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Interiors
How the post-pandemic house is shaping up.
How will the experience of quarantine living influence the design of our homes in the future? Jessica Doyle asks the experts
Living through lockdown has made us rethink our homes in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a few months ago. When all of life takes place within our walls, we need new ways to maximise each space and make our interiors work harder for us. The early days of lockdown produced spikes in sales of pick-me-up accessories, but in the long-term, the pandemic is likely to have a more
Rather than walk-in wardrobes, we now want home gyms and yoga studios, pantries, playrooms and, of course, a fabulous home office. ‘People are looking to ensure their homes have everything: they want fully functioning, luxurious “bunkers”,’ says interior designer Sarah Peake (studiopeake.com), who profound effect on interior design, as we look to incorporate new habits, hobbies and ways of living. This could impact the value of our homes too. ‘Going forward, there will be a definite shift towards making the most of the space you have with versatile rooms,’ says Andrew Groocock, a partner at estate agents Knight Frank. ‘When it comes to selling, demonstrating that your home offers workable space for our new lifestyles will undoubtedly appeal to buyers.’ has seen an increase in clients wanting to incorporate workout spaces into basement conversions and extensions. With Zoom yoga and exercise apps likely to be an ongoing trend, ‘meditation room’ and ‘yoga room’ shot into the most-searched list on the home-improvement site Houzz during March.
In reality, most of us can’t have all the extra rooms we might wish for, so adaptability and smart storage will be key as we look to fit several functions into one space: a room with a sofa bed, a desk and large built-in cupboards for storing equipment could serve for guests, work and exercise.
Living-room layouts will also see some changes: separate clusters of seating will allow people to do different things while sharing the same space, and ‘relaxation corners’ will be set up, with a chair positioned by a bookcase or window.
The obvious place for incorporating antibacterial surfaces is the kitchen, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a clinical look: companies such as Lanserring (lanserring.com) are ahead of the curve by already specifying worktop materials like bamboo, which has naturally disinfectant properties.
The kitchen has long been the hub of family life, a situation that went into overdrive during lockdown. ‘With families cooking more together, I suspect kitchens as the heart of the home will become even more central,’ says Gandhi. ‘The storage of food, dry goods, and space for the fridge and freezer may all take priority and mean our kitchens become bigger, taking up more space within our homes. Families with new hobbies may also want to incorporate more functions into the kitchen – we’ve recently completed a project including a children’s baking station and a juice bar for smoothie-making.’
The look of the kitchen, as well as the size, could be influenced by these factors, too: for those using the kitchen table as their workspace, Richard Angel of designers Angel O’donnell (angelodonnell.com) suggests thinking carefully about layout and cupboard style. ‘Does it work better to have the kitchen table pushed to a wall with bench seating, to allow for work, and then pulled back out for evening meals?’ he says. ‘A simple change like this can allow the kitchen to take on two completely different looks and feels. Similarly, full-height retractable doors can be an amazing device when you need the space to change as the day goes on.’ Doors that are open in the morning to access the kettle and toaster, for example, can be closed when the working day needs to take on a sleeker look.
In a sense, the pressure has been taken off the bathroom: whereas previously it needed to be a functional space where a whole family could get ready for work and school by 8am, it has now, for many, become a home spa and salon. ‘Spaces that are dedicated to self-care and sanitation have become sanctuaries for us over the last few months – places to indulge ourselves and make time to enjoy daily rituals,’ says designer Arik Levy, who has designed a bathroom collection for Vitra (below; vitra.co. uk). ‘There will be a renewed focus on hygiene and people will be looking to recreate the spa experience in the home, with more luxurious features.’
The early-morning work and school routine might eventually return, and functionality will be important, but the desire for a soothing sanctuary is likely to be an enduring trend. ‘Expect to see organic shapes, minimal colour palettes and units that are easy to clean,’ says Levy.
Homeware brands are already coming up with the goods: John Lewis has relaunched its Ultra Soft towels, which are treated with antimicrobial, unscented peppermint oil.