How Covid-19 Pandemic Changed Home Design Principles?

How Covid-19 Pandemic Changed Home Design?

Covid-19 pandemic caught the world in a whirlwind. As we navigate through the slowly settling dust from this grave health crisis, we are left asking, what next? We are beginning to take tentative steps in building this new world, and it’s set to appear a whole lot different.

We have become more observant and obliging towards our surroundings and emotional needs. While we try to craft this holistic milieu, home designs are undergoing draconian alterations. A momentous tilt towards sustainability, wellness, and work-life balance is the new normal.

As new homes become self-sufficient and mindful, people are rediscovering themselves in the process of refining their houses, often utilizing home design software to bring their visions to life with ease and precision.

The design industry, meanwhile, is resilient towards helping homeowners find the silver lining. They predict a positive impact of the pandemic on interior design principles. ‘It has challenged us to reassess the “old normal,”‘ said interior designer Sevil Peach, co-founder of Sevil Peach, London. Creativity and improvisation skills will be at an all-time high as we move towards a notably altruistic residential design and urban planning.

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“Architecture and design need to regain their inclusiveness and human-centricity, responding to real human needs and emotions.” The designer imagines the key lies in reinventing and creating designs that are fundamentally sustainable at its core. As people clamor for a progressively functional home, she explains that transforming spaces to suit the altering needs is vital.

Kelly Hoppen of Kelly Hoppen Interiors maintains that the industry is thriving; “However, the requirements for the design are changing. We had to think outside the box quickly.”

Quick to highlight the good that’s coming out of the whole lockdown, Joyce Wang states, “It’s made it socially acceptable to be a bit of a hermit and to socially distance. Now we are seeing project briefs that call for a balance of social and anti-social spaces to be designed.”

She says that while it is required to remain isolated from the world, there is no reason why we cannot thrive under the conditions. An invigorating built environment is the way to go, he quips.

Whether you find yourself content and basking in the backyard sun or frustrated and picking up pieces of your chaotic life, everyone has witnessed at least minor changes in the way they regard their house. As we navigate these layered and complex design changes in a post-coronavirus together, we have listed below the revised normal of interior design that is in for the long haul.

Read also – How To Revive Your Interior Design Business Post-COVID-19?

The kitchen became the heart of a home, and it has had to perform this function gracefully. With home cooking becoming the norm since the pandemic, chefs and novices alike have had to turn to their kitchens to churn out healthy and scrumptious meals.

Daily preparation of fresh spreads meant food and ingredients needed to be stored in larger quantities and longer. Thus the old pantry system was reborn. Walk-in pantries or custom-built storage larders have started popping up in many households.

Updated kitchen gadgets, refurbished cabinetry, and sleek countertops are now the rules. Immaculate planning and designing have been the need of the hour to morphed kitchens into a communal space of warmth and binge.

It is now commonplace to see an island or breakfast bar included in the kitchen where parents can watch the kids at study while cooking. They double up as casual workstations for adults too. Tackling an early virtual breakfast meet? Take a seat at the island with some rich, hot coffee. Can you almost smell the mocha in the air?

Read also – 80 Modern Kitchen Design Ideas

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We were always advised not to bring the office home. But, ironically, the past saw our homes getting converted to our office spaces.

Crouching on the couch was not going to cut it anymore. While not necessarily a bad thing, it became essential for people to allocate a well-equipped area as their workstation right in the middle of the house.

Having a spare room gave a head start and the luxury of designing a highly functional home office. However, most of the populace was seen remodeling every last bit of space available to fit in an office desk or study corner.

Read also – 7 Expert Tips To Design Your Modern Home Office

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Crafting an efficient and stylish work chamber became easier with custom-built storages, stimulating wall colors and wallpapers, ergonomic chairs, etc.

Plenty of sunlight became much loved, while planned illumination indeed became an intelligent alternate. There is also an increased petition for sheds, covered patios, under-stair alcoves, and attics to be converted to work-from-home booths.

Read also – 11 Best Ways to Create a Home Office Design

A perk of spending days on end at home was, realizing we don’t need limitless possessions. Instead, people are now only holding onto necessary and cherished belongings.

Clutter breeds anxiety and frustration. Once the mess is swept out, we are laying emphasis on the organization to increase productivity.

The solutions identified are strategic planning and orderly shelving, slide-out drawers under stairs, under-seat and under-bed storage, and hidden pockets, and cubbyholes. Free up that real estate, folks!

Read also – 10 Best Small House Design Ideas

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We now expect rooms to multitask strenuously, and dividers are here to assist! A folding screen or separator lets you skip solid walls while breaking the room into multifunctional, distinct spaces.

Screens in the living room can model as pieces of sophisticated art. We are drooling over the statement divider piece by ROOME LONDON in collaboration with contemporary artist SYRETT featuring his COCO print. “There’s no reason why art has to sit on a wall, to be art. I love the idea of people beginning to see that functionally doesn’t have to be boring,” expresses the artist. Talk about a show-stealer!

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Doesn’t sound like your cup of tea? Opting for storage to divide your room also works. For something airy, a backless stacked shelf keeps the layout open, letting light travel through.

Read also – 10 Best Gaming Room Decor Ideas

With the whole family cooped up inside, we are reimagining the floorplan and every last bit of unused space. Multipurpose living spaces are being fashioned out of old, boring stretches.

Rooms now need to transition from one function to another throughout the day. Stow-away desks and hidden storages are in focus. Guest and dining rooms are being converted into offices, and gym equipment, DIY hobby supplies, etc., are given a room in the attic and garage.

Read also – 15 Best Guest Bedroom Ideas

Stuck in a house packed with people or brooding alone in a cramped apartment, the lockdown has had people thirsting to unplug from the world.

As the concept of an open plan warped, it became customary to build personal nests amidst the pandemonium. A short detour into your man-cave or a designated niche to rewind, compose minds and bounce back more productive.

Such purposefully carved out self-care areas have become sacred, whether to catch a wink, hit the books, meditate, practice some revitalizing yoga, or indulge in art. Practicing what feels good in a quiet area is the agenda!

But maybe you are on a space crunch, and all you have is the workspace or master bedroom. Nonetheless, we are talking about reserving a humble armchair. To shut the door on countless emails and endless lists and worries. Keep a few candles and diffusers handy, and you can turn any corner into a cozy cranny! Serenity is the word!

Read also – 8 Ways Covid-19 Has Changed The Future of Interior Design

When it comes to hygiene and healthcare during the pandemic, we have had to take the bull by its horns.

A) Germ-Free Realm:

We are expecting the significant demand for sterile and antimicrobial materials in design to grow.

Metals such as copper and brass wipe out various microorganisms while woods such as bamboo, oak, and cork stop their growth.  The New England Journal of Medicine found copper to be far superior to stainless steel even. Seems like this recipe of light woods paired with these warm metals is here to stay.

While marble and hardwood flooring is a timeless classic, it has not been the best bet this season. So it’s astute to be choosing from luxury vinyl, cork, ceramic tiles, and bamboo flooring instead.

Poured and sealed concrete that’s practically impervious, lending an instant upscale-chic vibe to your home.

B) Scaling Technology:

To sustain good health, there is a scramble for touchless sensors, motion-activated appliances, voice, and app-controlled gizmos. Hands-free technology will continue to be fused into smaller devices too.

For example, the Kohler products use state-of-the-art motion sensors and advanced technologies like auto-close seats with light and self-cleaning wands that use UV light for automatic sanitizing in toilets.

People are also keener to install air purifiers to improve indoor air quality. Wirecutter reviews by the New York Times swear by the filtration efficiency of machines like Coway AP-1512HH Mighty and Winix 5500-2.

While its use against COVID 19 is debatable, other foul allergens like flu-virus, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, and other infectious diseases can be kept at bay. If nothing else, regularly ventilating the rooms will certainly “clear the air” of contaminants!

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C) Energy Efficiency Pitch:

Coronavirus pandemic sounded the alarm, and a majority responded by migrating towards a more sustainable and conscientious lifestyle.

With the spotlight on ecological and climate change, green-design features are highly sought after.

Primary products like reusable or biodegradable masks, stainless steel straws, and reusable beeswax wrap to the more lasting investments such as energy-efficient lighting. Consumers now fancy environmental-design features.

SodaStream Fizzi Sparkling Water Maker, bottles with inbuilt sustainable coconut filters like NAVA bottles, and Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller, which monitors your lawn’s watering schedule, are fantastic examples.

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D) Drop Zones:

Once a staple in pet owner’s abodes only, recently mudrooms have been a much-coveted asset to a house.

Before entering the house, a room fitted with a large sink and stocked storage to clean ourselves up and drop off our shoes, jackets, strollers, etc., is now mainstream.

E) Porch:

But, for those on a scanty square-footage, those above may be unfeasible.

Nonetheless, porches and foyers are now being deftly altered to hold disinfectants, sanitizers, washcloths, etc. Alternately, we can install the powder room closer to the entrance.

Read also – 10 Best Ways To Create Ec0-friendly Interior Design

Homeowners are currently savoring houses and terraces lined with potted plants and plenty of sunshine. Give Henry Holland’s tasteful planters a whirl to experience genuine glee!

With myriad mental health benefits, indoor plants make us feel productive, relaxed, and robust.

People are seeking to bring in the outside to improve moods and check loneliness. Isn’t it what we all want today?

Cannot keep plants alive? Go ahead, take plenty of peeks at the lush tree outside, and a breath of fresh air. It’s healthy.

Read also – 10 Best Home Garden Ideas

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Considering the lack of access to public spaces, gardens, backyards, and open spaces are modified to accommodate seating, sports, and leisure activities.

Throw a rug down, hang up a few lantern lights, and porches are mirroring al-fresco dining.

People are also dabbling in home-grown herbs and veggies to make sure of their origin and quality. So whether you own a sprawling garden or a box window, we hope you harvest a few sprigs of fresh peppermint for your tea!

Read also – 7 Best Design Practices and Ideas for Outhouse Designs

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Painting is one of the easiest and most effective ways of a room makeover. Society today is craving vigor from bold, stimulating and saturated colors.

Demand for bright patterns and prints, vivid wallpapers, and splashy tiles has been on the rise. Jewel colors like emerald greens and blues, a cult favorite recently, inject a glamorous sense of fun.

On the other hand, soft pastels like blush and muted shades of green, such as sage, paired with lightwoods, are famous for serenity.

There is also a powerful pull towards earthy tones and usual neutrals like warm whites and beiges, lending us some much-needed sense of security.

With their range of hues, greens offer great flexibility and remain the most popular color since the onset of the pandemic state experts. The color of freshness and new life, green, paints a picture of hope!

Read also – Color Theory in Interior Design

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Covid-19 has put the brakes on all our travel plans. Enter the vogue of escapism!

The marine freshness of Greece in the dining room vase or a dab of Spanish terracotta vases onto the kitchen floors- bringing exotic Mediterranean home is exciting.

Corridors lined with framed photographs hold enticing memories of far-away lands.

For the more minimalists, scattering collected keepsakes such as rugs, lampshades, vases, or even original artwork about the house cooled itchy feet!

Aimed at boosting moods, escapism is the perfect antidote to the pandemic.

Comfort and nostalgia

Home is our haven. When it also turned into our offices, we began pouring in bits of nostalgia and originality to escape from our hectic modern lives and keep the homely feel intact.

Thus, a resurgence of authentic, handmade, and organic items adorning our houses.

We are now paying homage to skillful craftsmanship from soft linens, natural rattans, jute to hand-painted artwork, hand-woven goods, etc.

The vibrant straw baskets or lamps from AAKS, a small group of artisans in Ghana, will be a one-of-a-kind addition to homes.

Read also – 40 Best Online Furniture Stores

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Light and stark designs, while soothing, fell short on zest and personality.

A widespread practice has come to bring in some punch by layering materials, finishes, and styles. Old with new, cheap with opulent, bold with understated. A blend to give the masses a tailored home.

For instance, pitfalls of clinical looking home-offices were side-stepped by investing in worktops fabricated from classics like quart but with a twist of exquisite brass or gold fixtures.

Similarly, we are throwing in a palatable mix of upholstery like linens with velvets.

Read also – 8 Best Office Decor Ideas To Design Your Workplace

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Although normalcy is right across the street, the future of interior design will never be the same again. This is because people are more discerning of what works for them and what doesn’t.

Gloss out realistic views of the plans you whittled within short minutes using Foyr Neo. AI-assisted tools like smart docking and auto-lighting, and an impressive inventory of pre-modeled 3Ds to choose from, it’s all you need to conjure up the utopia of a post-Covid-19 world.

Hopefully, with mitigated the risks of the pandemic and focus on personal well-being and public health, you will now be able to amplify the joys of a home, all the while maintaining social distancing, of course.

From farm to the table, we at Foyr Neo are just a call away!