Flexible spaces: how the Covid-19 lockdown will affect the design of our future homes

Before the coronavirus lockdown, 70 per cent of Brits had never worked from home, according to the Office for National Statistics. Fast forward nine weeks and this life-altering global threat has resulted in an estimated 20 million people swapping crowded and long journeys for smooth 10-second commutes to makeshift workspaces on kitchen worktops or the living room table.

While lockdown restrictions are just starting to ease, for many British businesses, allowing employees to work from home at least some of the time will be the new normal.

The big tech firms have started the ball rolling. Twitter recently announced it will allow some of its workforce to continue working from home "forever" if they choose. Facebook expects up to half of its staff to transition to working from home within the next five to 10 years.

Many more large businesses are likely to follow suit as flexibility and work-life balance become key to a happier workforce.

Big lessons have been learned from home during lockdown. We are now more aware than ever of the need for multifunctional spaces for living, working, exercising and schooling.

Houzz, the leading online platform for home renovation and design, analysed search data and consulted home interiors and renovations professionals to predict how the coronavirus pandemic could shape homes of the future.

It is crucial for future homes to be designed with multiple uses in mind, such as carving out dedicated workspaces or gyms, or creating rooms that are reconfigurable depending on the time of day.

After lockdown measures were introduced in March, searches on Houzz for “small offices” rose by 82 per cent, “garden offices” by 72 per cent and “desks” by 69 per cent.

Huge emphasis now needs to be placed on setting up space for remote working, even if it’s only a fold-up desk squeezed into an unused corner.

Richard Hobden, director, RHJB Architects said: “Making spaces work for multiple occasions is critical to being able to utilise every centimetre of space in the home. A comparatively easy win is to replace a divan or fixed-frame bed in the spare room with a simple folding bed. This can be a stand-alone piece of furniture or built into a storage wall, disguised as wardrobes. This will free up space elsewhere to create a multipurpose study, home gym or playroom."

Home gym space is also being prioritised, with equipment such as exercise bikes, dumbbells and yoga mats now needing dedicated temporary space - along with smart storage options to hide them away when not in use.

Interior designer Samantha Watkins McRae said: “One of the most effective and flexible design solutions for making your home work harder is found with bespoke joinery. Smart, well-considered bespoke furniture will always improve living and aesthetic, but now more than ever this can be used to transform a room into different functions.”

Spending more time in our homes - and paying higher utility bills - means many of us will prioritise energy efficiency and sustainability. According to Houzz research, energy efficiency is a top priority for 40 per cent of renovating homeowners.

Samantha Watkins McRae said: “The most efficient way to conserve energy with any conversion or work to a home is through effective insulation. A properly insulated home will ensure that energy does not get wasted and that thermostats don't constantly need changing.”

Low-VOC paints, recycled homewares and eco-friendly building materials are some examples of how this trend could manifest in the home.

"When it comes to ethical materials, we have seen cork become more popular, used in flooring and wall solutions for both residential and commercial projects. It is an incredibly ethical, durable material with amazing acoustic properties so it is perfect for flooring, and with its innate renewability, it is becoming more used in furniture. Natural grain, tinted or stained it is incredibly durable with a raw and timeless appeal,” adds Watkins McRae.

After being confined to homes with little or no outdoor space, some clients have declared to architect Tommaso Giunchi that “they will never again live in a house that does not have at least a small outdoor space”.

Many homeowners in the same position will agree, particularly after this year's sunniest spring on record. Demand for homes with balconies and gardens has surged during lockdown, while applications to adapt rooftop spaces for outdoor use are likely to rise.

"We are now finding that with families spending more time at home, the volume of space this offers, together with the intrinsic links we seek to create between home and garden, have become invaluable. Although somewhat cliched, the merging of internal and external environments provides the impression of greater space and significantly reduces the feeling of confinement,” said Richard Hobden of RHJB Architects.

Homes have also become safe havens amid the Covid-19 pandemic and this sentiment is likely to become more literal with interiors designed to provide comfort, security and calming wellness spaces.

Houzz says that less than a week into lockdown, searches were spiking for “meditation rooms” and “yoga rooms”.