While isolated in our homes, we are becoming more gradually aware of how our spaces affect our moods, our ability to work, and our physical well-being.
New ideas are rapidly being brought to the table, from social distancing in public parks to a rise in temporary architecture. As people are restricted within their homes now, attention has been brought upon the way residences can accommodate the demands of this new, unexpected time.
Many people imagine that this newfound dependence on our homes will still be around after the pandemic subsides. As our homes begin to carry out greater responsibilities in our daily lives, we will need to consider more fun activities to maintain a positive and healthy balanced lifestyle. Based on current trends and concepts that have evolved during the pandemic, we have put together a list of 6 Ways Home Design May Change Following COVID-19.
1.) Newfound Importance in Flexible Layouts
Our affiliation with our homes has never been as superior as it is now, and this will likely go on and even increase after this pandemic subsides. If this happens, your home will need to adjust to a more significant amount of services and functions. Specified spaces for several activities, such as reading, napping, physical activity, and entertainment, will be necessary. Hosting a gathering with friends and loved ones, your home will require precautionary Design, allowing your guests to feel comfortably safe in your space. T&G has already begun to explore approaches to this possibility.
2.) Private Outdoor Space
Since the start of this pandemic, our love and desire for the outdoors and nature seem to have significantly increased. Simply going for a walk or sitting in a park has been monumental. As we’ve learned, during a pandemic being a public outdoor area will not guarantee safety.
Home designers need to develop more private outdoor spaces for every home type that is ready to expand. Our team of designers at Tongue & Groove Design + Build have been in charge of integrating the outdoors into even the densest homes, testing with rooftop spaces, micro backyards, reimagined docks, expansive covered porches, and balconies. Many also try to find a connection between their living spaces and nature, with folding glass doors combining these two areas together.
A trend amongst recent clients has been the request of resort-style living, which urges our designers to spend more time on custom-fit pools, outdoor kitchens, outdoor showers, firepits, and lawn space for activities.
3.) Home Office
People being forced to work from home, many dining room tables have been converted into home offices. Though getting to work for many no longer requires rushed or stressful morning, many are enjoying the flexibility of working from home, so much that working remotely may become the new norm.
If this falls into realization, there will be a massive demand for functional private offices to be an essential part of the home. Some have been compressed ways to integrate home offices into private outdoor spaces. Some ideas include a workplace designed in front of the home garden, letting one feel like they’re leaving their house for work. Another idea that our team has played around with is having the home office located within the guest home. Through client requests, we’ve noticed that they want to feel the comforts of working from their home while also creating a barrier between the house’s main areas and their own private sanctuary that serves as their office.
4.) A High-End Decontamination Zone
Mudrooms will switch from improvised spaces to equipped transition spaces and ensure designated areas for contactless delivery for packages and groceries; this will become a familiar space. Designers will integrate this focus on hygiene innovation in creative ways. Think of an amazingly elegant mudroom where guests and family members can sanitize in an environment designed to inspire one with a feeling of beauty, health, and safety before making their way into the home.
5.) Smart Kitchen Design
With people more motivated to stay home and cook, the kitchen’s importance has increased; butler pantries will become more essential as people want to make lesser trips to stores. Smart kitchen design will also be more critical, especially due to the rise of the hands-free method. This means more speech and voice recognition technology in the kitchen, controlling things such as lights, faucets, and appliances soon will be a necessity.
6.) Create Healthy Habits
Many people have resorted to at-home workouts. Where can you exercise when your significant other is on a work conference call? And the kids on zoom meetings for school? Home gyms have become crucial as the home office has become for many of our residential build clients. Creating a home-gym will become the safest trend. This will generate designers’ opportunities to incorporate their ideas on designing a loveable home gym and developing any outdoor space for an enjoyable workout.
If this pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we need more space to live, work, exercise, and relax at home. Tongue & Groove Design + Build’s team of expert designers are ahead of the curve and are ready to have a conversation about making your home quarantine-friendly.