How Coronavirus Will Shape Future Kitchens & Homes
No one has been unchanged from the affects of COVID-19 and the kitchen and bath industry is no exception. Now that you’ve spent months upon months within the confines of your own home, you’ve likely found inefficiencies and overlooked maintenance items that need attention. Is the wide open floor plan really the best layout with you working from home and the kids doing their school work from the kitchen table? Who hasn’t wondered if the toilet paper shortage was enough to justify purchasing a bidet? Do you long for a proper outdoor living space to make being at home a little more enjoyable? It’s hard to predict the extent to which COVID will reshape society and our culture as a whole. But on a micro level in our homes, prepare to see some of these changes. Architects across the country are forecasting the ways this epidemic will affect the homes being built or remodeled in the future.
1. Mudrooms-Psychological and physical space to leave behind stress of the day and germs on items we are bringing in to the house, mudrooms are the boundary between the exterior world and the interiors of our homes.
2. Antimicrobial surfaces-Cleanliness is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. What surfaces in our home can make cleaning easier and less time consuming? Materials like copper, quartz and bamboo and cork flooring, Antimicrobial surfaces are the ultimate form of delegation.
3. Outdoor living spaces-While some believe the front and back yards of our homes are the safest places to be, more and more clients are wanting this space to be usable and enjoyable. From pools to gardens, grill stations and nice seating areas, it’s time to reclaim this part of your home.
4. Open Concept Floor Plans-removing open concept floor plans and going back to more partitioned off rooms is a highly debated topic in the homebuilding and remodeling world. While some people still like the open concept because it gives them more of a feeling of “togetherness” with the other people in the house, that might not be the best option for those working and schooling from home. I believe we will see a hybrid version emerge of still some open concept but with designated school or office spaces that can be closed off for privacy and a quieter space to get something done.
5. Master suites will become even larger-Built in desks, seating areas, spa like bathrooms, master bedrooms are becoming the retreat everyone needs at the end of a stressful day.
6. Kitchens are more important than ever. Already the most important room in the home, kitchens are even MORE important now with shut down of restaurants and more and more people are eating at home. Expect to see multiple work zones for several people to cook together, larger pantry and refrigerator spaces and easier to clean surfaces.
7. Touchless technology-Motion sensors on faucets, light switches and voice controls for ovens, lights and televisions. These items are no longer a luxury but an expectation.
8. Bidet-adding a bidet seat is the easiest and simplest option for modifying your existing space and you are no long dependent on toilet paper-or lack thereof.
What do you think about these predictions? I’d love to hear! Feel free to email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com