Months of staying at home has changed how people use their spaces and caused many people to rethink what they’re looking for in a home. True Homes is here to give you an overview of what experts believe will be homebuyer trends in a post-COVID-19 home.
Boss home offices
Working from home was becoming increasingly popular before COVID-19, but stay-at-home orders turned what was a preference for some into a necessity for many. While people who suddenly found themselves working from home initially adapted kitchen tables and bedroom corners into makeshift offices, homebuyers will be looking for comfortable home offices that can support long-haul WFH now that remote work has become part of the new normal for many companies.
Curated kitchens
The sourdough craze may die out, but our new relationship with our kitchens is here to stay. After regularly cooking several meals a day at home, homebuyers are more likely to look for stylish kitchens where families can gather and cook together. All this cooking will require ample pantries and abundant cabinets as storing large quantities of food becomes standard.
Living in the great outdoors
When community pools and playgrounds closed as a result of the outbreak, backyards and other outdoor spaces became essential oases where people could get some sunshine, kids could play, and everyone could stretch their legs. As people rethink shared amenities, homebuyers will look for private outdoor living areas where they can relax and entertain in a more controlled environment.
Extra bedrooms and flex spaces
Homeowners have been using their homes in new ways, so spaces that can do double duty are definitely in. Homebuyers will look for extra bedrooms that will be working harder than ever by functioning as both guest bedrooms and home offices, while bonus rooms might transform into a hybrid of a media room, classroom, and home gym.
A room of one’s own
After being popular for several years, open concept floor plans will be on the way out. The open design does make a space feel more airy, but everyone trying to cook, conference call, and attend Zoom classes in the same living/dining/kitchen space has exposed the fundamental flaw of these floor plans: a lack of privacy. With an increase in time spent at home, families are more likely to look for homes with dens, bonus rooms, or a finished basement to give everyone a little more individual space.
A bounty of bathrooms
Half-bathrooms initially appeared in the wake of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic as a way to keep visitors’ germs away from the main family bathroom. While these petite bathrooms have been declining in popularity in favor of larger kitchens or laundry rooms, extra bathrooms will see a comeback. The average American home has two bathrooms for every three bedrooms, but a higher bathroom to bedroom ratio will become standard to give each family member their own bathroom if they happen to get sick.