How the Pandemic is Changing Home Design
In 2020, our homes became more important than ever. They became our refuge from uncertainty and the place where we spent all our time, working, studying, playing, eating, and exercising. This has lead to some major shifts in the way we use the spaces in our homes. While we don’t know how long these trends will continue, we believe many of them are here to stay.
One study showed that more than 70% of Americans were tackling home improvement projects. Another, from Realtor.com, said that 46% of Americans are considering making a move in the next year.
Here are some of the trends that we are seeing:
The Home Office
Of all the changes, the importance of the home office has probably had the biggest impact this year. The days of the local coffee shop taking the place of our office are gone, at least for the foreseeable future. People now need one or even two home offices, and many experts are projecting that this will not change anytime soon, as remote work becomes the norm for many industries. We have seen some creative ways to incorporate these spaces into homes, in nooks and closets areas, and people are creating attractive “zoom” rooms.
More Defined Spaces
A wide open floor plan with kitchen, dining, and great room has been popular for many years, with formal dining and living rooms often sitting empty. This has shifted again, as people are working and home schooling, one big space no longer works, and more defined zones are preferred. And when your daily commute is just a few steps having different spaces for work and play has become important as people navigate separating work from home when
Comfort Over Design
While we still love beautiful pieces and design elements, entertaining less and being home with your family more has lead people to choose functional, comfortable, relaxed furniture pieces over purely decorative ones, and to surround ourselves with the things we love, that bring us joy and happiness. Vogue says, “Think plushy, sink-into furniture, chestnut woods, warm colors, overflowing bookshelves (but not the color-coordinated kind, rather, ones stocked with tattered covers of novels you’ve read and loved).”
The Home Gym
The need to stay healthy (and sane) through lockdowns has lead to the resurgence of the home gym. Whether you were on the waitlist for a Peloton for months, or have continued taking yoga classes with your favorite instructor over zoom, we are finding ways to get in our favorite workouts from the comfort and safety of home. We predict that this trend is here to stay for a while.
A Focus on Cleanliness and Health
As we are more focused on our health, many homeowners have adding elements like air purifiers and HVAC systems with commercial grade HEPA filters. Touch-free light switches, faucets and toilets have increased in popularity, as well as smart home devices like voice activated appliances, thermostats and security systems. People are also adding antimicrobial fabrics and hard, anti-microbial surfaces that are easy to clean.
Storage is a Must
Whether we stocked up on canned food and toilet paper, or simply have too much clutter, finding beautiful and functional pieces to store our clutter is key. This may be in the form of furniture pieces, or custom closets.
Elevated Outdoor Spaces
Functional and comfortable outdoor spaces have become so important as we have looked to maximize all the space we have. These areas have become the place where we can safely spend time with friends while social distancing. Covered porches and outdoor kitchens and living rooms that can be used year-round are very popular. Sales of fire pits and patio heaters have spiked. Homes with pools and hot tubs are also in high demand.
Space over Convenience
A year ago, “walkability” was a buzzword used often in property marketing, and websites awarded properties a “walk score”, based on how close it was to shops, restaurants, and mass transportation. Now, larger lots, outdoor space, security and privacy have become premium features, and people are willing to drive a bit farther to have a larger yard or a bit more square footage.
Without a doubt, our lives have been forever changed over the past year. As the world begins to open back up, will these trends continue, or will we shift again? Only time will tell, but no matter where the trends go next, our homes will continue to be incredibly important.
If you are considering making changes or improvements to your home, or have decided that your current home is no longer a fit in this “new normal”, we would love to hear about it and help make your next move! Connect with us to find out how we can help make sure that you love where you live.