There’s no place like home.
This phrase has been true, but especially for the last 1 year. A home used to be a place to unwind after a long day but now it serves different purposes for all family members. Our home is now a school, office, gym, restaurant and more.
As most people are spending a significant time at home then before the pandemic, change has occurred in home design and décor.
Pandemics have been linked to home design changes and improvements. The modern bathroom was in fact designed due infectious diseases. During the 1918 flu pandemic, home owners started installing small bathrooms on the main levels so that guests could wash up without roaming through the entire house. These powder rooms are a common design practice now a days.
Here are the four ways home design has changed due to COVID-19
1 . Focus On Cleanliness And Health
The biggest priorities for homeowners now are their health and safety. People are preferring materials which are easy to clean and antimicrobial instead of choosing materials which are trending.
Materials like copper, brass and bronze, which have natural antimicrobial properties, are seeing a boost in popularity. These materials are commonly used in doorknobs or kitchen cabinet handles and kill germs and bacteria on their own without the need to constantly use chemical sprays and wipes.
2 . New Colors And Quality
COVID-19 has introduced new decorative style trends. People are opting for calm colors to create a tranquil space at home. Softer fabrics, lighter colors and more natural light have become popular to create a serene atmosphere amidst the uncertainty and chaos outside.
At the other end of the spectrum, bold designs like dark accent walls and patterned wallpaper are also having a moment. In lieu of travelling or spending time at events, bold colors allow homeowners to celebrate new ideas and cultures from the comfort of their home. Bright colors can also be energizing and inspire creativity, which helps people who are stuck in the same routine.
As people spend more time in their homes, they are investing in higher-quality pieces that can withstand heavy use and last for years. This is especially true of home offices, where inexpensive desks used to be fairly common. But as remote workers make plans to work from home for the foreseeable future, they are investing in quality desks, chairs and storage.
3 . Multi-Use Spaces
Another COVID design change is rooms serving more than one purpose. The room that used to be just for dining is now also the epicenter for virtual learning. The basement that was once a storage space is now also a home gym. Homeowners are designing their rooms with multiple purposes in mind and finding furniture and décor pieces that serve multiple functions.
Desks and workspaces are being incorporated into bedroom design, and homeowners are requesting larger kitchen islands with built-in seating to accommodate more people doing a variety of at-home activities. Rooms need to be able to easily transition, which has boosted the popularity of modular and multi-functional furniture.
For years, open concept floor plans have been popular, but the pandemic has made homeowners shift to more traditional layouts with rooms that can be closed off to create individual areas. Instead of having virtual school, playtime and remote work happening in the same shared space, people now want to be able to close doors to give each person their own space.
4 . Prioritized Outdoor Space
Social distancing and business closures have pushed more people outside, but public outdoor spaces are often crowded. Instead, people are prioritizing their personal outdoor space. Outdoor spaces of all sizes give homeowners a place to cook, eat, play and exercise in fresh air.
Architects are integrating outdoor living into new homes and adding more porches and balconies. In existing homes, people are looking for creative ways to maximize outdoor living with outdoor spaces that serve multiple purposes.
The number of people who have started growing gardens has grown immensely since the pandemic began. Gardening serves as a relaxing mental health outlet for many people and also provides food instead of relying on grocery store supply chains.