a dedicated office, away from the rest of the house’s noise and distraction.
Whereas the extra time we have on hand makes us want to do things we enjoy doing. Some have also become familiar with the idea of remote work, and intend to do so even more often after the pandemic ends. This has also brought about a paradigm change in the way we choose to build our houses.
The lethal virus has made us reconsider our home layout, whether it’s the entrance, the kitchen, or the bathrooms. This is also expected that public places like schools and workplaces will experience improvements over time. The housing market is, however, still in the transformation process.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to reconsider our future way of living and building. From the notion of socially distancing public parks to a rise in lightweight, temporary design, new concepts are being rapidly brought to the forefront.
As people are now more than ever confined inside their homes, the way residences can meet the demands of this modern, unexpected era has been cast a spotlight. Many assume this new reliance on the home will continue after the pandemic subsides.
When homes continue playing greater roles in our daily lives, they will need to change to host more events and services. Based on current trends and concepts that emerged during the pandemic, we have compiled a list of ways in which home design may change after COVID-19.
At Home Office: The trend of work-from-home is likely to continue for a long time, with large employers already announcing a change to this practice by next year. It has prompted many of us to try an office room, or two if all partners work from home. Developers have also begun selling 2.5/3.5 BHKs to fulfill this requirement, where the extra 0.5 will be used for a home office.
Such home offices will not only be fitted with required facilities such as WiFi, internet, storage space, and office equipment but will also concentrate on more ergonomic areas with improved lighting and insulation to attend video calls.
Sliding spaces: People are also looking for ways to build open spaces that can be used for various purposes within their homes. Such flex spaces are rooms that can be configured to serve different purposes, such as an office, online study area, gym/workout space, or even a second bedroom. For efficient allocation of space, a versatile furniture style with multi-use furniture can also be implemented.
Mudroom: Thanks to hygiene problems the American ideal of a mudroom is gaining popularity these days. A mudroom is a secondary entrance that acts as a transition space between the exterior and the interior. It is a room where outerwear and boots should be removed and stored to prevent holding dirt and germs before reaching the main building.
With the increasing consciousness during the pandemic about cleanliness and sanitization, homebuyers are looking for mudrooms with a toilet, tub, and washer/dryer. This will ensure that everyone entering the house has the necessary facilities before entering the main room to sanitize themselves and their belongings.
Larger Homes: Also, spending 24/7 indoors makes us want more space just for ourselves. Also, architects expect an end to open-plan spaces, as people are searching for more private and functional rooms.
This raises the competition for space as different household members choose to spend their time doing various activities. While some may want to indulge in a new hobby, some need a quiet space for watching television or playing games, and children need dedicated playrooms.
Greenery: Staying in for longer periods means we realize the need to connect with the greenery and the outdoors. Owing to the pandemic, indoor gardens, vertical gardens, and terrace gardens would see a boom in residential properties. Besides reducing stress and purifying air, people often want to try their hands-on farming, so they can cultivate fruit and vegetables in their gardens without having to step out.
More Open Areas: The decorators concentrate on the use of germ-resistant and virus-resistant materials for different house components. Antibacterial fabrics and finishes, as well as products with deep-cleaning properties such as brass, silk, and timber, will be considered the primary design option. Even, durable polished plasters, calcareous stones, and marbles that can endure heavy-duty cleaning are favored over other traditional materials.
It will also include air purifiers, indoor air quality control, and new filtration systems along with ultraviolet lights that hold bacteria and viruses at bay.
Intact Technology: Until now, voice control technology has not been considered a requirement, but the pandemic has made us concerned about infected door buttons, elevator buttons, or any surface that harbors the virus. Touchless technology, such as voice-controlled elevators and switches, is about to be implemented on a wider scale, especially in shared accommodation complexes and apartments.
Smart homes will also see an upsurge as more people switch to voice control and touchless technology. Particularly the not so tech-savvy generation of senior citizens during the absence of a family or caretaker would find it useful and easy to use.
Modular styling: The need for more household space often significantly raises prices and is not for many a very economical and sustainable option. Some architects have come up with a modular system of apartments or small homes to solve this dilemma, which facilitates a range of activities.
These modular homes with adaptable configurations can be modified to provide different choices during the day, depending on the hour’s need. For example, they can offer living and dining space, separate kitchen and workspace during the day, and can be reconfigured in the evenings by compressing the living room to provide a master suite and a second bedroom.
Adaptable Design New Interest: The links to the home’s physical as well as emotional have never been through, and after this pandemic subsides this will continue and even escalate. When this occurs, a larger amount of facilities and roles would need to be accommodated in the households. Designated areas should be needed for a larger range of different tasks, including reading, napping, physical exercise, and entertainment.
Hosting a broader range of spaces for events would take a greater degree of versatility and adaptability. Designers have already started exploring approaches to this alternative. Woods Bagot, one of Australia’s design companies, whose AD-APT system uses customizable walls and screens to turn an open plan apartment into numerous dedicated spaces.
A Fundamental Need for Private Area: The love of the outdoors and nature seems to have significantly improved after the start of the pandemic. The act of only going out for a walk or sitting in a park was a monumental source of relief. These operations, however, do not guarantee safety amid a lockdown situation and are not widely available.
As a result, it looks likely to increase the market for home designers to provide private outdoor spaces for any form of home. Architects would have to figure out how to incorporate the outdoors into even the most compact of homes, playing with roof gardens, micro backyards, porches, and balconies.
Sanitized Inputs: Upon removing restrictions in China, customers are sprayed by a disinfectant system at a restaurant in Shanghai upon entering. A similar definition can evolve in residences. To keep homes secure and clean, entrances will become clearly defined transition areas where you can remove your shoes, hang your jackets, and sanitize your hands before you enter.
Systems for air purification: During the COVID-19 pandemic, air quality has become a significant focal point. People will start paying more attention to the air quality inside their homes by reducing the amount of unfiltered outdoor air that enters. Hence, we may see a rise in air purification systems that take in outside air, re-condition it and supply it to a building as fresh air.
