The pandemic is forcing us to re-evaluate home sweet home.
If you’ve ever balanced a laptop on your knees while working from the living room couch or purchased a stationary bike and tucked it in your bedroom, you’ll want to read this.
Long before COVID forced us out of our offices and into our homes, new home design was on the horizon. Change does not come easily. So, the movement to consider new housing ideas stayed in the lane of those who could afford it. Home offices and rooms devoted to health and fitness equipment remained largely in the realm of the well-to-do. That could be changing, if only in small ways, as we re-examine what we love and what we don’t about our homes.
The need for privacy became most apparent when one child was in the family room doing homework, one was in their bedroom in a Zoom class, and the other was in their bedroom playing video game. At the same time, one parent was working at the kitchen table while the other parent worked on that laptop in the living room. The inevitable feeling of chaos, seeping in around the edges of consciousness gave rise to the desire to rearrange things.
Creative redesign options
Home design and remodeling, done creatively, can turn spaces designed for one thing into dual purposes areas. An alcove might be enclosed with sliding doors to create a more private Zoom room. Or, that small guest bedroom could benefit from a built-in wall bed, that folds up to make room for a hide-a-way fold out desk to accommodate a home office. Many middle-income, cost conscious families are seeking space efficiency and more privacy.
Those who can afford it are either remodeling their current homes or moving into homes that have dedicated space for amenities. They want that health and fitness room, a dedicated home office and maybe a hobby/workspace in the garage where there is still room for the car. If their location and budget allow, other coveted amenities are being sought. They include big porches and backyard spaces to enjoy entertaining friends and neighbors while benefiting from the great outdoors.
Will work from home last?
The jury is still out on whether the work from home option will continue once the pandemic weakens. Proponents of working from home say workers are demanding a work week that includes at least one or two days a week working from home. According to Business Insider, a recent survey indicated that 40% of workers would quit if asked to return to the office full-time. CNBC says the Great Resignation is gaining steam. If all this is true, change is indeed on the horizon.
Whether you want to stay with that work from home option or create a space to make health a priority, we can help. If you are ready to explore options to make your home more livable based on your new priorities, please contact our office today at 415-450-9504 x700 (Marin) or 707-241-4944 (Sonoma). We’d love to show you some creative options to meet your family’s needs.