Home Sweet Home: How Covid-19 Will Change The Way We Live
By Julie Muniz and Regina Connell
It may be hard to imagine now, but three years from now Covid-19 will be largely behind us. But its effects on how we live will not. Rather, the current pandemic will shape where and how we live for years to come, including the design of our homes.
Can a pandemic really cause significant changes in design? In a word: Yes. Disease has affected how we live for centuries. A major outbreak of cholera in 1850 London realized the need for clean water and sewer infrastructure. Tuberculosis resulted in homes with larger windows and balconies to allow in more sunlight and fresh air. Furthermore, the fear that dust caused disease banished heavy drapery from Victorian homes while also leading to the development of built-in closets. If you think white kitchens, subway tile, and stainless steel counters are trends of the modern era, think again. Their associations to hospital sterility led to their initial adoption in home decor after the 1918 flu epidemic.
What’s more, this is not likely to be the 21st century’s last pandemic or epidemic. Experts agree that the rate of infectious diseases will only increase with the rate of urbanization and climate change.
For most Americans, this was our first experience with pandemics, and it will be a memorable one. A quarantine that killed over 100,000 and left most of the country sheltering in place for upwards of ninety days is bound to have a significant effect on the way we think about the place we spent most of that time: home.
As we’ve sheltered in place over the past few months, we have had ample time to think about our shelters in general. For many, they have been found wanting. In the forth-coming years, pandemics will serve as societal accelerators, amplifying some previous trends, while quickly killing others. Many of the patterns discussed here are interwoven and connect back to an increased need to control one’s physical space.
Whether it’s the building of new homes, the kinds of homes that we’ll be looking to rent or buy, or how we’ll be investing in or renovating our homes, here are five patterns to watch for.
Wellbeing gets real
As we all struggle to get through months of SIP and other social restrictions, maintaining our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Wellness is indeed a theme that pre-dates Covid — way back in 2018 and 2019, everything from houseplants to hygge emphasized our desire to create homes that not only looked good, but made us feel good as well.
In the future, however, as we spend much more time in these homes, the need for our spaces to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being will be of utmost importance. And we don’t just mean a corner in which to meditate, the use of soothing paint colors, or a luxurious, spa-like bathroom. Moving forward, wellbeing will have a much more profound effect on the actual functioning of our homes.
If you have doubts, consider this: Pinterest noted that searches for home workouts jumped a whopping 329% in April, while searches for home self care shot up 332%.
Indeed, wellness is so important, many of the other societal patterns discussed here tie directly back to it one way or another. Given its impact on so many other aspects of post-pandemic life, this is one trend that’s not going away any time soon.
A desire for calm will reign. The Marie Kondo effect has had people decluttering even during the lockdown. Feeling oppressed by pandemic restrictions while being forced to stare everyday at their mountains of “stuff” have led many to partake in Kondo’s almost spiritual practice of cleaning out. If it doesn’t spark joy, it subtracts from one’s mental wellbeing. In an effort to take back control of our lives, we declutter, organize, and throw out the items weighing us down. Uncluttered house, uncluttered soul. This will play into house design with increased demand for larger closets and storage space — anything left after a Kondo-purge can be stored away. Out of sight, out of mind. And for those who don’t have the space but still want to hold onto the “stuff,” high end storage units with app-based cataloguing will save the day.
A renewed focus on toxins and pollutants. Taking care of one’s physical health, of course, promotes mental health. While some have always been concerned about bringing pollutants, germs, and toxins into their homes, others have just started to become aware of them. Even pre-COVID, that most democratic of brands — IKEA — was selling an air purifying curtain. This will only continue as brands start to emphasize non-toxic and even organic materials.
Homeowners and renters alike will also demand advanced air filtration systems, solar powered energy systems, and smart technology that can sense, diagnose, and remedy a wide range of air quality problems (not just carbon monoxide) before they’re even noticed. Technology platforms for intensive home monitoring already exist but are expensive and not widely used. As the need for home health increases and technology advances, these systems will become a regular part of modern living. Additionally, as all this new technology will need to go somewhere. A household nerve center that sits in a specially conditioned space will go from a nice-to-have by the wealthy to a must-have for the mainstream.
Cleanliness remains a priority. During the lockdown, we became highly aware of the potential for viruses to remain on surfaces. While the evidence of surface-transmitted infection is seen by many (including the CDC) to be weak, four months into the pandemic in the US, it’s still difficult to find sanitizing wipes. Consumers embraced cleanliness as something they can control (at least in their homes), and the phrase Covid-cleaning came into the lexicon. While no one enjoys spending their afternoons constantly wiping down every surface, indicators point to a longer-term behavior pattern, particularly as new products and services come onto the market making it easier than ever to keep a clean home.
The travel and hospitality industry are leading the way by investing in quicker, easier ways to sanitize large spaces. Hotel chains like Marriott have announced rigorous cleaning protocols including the use of electrostatic sprayers, hospital grade disinfectant, and UV light to sanitize high-use surfaces. Others are installing more touchless technologies from soap dispensers to doors. Further, United is partnering with Clorox to upgrade (and brand) their sanitation processes. Just as consumers sought to bring “hotel” towels and bedding into their homes, they will look to bring this new standard of cleanliness and hygiene into their homes as well.
While whole room UV-cleaning sounds intriguing, it poses potential dangers and is unlikely to become an accepted home practice. Instead, the technology will be used to clean smaller, personal items like your phone or keys. Companies like PhoneSoap are already producing such items and it is likely more will be released in the coming years.
Nature is essential
In the 19th century, as tuberculosis ravaged cities, people took refuge in the great outdoors, escaping to sanitariums that offered fresh air and sunshine. Today is no different. As Covid-19 (also an upper respiratory disease) has destroyed our way of life, the past few months have seen city dwellers venture out onto their balconies, rooftops, and stoops to breathe and connect with neighbors. And sales of plants skyrocketed.
Fresh air matters. And the homes of the future — even in urban centers — will prioritize it.
For many during SIP, outdoor recreation has been one of the few times they’ve been allowed to leave the security of their homes.This yearning for the great outdoors will only increase as days get longer and social restrictions ease. Many cities are already discussing possible street closures in order to allow the hard-hit restaurant industry more room for outdoor dining. What’s more, as fear of food shortages stripped grocery stores clean, interest in urban farming has taken off. Suddenly people are panic buying seeds, garden beds, and even baby chicks.
But don’t think the call of mother nature will vanish come the fall. As climate change continues to wreak havoc on our weather systems, and as pandemics and disease continue to proliferate, consumers will find ways to make the outdoors a viable part of their domestic environment.
Thus, when it comes to the design of our homes, the yen for fresh air will be met through architectural and design features that further bring the outdoors in — and the indoors out. Large deck spaces, generously-sized porches, open atriums, solariums, and private courtyards will become prominent in new homes and developments. And for many, these outdoor spaces will feature built-in amenities including heating and cooling systems.
The new farmstead. For those who’ve cultivated a taste for growing their own food, home hydroponics and indoor gardening systems can feed this urge throughout the seasons. Such systems are on the market currently but tend to be countertop models suitable for small herbs and not much else. Larger, stacked systems are available today but can be prohibitively expensive. As advancements in hydroponics filter down to broader consumer use, these systems will become more affordable allowing urban farmers to fit space-saving gardens into their kitchens.
Multi-family developments in temperate climes will come with old-school allotments for residents and even in-house, indoor, high-tech greenhouses where residents can pick up the freshest vegetables and herbs for their salads, without ever going to the grocery store.
The regenerative home. For the last few years, there’s been a growing push to move beyond sustainability to regeneration: in other words, to improve the planet’s health, rather than to preserve it in its depleted state. Regenerative principles are being applied in agriculture, urban planning — and in architecture. This would include Net Zero homes (that produce more energy than they consume); thermally-efficient construction; green roofs and skins; rainwater collection; and regenerative landscape design. Progressively- minded homeowners — especially those with a strong appreciation of nature — will begin to incorporate regenerative design and building principles into their homes, creating homes that actually give back to the environment.
Mo’ Space, mo’ better
During the Great Lockdown one thing became clear: space matters. For the past couple of months we’ve watched as journalists reported the news from tiny NYC apartments; commiserated with friends sheltered with stir-crazy children; and shielded our eyes during Zoom meetings broadcasting our colleagues’ unkempt bedrooms. We’ve also watched as some escaped urban hotspots to rural homes with access to fresh air and open trails. Or read about others who fled the U.S. altogether only to become stuck in travel limbo in beautiful tropical havens.
Suddenly the thought of a micro home seems a lot less desirable (if it ever really was to begin with). As more of us discover the joy of baking (yes, even New Yorkers), do micro kitchens seem practical? Not in a post-Covid world.
Many will move from high-cost city centers to smaller towns and “second tier” cities such as Nashville, Pittsburgh, Denver, or Austin. This extends a trend that had been well underway for several years. (For example, US Census data released last December showed California’s population in 2018 and 2019 grew by its smallest percentage in more than a century.) Employers are helping: companies — including tech firms — in high cost-of-living states like California and New York are moving their headquarters or significant operations to small cities.
Wherever we live, though, it’s clear: the home means more, and has to give us more. This will give rise to more demand for true interior architects — not just decorators — who know how to maximize space.
And yes, dedicated home offices will be hot: remote working had been a trend gathering steam for years. But don’t assume that the workplace is dead. Recall back in 2013 when Marissa Mayer infamously put an end telecommuting? Things change quickly in the tech sector, and where it goes, other industries tend to follow. So while teleconferencing technology has improved markedly since 2013 and WFH is now the new normal, it’s not 100% assured to be the dominant way for all knowledge workers to work.
Privacy — inside and out
It was once fashionable to say that privacy was dead (as we lived our lives on Facebook and Instagram) and that the sharing economy would soon dominate our lives. In the years to come, however, we see an increasing interest in privacy and security, both physical and psychological.
Privacy — from within. In recent months we learned that our homes must be everything to every family member. If SIP has taught anything, it’s that our homes must function as a gym, a theatre, a restaurant, an office (or offices), a classroom, and most of all, a place for privacy and reflection. Even in the suburbs, in search of quiet, people are creating make-shift work spaces in garages, colonizing closets, erecting tents, and even taking Zoom calls in the bathroom. Suddenly, the penchant for large, open floor plans make less sense.
Personal privacy and storage will continue to be a premium in coming years. Architects will likely see clients asking for rooms with the ability that can easily shift from one purpose to the next, or can even be broken up into smaller spaces when needed.
A parallel trend — particularly in larger homes — will be increased interest in single-use spaces such as home offices and pantries, and even dedicated privacy spaces such as backyard she-sheds/man-caves. With the demand for sharing-economy unicorns such as AirBnB likely cooling for a bit, more and more people will convert their pre-existing units into better use by their own family.
Others with backyard space will look to build micro-homes. ADUs (accessory dwelling units) and one-room pods will become more popular as people seek to create additional spaces for work, working out, privacy, or accommodating boomerang kids or even aging parents.
Just as functional spaces and furniture will be important, everything coming into the home will need to work harder. Anyone who’s suddenly had to navigate a house full of people will understand the importance of wall, window, and even ceiling treatments that absorb sound. Fortunately, open office floor plans have prompted advances in these materials, making them lighter and more attractive. All this spells a good opportunity for industrial and workplace companies to get into the home market.
Privacy — from without. Delineating public versus private space strongly contributes to improved psychological well-being, creating a sense of security that outside dangers have been left outside. In Asia, it’s de rigueur not to just take off one’s shoes and jacket at the door, but also strip off gloves, masks, and clothing worn outside. While it’s doubtful western nations will adopt such behavior, Americans will sustain an increased awareness of such needs and look for ways to create a liminal space.
Proper vestibules, cloak and mudrooms that separate the front and back doors from the main living area will return to favor. In Japan, many traditional homes and restaurants have a genkan: a transition space just inside the main entrance of the house, a separation between outdoors and indoors, often featuring a lower floor where one removes one’s shoes and leaves them before stepping up into the house.
Another, newer need is a secure space for deliveries, which is sure to be a fixture of life for years to come. Sheltering in place drove an increase in deliveries of all types to the home — most notably grocery and meals, but also furniture, games, homegoods, and WFH supplies. As with other trends, this is a continuation of one that was gathering pace prior to the pandemic: e-commerce has been on the rise for years. While it may not continue to grow at its current torrid pace high levels, there’s no reason to believe it will go back to the way it was. Unfortunately, most single family residences are not optimally configured for secure home delivery. As a result, grocery and meal deliveries sit and spoil on the front porch — if porch pirates don’t abscond with them first.
Key by Amazon was an early effort to solve the problem, but most people are reticent to let a stranger into their home. What’s more, with the increased need for privacy, a more practical and secure solution must be found. We see attractive outdoor lockers or even lockable closets becoming standard in new house design: secure and climate-controlled, with customizable permissions to allow secure access to various delivery personnel. These lockers will also be designed with smart technology that alerts your cell phone once a delivery is made.
Welcome to Adaptive Living
The most important thing Covid-19 has taught us is that we need to be adaptable. Our lives will be forever changed by this pandemic — even when it’s behind us. In the future, the need for our homes to accommodate more than just the single nuclear family will continue to grow. Pew Research estimates that 64 million Americans (roughly 20%) currently live in multi-generational households and this number is likely to increase — 41% of prospective US home buyers consider the need to accommodate a parent or adult child when looking for properties.
How do we plan for a future of packed homes? The key is adaptive living.
For those stuck with open floor plans, finding ways to make rooms easily transition from one purpose to the next will be of high importance. Multi-purpose rooms will (must) become more multi-purpose with the ability to shift and change throughout the day. Again, traditional Japanese homes provide an elegant model of how this can be done. In Japan (where multi-generational living is common), many rooms do not have specific uses. Instead furniture is designed largely to be moveable so the space can change purpose as needed. Sliding screens allow rooms to open or close, changing the room’s configuration, while comfortable futons, stacked in closets during the day, transform a living space into a bedroom with ease.
Furniture plays a role, too. Many designs for space-saving, adaptable furniture already exist — and have for years. Murphy beds, convertible sofas, and tables and desks that fold out of sight have recently been given impressive design upgrades by companies like Resource, Bonbon, and Scavolini. Initially spurred into action by the micro-home trend of previous years, this section is destined for further growth as people search for better, easier ways to adapt their spaces and as their families grow and their needs change.
New builds and remodels of the future will not only have many of these adaptive features built in but will also return to layout with multiple, smaller rooms rather than open floor plan concepts. A wall that can transition from shelving to bed, or from desk to hidden storage, will become as standard as dishwashers are today.
Whether it’s the acceleration of changes that were already underway, or lifestyle shifts created by Covid-19, domestic design will be undergoing significant changes in the next 3–5 years. But for companies able to adapt and adopt, the future need not be scary. While this article covered the function and design of space, our next article will tackle aesthetic changes that will likely come from this pandemic.
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Julie Muniz is a design curator and futurist. She works with clients to identify and understand key societal patterns that will impact their businesses in the years to come.
Regina Connell is a design and brand strategist. Founder of Collective Work, she focuses on strategy, brand, and concept development for hospitality and related developments.
