The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way most of us live. Sheltering in place, in particular, has made many homeowners realize their homes can be further improved. In a survey by Houzz, 79% of homeowners said they now consider home remodeling and design projects after spending more time at home during the quarantine period. They said they want to make changes to enjoy their home more.
This pandemic-induced remodeling trend also signifies the changing requirements of homebuyers. Real estate experts project that even after the pandemic, buyers will look for the following elements in a home:
More walls
The coronavirus pandemic has killed the open floor plan both in residential and commercial properties. Now, people look for more walls and partitions for privacy and for discrete places to work or study. After all, studying or working from home comes with a few challenges. One of which is blurring the line between school or work life from home life. Walls can help bring back those necessary boundaries.
If you have plans to sell your home in the future, don’t hesitate to put up walls. Families with four or more members would greatly appreciate those walls. That’s especially true if they have experienced the struggles of sharing open yet cramped spaces with their loved ones with different daily activities.
Flexible rooms
While it’s possible to put up walls and add doors to divide existing spaces, the flex room may be a more suitable solution for most homeowners. A concept borrowed from office buildings, a flex room is a space that can be easily customized to serve multiple functions. Think of a huddle-room-slash-meditation-room.
How can you incorporate flex rooms into your home? You can start with the dining room. Replace a round dining table with a long, rectangular communal to make the dining area a workspace during the week and a spot to welcome guests when gathering and home entertaining become truly safe again. You can also apply the concept in a home office in a guest room. Furnish the room with easy-to-move desks, drawers, and other furniture pieces, so you can quickly turn it back to a bedroom if you have weekend guests.
Outdoor-inspired decors
Pre-pandemic, many people found exploring the great outdoors as their way to take a breather from their busy lives. But the global COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to travel these days. With travel bans and other additional requirements, people who used to travel often choose to ride out the pandemic at home. But they may want to stay in touch with their adventurous side—and they may do it through home decors. Even if the pandemic ends, they may want outdoor-inspired elements in their homes.
Adding rattan baskets and furniture can inject tropical holiday glam into any monotonous home design. In particular, rattan furniture pieces can keep backyards and patios airy and relaxing. These rattan pieces are best paired with patterned pillowcases, botanical or floral prints, and other natural materials like wood.
If you’re a designer, a contractor, or a homeowner going the DIY remodeling route, you can go the extra mile by creating outdoor-inspired doors. Engrave those doors with wildlife or tropical designs. You can use a wood laser-engraving machine to pull off the look. An engraved front door can make a great impression and boost the curb appeal of any home.
Large front porches
Front porches have long been out of home designs since developers have favored modern architecture. But they may have a comeback because of the coronavirus pandemic. Interestingly, front porches first became popular after the tuberculosis epidemic of the 19th century. The epidemic led to the creation of large sanatoria that open to the outdoors, helping patients get plenty of sunlight and fresh air. Later on, this open-air concept spilled over into home architecture, giving birth to those iconic large front porches.
Today, since people have been cooped up for months, they crave to have a glimpse of the outdoors. And adding a porch to an existing home is a less expensive way to increase your living space and outdoor footage. While you’re at it, you can install a lawn or improve it to make your outdoor space more relaxing.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many people are rethinking domesticity. And this can trigger changes in residential architecture and interior design to match the changing living demands of homebuyers even post-pandemic. So, whether you simply want to enjoy your home more today or plan to sell it in the future, the design elements mentioned above are a good place to start your remodeling project.
