Adapting to your ‘new normal’
This year has been an interesting year to say the least. Back in March, the COVID-19 pandemic ignited a complete paradigm shift that changed the world.
People quickly had to adapt to new ways of living, marked by social distancing, bulk-purchasing and taking shelter in their homes amidst the wave of uncertainty.
Since then, homes have played an increasingly integral role in daily life. They have been working overtime — serving as offices, classrooms, gyms, restaurants, spas, storage units, movie theaters and beyond.
With growing dependence on the home to fulfill supplementary needs, it is more important than ever that they provide the support needed to adapt to a changing world and offer a peaceful escape from the chaos outside.
After weeks of sheltering in place, you have had more time to reimagine the spaces you use on a daily basis and pay more attention to the things that bother you.
Studies show that the average person utilizes only 40% of their livable area at home, underscoring the post-pandemic uptick in home improvement efforts and growing emphasis on your relationship to your home.
As a result, many people have taken this time to reconsider their spaces to better accommodate their current needs.
With the rise of remote work, for example, many homeowners have invested in home office additions or transformations of existing space to create more permanent WFH solutions that are separate from personal space.
Physical separation is a key consideration for long-term workspaces, as it enables more optimal productivity and focus as well as the privacy needed for virtual meetings — looking at you, parents!
Consider the ways in which your home could better serve you during this season of uncertainty, then work with a remodeler your family can trust to develop a vision with your current needs and design preferences in mind.
This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certification and service to the Houston community. To reach the author directly, email. For information on this article, please contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a professional remodeler in your area, please visit www.ghba.org.