How Coronavirus May Change the Way We Think About Home Function

The current COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the world is living. For the first time in decades, Americans are spending far more time at home and only leaving the house only out of necessity. This time surrounded by our families has required our homes to function in new ways. People are working from home much more than they ever had before, the dining room has become homeschool headquarters and the kitchen is getting a lot more mileage these days. Will some of these needs become permanent or will we have a short memory? Here are some ways that pandemic is changing the way we function in our homes:

The Kitchen

With governments urging their constituents to stay home as much as possible, people are cooking more at home. Across the country, restaurants have had to shift to serving only takeout and some have temporarily closed their doors to weather the coronavirus crisis.

All this time cooking has people reconsidering the layout and function of their kitchens. Most specifically, people are wishing they had more storage space for food and staples to decrease the amount of times they need to venture out to buy groceries and to have more stock on hand to prevent food shortages.

In terms of how this applies to the kitchen, this can be achieved with:

·       Better kitchen organization

·       Bigger pantries

·       Additional fridge or freezer space

With additional focus on the need to have several weeks of emergency supplies on hand including water, these features were already trending up before the pandemic hit. They could become even more important features moving forward.

The Home Office

One area of the home that had been trending downward in terms of need due to the flexibility of tablets and laptops is the home office. Before the pandemic, many homes did not have a dedicated office; in some cases, they may have multi-purpose room such as a guest bedroom with a desk, a formal living room with an office-like corner, or the infamous built-in kitchen desk. This usage may have worked when the home office’s primary purpose was to pay bills and store documents. However, many people working from home find they need a quiet dedicated functional office space (and sometimes two separate spaces for couples who are both spend a lot of time on the phone or via Zoom meetings).

Flex Space

Open concept can be great for the kitchen and living areas, but spaces tucked away may become more desirable for people looking to have a school space for their kids or a workout space for their Pelotons or Mirrors.

While we may not see a surge in home improvement investment to gain these new features, homeowners may look for ways to incorporate these now. When it is time to sell, marketing these features may pay off in big dividends. How has the time at home changed the way you look at your space?