POST-COVID INTERIORS:
How we treat our living spaces after the pandemic
October 18, 2023 | FW Luxe | by Joanna Sinajon
It goes without saying that the COVID pandemic is an unprecedented part of our modern history. For a time, the world seemed to have felt like it stood still, and life as we knew it during that period of time was not only terrifying but completely new. The world was learning to navigate and learn as we go to cope and to adapt. As with any historical event, there is this sense of before and afters, and with a pandemic like COVID-19, there certainly is in many aspects of our lives. It’s been three years since then, and we can most certainly see how the world has changed. Living spaces, their corresponding interior layouts and how we treat spaces are some of the things that such a historic event has influenced.
FROM OPEN TO CLOSE
Prior to the pandemic, open-concept interior layouts have been the prevailing choice for homes and interior spaces. The openness and illusion of a larger space were a few of the primary appeal of the open concept plan. However, the COVID lockdowns have brought about the realization that the open-concept plan has become less preferred due to its functional pitfalls. A large number of companies have offered a WFH option to their employees, and with this, homes have transformed into workplaces for the workers. Having an open plan poses challenges for this setup. Open plans where the living, office, and kitchen are in one great room can cause some issues for work-from-home employees. External sounds and movements that are brought about by having all of these areas in one can be distracting, especially if a person is living with their respective families. Not to mention, certain members of the household would have to give up the use of some spaces to accommodate the others. In lieu of the great room type of layout, compartmented rooms are more conducive for a work-from-home setup in more ways than one. Having a designated workspace creates a better sense of focus for a worker, and it gives them better privacy to be able to go about their tasks. They have a dedicated space just for work. They are free to be in online meetings without the risk of distractions in the form of sound and movement. It also allows them to separate their home life and work life with as simple as walking out of a room. The segregated spaces are also beneficial for work-from-home workers who live with a full household. Compartmentalized areas allow for simultaneous use of space, especially if each room has a dedicated function. One can now have a Zoom meeting in one room and one family member preparing food in the next without the risk of distracting one or the other.
A growing number of homes have now opted for strategically placed walls, partitions, and doorways to segregate spaces, almost like reverting to the traditional closed-concept plans but modernized and updated. The new and improved closed-concept plan is functional and answers the need for privacy, simultaneous use of space, better acoustics and segregation of home and work life.
COMFORT ZONING
Creating a great work-life balance can be difficult, especially if one’s work and rest spaces are in the same location. The onset of a work-from-home setup is comforting and comfortable. However, it does, in the long run, pose a risk of one’s work life bleeding into one's home life and rest period. Lately, zoning or space designation inside a home has been given emphasis as it helps in healthier well-being for people who choose to work remotely. Proper zoning in one’s space can assist in creating balance and make it so that a person can be able to designate themselves in accordance with a certain zone in the house. A zone for work where they can have complete focus on their jobs and tasks, a zone for respite where they can wind down and relax, and a zone for socialization where they can spend time with friends and family, can all be in one location yet still feel completely separate from each other; this is the beauty of creating zones in one’s home. This treatment of one’s space works well with the current and steady transition to closed-concept layouts where zoning is made easier since separate compartments act as the zones. Adapting our space to suit our needs is necessary especially if it promotes a better and more balanced way of life.
BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN
Incorporating the outdoors into our indoor spaces has also been an emerging choice. The lockdowns during the pandemic have forced almost everyone to the safety of their indoor spaces; access to outdoors was very much limited. Being shunted into a dwelling can feel stifling and promotes almost a sense of cabin fever. As such, access or the view of the outdoors becomes a welcome interlude during those trying times. This has carried over to the way interiors have been treated at present. The growing preference for large glass doors and partitions that seemingly give the illusion of the outdoors being an extension of the indoor space has become quite popular. It also never hurts to have a breath of fresh air from a long day of work, and this space treatment gives us just that.