How the Pandemic Influences Home Design

The coronavirus is impacting not only lifestyle, but floor plans.

Many design elements in today’s homes exist because of changes in health and sanitation resulting from the 1918 flu pandemic, says an article at The Washington Post. 

For instance, powder rooms became popular as a place for visitors to clean up before greeting others in the home; subway tiles in bathrooms allow for easier cleaning; carpet and drapes no longer appear in bathrooms to reduce germs; and built-in closets tuck clothes away “and eliminate dust-catching armoires."

Like the 1918 flu, the coronavirus is impacting how people live.  Evolutions in home architecture, style, and use of interior space are already evident.

Garman Homes, a builder based in Raleigh, North Carolina, constructed a “concept home” that reflects how Americans want to live after experiencing the pandemic.  Some ideas they’ve incorporated are:

·        The family bathroom.  Found on the second level, this larger space accommodates parents and caregivers with lower countertops, a trough-style sink, and a big separate shower and tub.

·        The quarantine room.  This space can serve double duty as a first-floor guest bedroom, perhaps with a separate entrance, access to a porch for fresh air, and its own private bath.

·        A safe and secure place. The way people access homes differs depending on their purpose and arriving in stages can offer a greater sense of security.  Consider a vestibule that can be used for package drop-off and weather protection—eliminating any need for some visitors to enter all the way into the house.

·        More outdoor spaces like a covered outdoor area next to the guest bedroom are desirable.

·        Office workspaces are important to telecommuters.  Home designs include more flexible spaces that could be used as offices, playrooms, a schoolroom, or a bedroom.

·        “A place to unplug” for residents needing a place to be alone—the concept home “includes a ‘secret room’ behind a bookcase in the primary suite” for such purposes.

“During the pandemic we found new ways to interact, which all centered on the home,” says interior designer  Taniya Nayak, in a recent article at today.com.  “Now we are putting more time and energy into more uses and spaces of our homes and designing them for a new lifestyle today…”

An example: homeowners repurpose spaces like attics, garages, or dining rooms and transform them into home gyms, craft rooms, or even wine cellars as people stay home.

Take a home tour at CNN Business to see for yourself how homeowners are transforming their spaces to accommodate their evolving choices.

How has the pandemic changed your home design preferences?

Post authored by Lora Bray.

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