As of 2020, the world that we knew by then, along with the lifestyles we used to lead, came to a halt. All of a sudden we found ourselves facing uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemics spreading through the globe, making us feel like we were losing control by not knowing what tomorrow might bring. So let’s have a look at some ideas on how to adapt home design to covid-19 lifestyles.
Not surprisingly, this reflected on our abodes which went from places we spent time at between work, to our safe havens protecting us from the scary world outside. Now, as you realize things might never go back to what they once were, you could regain some sense of control using the interior décor as the means, carefully choosing stylish home furniture that most suits your personality.
As you decide what to buy, what to exclude, and how to arrange the pieces conforming to your new way of living and behaving, you’d come to feel at ease. Given that over the year that passed the focus on our homes went from being places where we eat and sleep to places of cleanliness, comfort, and creativity, the following are some ideas on how you can best adapt home design to covid-19 lifestyles and transform your living spaces in these times of drastic change.
Foyers in the Spotlight
Interior décor projects looked a lot different in the pre-pandemic abodes as most of the focus was given to living rooms and bedrooms, whereas foyers, entryways, and mudrooms rarely got the attention they deserved. Well, now that we’ve all become germaphobes to a certain degree, things have finally started shifting to the advantage of these parts of the households as the bridges between the indoors and outdoors.
The need to have an area where one could remove and store all the items and clothes that get exposed to the germs outside to keep the rest of the home sanitized leaves plenty of room for practical home furniture. This includes pieces like multipurpose hall trees with plenty of hooks and storage compartments, storage with seats such as a bench with drawers, and display shelving or hall table.
In case you happen to live in a home that’s on the small side, and you simply have no space for an entryway, you could work with what you have by adding a chair and some hooks right by the door, then separate this area with a room divider. And, for the sake of cleanliness and low maintenance, keep rugs away!
Bathrooms with Hotel Feel
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As it became clear traveling would be difficult, if not almost impossible what with quarantines, lockdowns, and health safety measures, prioritizing one’s relaxation at home turned mandatory. Luckily, it isn’t that challenging to pull this through considering bathroom spa trends have been on the rise in recent years.
Taking cues from hospitality design, to get that level of relaxation that competes with five-star hotels, the suggestion is to invest in rainfall showerheads if you can’t fit in a bathtub with jets or your own sauna. Home furniture and accessories that amaze with the craftsmanship as much as functionality is also a must, so feel free to add fancy vanities, mirrors with compartments and lights, light fixtures, soap dispensers, and heated towels rails.
In terms of cleanliness, the key is in choosing natural antibacterial and antimicrobial materials. Surfaces such as quartz and quartz blends for the countertops, lead-free copper and brass for tapware, ceramic glazed tiles for flooring and walls, and sanitary and stain-resistant vitreous china bathroom fixtures are all nice options.
Well-Designed Kitchens
Considering many started doing food panic shopping in 2020, piling up on stock of basic ingredients and supplies, maximizing kitchen storage for perishable and non-perishable goods became a necessity. Not only does this refer to making careful choices with the appliances, such as choosing spacious refrigerators and freezers, but the furniture online stores offer too.
This could be anything in the form of kitchen cabinets, cabinet organizers, shelving, pantry and drawer organizers, containers, food carts, and wine racks that would help you organize your supplies.
As the post-covid kitchen is on the large side, if you can’t accommodate furnishings that provide extra storage, you could repurpose the garage, attic, or basement as your pantries. Moreover, since eating out stopped being such a great idea in terms of sanitation, many started turning their kitchens into their own restaurants.
Regarding this increase in efficiency, the future is marked by food prep stations, food processors, as well as appliances in the likes of bread machines, ice cream makers, and coffee machines. On that note, as this period also gave rise to home baking, with plenty of artisan bread trends taking the world by storm, there’s an expected growth in the popularity of flour grinders too.
Multipurpose Rooms
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The pandemic-driven daily life we suddenly found ourselves in seemed scary because most of the places we used to go to, like workplaces, gyms, theatres, and malls closed their doors. Shocking as it was, this helped make us rethink how we use our homes – spending more time indoors than ever before meant turning underused cellars and guest rooms into multiuse spaces for work, study, entertainment, and exercise.
Even if you don’t have the room to fit in all of this, if you’re lucky enough to have a yard, the answer lies in buying a garden shed and repurposing it into whatever you want it to be. Those who are blessed with spacious homes have the chance to make the most of the living space by creating stylish office and separate study areas for the kids with adequate furniture that would help increase productivity.
Individuals who want to go hard while staying at home and burn some calories could create their own gyms with suitable gear. Lastly, anyone into getting the ultimate cinematic experience should focus on the surround system and comfy chairs besides getting in the habit of making tasty popcorn.
Areas of Personal Space
Source: thespaces.com
With all the difficulties we went through since the beginning of COVID-19, one of the biggest challenges we faced was spending time together with others during lockdowns but now we need to adapt home design to covid-19 lifestyles.
As much as we love our families, relatives, partners, roommates, sometimes being in each other’s company 24/7 can take its toll on our relationships whether we like it or not.
It’s safe to say the pandemic has an impact on families, so not surprisingly designers are expecting there to be a reduction in the popularity of open floor plans, as there’s a growing need for personal spaces – especially in multigenerational homes. If you feel like you could do with some alone time to maintain your sanity and avoid clashing with loved ones, yet you have no room of your own, it’s advisable to create your area with home furniture.
It may seem impossible to achieve in studios, but establishing a reading nook, or a stress-free zone where you go to unwind and relax in the form of an armchair separated with a curtain or room divider from the rest of the home would do wonders for you. Being under the same roof doesn’t have to be stressful!
