The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has changed so much about how we live, work, socialise and spend time over the past 12 months. It is tempting to think of these changes as temporary, however, given what we now know about viral outbreaks and the likelihood of recurrence or the occurrence of other viruses, it is inevitable that some human behavioural changes will be of a longer-term nature. It’s also inevitable that our homes, social venues, public spaces and workplaces will need to adapt.

Looking at some of the new homes trends emerging as a result of the pandemic that are likely to become long term, there are a few key themes dominating.

Flexible Spaces

When it comes to new home layouts, flexibility will be key. Multifunctional space is not a new design concept, however, the pandemic has forced a major and quite practical approach to this. Previously, it was sufficiently multifunctional for a room to double up as a spare bedroom/home office space or playroom. In the pandemic-era, this is not good enough. We need for space to be simultaneously multifuncional during the day and for those changes to evolve in the evening times. For example, for families with two working parents and a number of children attending different school classes during the day, no single area will have the necessary sound-proofing.

Bedrooms will need to have deskspace that transform for sleeping, for relaxation, for learning and for playing – this is a big ask for any space, whether designed for children or adults.

Similarly, living areas may need to double us and home offices and classrooms, while providing space for exercising and engaging in hobbies. Dublin apartment blocks actually had to issue warnings in 2020 about using particularly heavy weights in home gyms during lockdown as, structurally, that is not what our homes are designed to do!

Home Office and Other Spaces

The coveted home office, which was once considered a novelty or ‘nice to have’ when buying a  home will now become a staple feature that must be designed into almost all new homes. High-speed internet access must be a given. Even dedicated home offices are not immune from the need for flexibility to double up as integrated home gyms or other such leisure and recreational activities. A space specifically designed for video calls is a very real feature required for the contemporary worker.

More interesting design approaches emerging are around entryways and hallways. Also, where space is available, people are interested in creating guest spaces, preferably self-contained, to accommodate family members when needed.

It might surprise people to know that the first indoor bathrooms were located near the front door as a way to halt the spread of diseases.

The trend for open space that dominated family homes over the past two decades is changing. While there is still demand for open floor plan kitchen/dining spaces, homeowners now require the ability to separate those areas at different times to accommodate busy family life.

Useful Smart Home Tech

Smart home technology has been a feature of contemporary new homes for more than a decade, however, these technologies have moved from novelty to necessity over the past year, with Alexa more likely to be asked about indoor air quality than simply be asked to line up your playlist or dim the lights.

This tech ranges from smart doorbells with access control, to indoor air quality monitoring. Energy efficiency is driving a host of new smart home technologies and this is likely to create the kind of behavioural changes needed for real environmental impact. Right now, this presents a greater connectivity of devices and appliances, with occupants having remote access and control over almost everything from heating and ventilation, to kitchen appliances.

Multifunctional Outdoor Space

The desire for outdoor space will not surprise anyone who has spent much of the past 12 months in lockdown, whether for self-isolation or in compliance with local government restrictions. People have a new appreciation for their outdoor spaces, whether these are large gardens or small apartment terraces and balconies. Outdoor entertainment and dining was never a strong feature of Irish homes in the past, however, for Summer 2021, it looks like all socialising will be done outdoors.