Covid-19 unexpectedly shaped so much of our day-to-day lives in 2020, it is perhaps unsurprising that it is already shaping interior design trends for newly-built/finished homes. And this trend is expected to continue through 2021.

The past eight months have tested the limits of most homes. By and large, contemporary homes have failed that test. The lack of space, the lack of flexibility of that space and indeed the previously-coveted ‘flow’ of open plan design is simply not conducive for individual members of a family to work, childmind, homeschool and participate in hobbies all at the same time. This is not a criticism; modern homes were never intended to fulfill the requirements of a workplace or school, gym, restaurant or retail centre, and yet it is doing all of                                                                  this, just not comfortably or conveniently.

Of course, one of the positive side-effects of this past year spent mainly indoors is that our appreciation for the outdoors has grown enormously, as evidenced by the increased interest in and spending on gardening, outdoor lightening, outdoor heaters and cycling and other outdoor hobby equipment. Also, the months spent inside our homes has reinforced our needs vs. our wants, to the extent that small construction jobs and DIY tools and materials are in sharp demand.

Flexible, multi-functional spaces

In this context, it makes sense that new homes developers are taking these recent insights and learnings into consideration when delivering new houses and apartments to the marketplace. By Summer 2020, we had already seen the start of developers providing gardenrooms/cabins and similar for home working or additional space that is flexible and capable of supporting  multiple uses.

Home offices

Following on from our point above, homes that can accommodate a purpose-designed home office will likely be fitted with one, given the expected rise in remote working (in part, at least) for the foreseeable future. Creating multiple workspaces throughout the home may be necessary to ensure two people can work from home at the same time. In support of this, UK statistics revealed that requests for home office design by existing home wonders and tenants had jumped by 40 percent in 2020, when compared with 2019 figures.

Antimicrobial surfaces and coatings

Clean homes have long been desirable, however, it is now critical to ensure the use of materials around the home that have self-cleaning properties. New homes delivered to the market in 2021 are likely to feature anti-bacterial accents in high-traffic areas of the home and buyers can expect to see a welcome resurgence of materials like copper, which have antibacterial properties, for doorhandles and faucets. Similarly, Stainless steel appliances and antimicrobial surfaces and coatings will become standard for kitchen surfaces.

Smart home technology 

Clean air sensors, touchless light fittings and voice-activiated appliances have all been available for the past few years, however, these were seen as a novelty rather than necessity. New home buyers can expect a marked shift in approach, with smart features being presented as standard. Branded new home/development apps are starting to appear in the Irish marketplace, providing a dashboard of real-time data and insights about the home, including prompts and recommendations.

Deeper appreciation and better use of outdoor spaces

In the past, Irish home buyers tended not to ask too much of their gardens, however, in 2020, all outdoor space became sacred. And gardens or balconies are not immune to the need to be multifunctional. In fact, despite the limitations of our climate, Irish people might finally be ready to embrace European/outdoor dining – albeit with better shelter and outdoor heat sources! New home buyers can expect to see more usable outdoor space.