It’s an understatement to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the world operates this past year. You watch a movie now and it seems so foreign that people are partying at crowded clubs and not wearing masks in all public places. A lot of the changes, like at schools, restaurants, and in healthcare, are obvious and happened right away. But there are some changes that will continue to happen going forward, in places you might not expect. One of these ways is how COVID will affect interior design.
Remember back in March and the few months after where our home was basically our whole world? I think some of us realized during that time that there was a huge disconnect between what we had and what we needed when it came to our homes. So we adapted. And some of those adaptations have stuck even once we began to leave a little more.
here’s my take on how COVID will affect interior design — now and in the future
The overall theme that I’m gonna call: intentionality. Whether that intentionality translates into practical or emotional aspects will vary. But I think we all realized that decorating your home just to decorate it or fit a trend is a thumbs down. We all know more than ever how important home is, so we wanna try our best to make decisions that will make our lives easier, prettier, and more fulfilled.
more multi-purpose spaces
This is an obvious one. How many people were working from their bed or dining table? Doesn’t work so well if the space wasn’t made for it.
Not everyone has the privilege of having their own home office or home gym. So for a lot of people, rooms had to do double (or triple) duty these last couple of months. For most people, it was probably fitting in a home office, but it could also be a gym, meditation space, or a filming studio. And it was harrrrrd.
Granted, we hopefully won’t all be forced to be in the house for that much longer, but I think we all realized the value of having a multi-purpose space for when we do need it. I predict that going forward, spaces that are fully equipped to transform are going to be a huge trend.
This could mean adjustable room dividers, pull-down desks, disguisable weight racks, or other flexible solutions. I think New Yorkers in their tiny little $2800 studio apartments have already been on this wave for a while, and the rest of the design world, especially the budget-and-space-conscious, is finally hopping on it now.
surround yourself with what makes you feel good
I am and have always been a proponent of designing with your happiness and comfort in mind. Last year only further solidified that belief.
You could have the trendiest, most expensive shit in the world in your house. But if it feels like a museum or like it belongs to someone else, you’re not doing yourself any favors. If there’s one good thing about not being able to gather with friends and family much, it’s that we could kinda let go of the idea of impressing other people with our homes. When we relieve ourselves of this pressure, we can create a place that fills us up.
There’s nothing better to point out the fact that you didn’t decorate for yourself than being stuck in it 24/7. Looking at the same 4 walls all day every day can make you realize you have a lot of shit you hate. And we don’t have room for that. A home should be a representation of your own personal style, and every single thing in it should bring you either joy or function.
Who doesn’t wanna wake up every morning and smile at the space they’re surrounded by? Whether it’s a mansion or a tiny apartment. Personalized decoration can go a long way.
dope outside spaces or bringing the outside inside
One of the things that I am extremely fucking thankful for is the fact that I have a balcony. Fresh air saved me from many a mental breakdowns when we were all cooped up. It gave me a little escape and helped me clear my mind.
Again, hopefully the lockdowns will soon be behind us, but I don’t think having great outdoor spaces is going to go out of style. This is something that I think many people neglected design-wise before. Your balcony or yard was just kinda there. Maybe you had a few chairs thrown out there, but not much else. But realistically, it’s like a whole other room in your house. I’ve loved seeing backyard or balcony transformations and all the different possibilities there are with those areas.
Plus, I know that my germaphobe has fully come out to play for good. So even once it is safe to have gatherings again, outside gatherings are so much safer and more sanitary. We’re all gonna be drooling over the backyards that are custom-made for chillin and entertaining.
Another trend that might be able to compensate for those who don’t have access to outdoor spaces: plants. I asked on Instagram what y’all have changed in your interior design practices since COVID, and plants was a big one. If you can’t go out into nature, why not bring it in your house? Not only does it get the oxygen flowing and the air quality poppin’, but it makes the inside feel a little less inside.
so the answer to how COVID will affect interior design? for the better
Like I said, what I think COVID did is just highlight opportunities we were fumbling before. Sure, we were surviving without a lot of these trends, but were we thriving? Nahh. We just needed a little nudge to get there. So it’s fuck COVID all the way, but I guess a few positives came out of it in the design world.
Let me know in the comments if there are any other trends you think are gonna pop up because of COVID!
keep it homey, homies
About me
Hey my name’s Hannah Michelle Lambert, the voice behind homey homies. I’m an LA-based designer, writer, and content strategist. I’m passionate about the intersection of productivity and creativity. I love talking about creative habits, technology, processes, and everything in between that helps me blend the Type A and Type B parts of my brain.
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