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The immediate impact of COVID-19 has many people around the world wondering about its long-term effects on travel, events and everyday activities. While it remains to be seen how COVID-19 will affect our experience of the outside world, many are starting to sense how it will transform our inside worlds by redefining (and redesigning) our homes.
History shows that pandemics distinctly alter our lives and the spaces we inhabit. In fact, many key features of the homes we live in today – especially post-war bathroom fixtures like built-in tubs, pedestal sinks and lacquered tank-and-bowl toilets – were a response to the 1918 flu pandemic that killed 50 million people around the world.
The most exciting part of these potential home enhancements is how creative minds and engineering experts will collaborate to create a new standard of living. Whether you’re thinking about buying a home during the pandemic or any time in the post-pandemic future, here are some anticipated changes to keep on your radar.
Everything And The Kitchen Sink
If we’ve learned anything from the coronavirus grocery rush of 2020, it’s that it pays to be prepared. Kitchens of the future may be designed with more storage and pantry space to better accommodate buying in bulk. Many will desire kitchens with more freezer/refrigerator space to stock perishables.
As more people work from home (WFH), home kitchens will function as office kitchens, too. Those who WFH often find themselves meandering out of their home office and into their kitchen to brew a cup of coffee or eat lunch while answering emails. A kitchen arrangement that lends itself to a cafe feel will become increasingly popular.
Flexible Work Environment
According to a new report from MIT, 34% of Americans who commuted to work before the coronavirus pandemic were already working remotely by the first week of April. Because many companies have since invested in technology that allows employees to WFH, the trend toward remote work is likely to continue.
In the future, many more homes will have dedicated office spaces. Homes without a spare room to function entirely as an office will have intentionally designed, flexible, convertible work spaces in bedrooms, closets and even under staircases.
An uptick in WFH will likely influence architectural design in other, less obvious but just as intentional ways, including features like rooftop terraces for pacing on conference calls and strategically shaded outdoor spaces that offer a better view of computer screens. Multipurpose rooms that serve as home gyms and home offices might drive the sale of treadmill desks.
WFH requires access to quiet, private spaces, whether you’re living with kids or other adults. Even those who live alone appreciate the ability to shut the door and put their head down for focused work, or even just a meditative reprieve from the noise of everyday life.
While open concept floor plans have gained popularity in recent years for their spacious, airy feel, this trend is likely to pivot somewhat, as people search for clear divisions between work and home life.
The Great Outdoors
Statewide shutdowns of parks and playgrounds have given many people a new appreciation for personal outdoor space. Future homes of all sizes will be built to prioritize outdoor space. As more people become interested in growing their own food amid grocery store shortages, suburban homes will devote more space to residential gardening.
In high-density cities, even a tiny backyard with enough space to sit and enjoy a glass of wine is a luxury during quarantine. In urban areas where outdoor space isn’t attainable, design elements that maximize natural light, such as sunrooms and skylights, will provide sun exposure that’s crucial for regulating our moods and circadian rhythms.
A Safe And Sterile Fortress
Now more than ever, people seek safety in their homes. The future of home design will emphasize the separation between “home” and “the outside world.” Large entryways and mudrooms, where people can disinfect themselves and items they’re bringing into the home, will likely be a more desirable feature.
Interior design will strive to reflect and reinforce good health and hygiene. White tile, porcelain fixtures and stainless steel appliances will increase in popularity. Builders will strive to work with antimicrobial materials, such as copper, krion and Richlite.
“Smart” technologies that monitor air and water quality were already becoming more popular with homeowners, but some may seek to incorporate these features even sooner, due to the pandemic. Voice and motion recognition features that minimize contact with surfaces like light switches, handles and doorknobs will also become commonplace.
Future homes may even be self-cleaning. Emerging narrow-wavelength “far-UVC” light technology that has been shown to eradicate seasonal coronaviruses may be further developed for safe use in private residences. Minimalist architecture that casts few shadows will allow for more thorough disinfection using light technologies in bathrooms and kitchens.
How we heat and cool our homes may change, too. Traditional forced air systems may increase the risk of household infection by spreading viral particles in recycled air and allowing those particles to live longer by decreasing humidity. Alternative heating systems like radiant heat may become more prevalent. Well-insulated homes that stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter will become an even greater priority.
Positive Energy
There will come a time when COVID-19 no longer poses such a serious threat to humanity. But the pandemic has opened many people’s eyes to the increasing environmental instability of our world and the ways climate change could affect our health. This will almost certainly affect how we build our homes in the future.
Clean, energy efficient features like solar panels and battery charging stations will soon become the status quo. COVID-19 has shown us that a home is more than just an investment; it’s an investment in our health and longevity. As a result, technology, engineering and architectural innovation will accelerate so quickly that, 20 years from now, we won’t be able to imagine living any other way.