In less than six months, Covid-19 has precipitated significant changes in every aspect of our daily lives with these changed behaviours also impacting on home trends, not least in the luxury home sector where there is ample scope for innovation, bells and whistles.
“The coronavirus pandemic will have a lasting effect on future real estate and design trends,” says Chris Cilliers, CEO and Co-Principal of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in the Winelands.
“Buyers are already looking for homes in different places, and with different characteristics, than they did before COVID-19 and I believe that many of the emerging trends will become established and remain prominent for the next few years at least.
“In fact, from the materials used to layout designs and amenities, post-pandemic residences are likely look notably different than they do today, especially luxury homes where financial constraints are seldom an issue.”
Cilliers explains the key areas in which we are likely to see the most transformation:
Larger Living Spaces
The past few years have been about compact, low maintenance homes with small, water-wise gardens but, after months of confinement, many people are now beginning to realise the importance of having a substantial living space, a dedicated home office, ample outdoor space and amenities.
Going forward, the ideal living space will be larger with plenty of room for everyone to have their own space as well as be able to get together to watch a movie, dine al fresco or entertain.
In countries like South Africa where the weather permits us to spend a lot of time outdoors, covered outdoor areas will be even more important and pools and larger gardens will once again be in vogue.
In-house amenities
We are also seeing an increased desire to create amenities within the home that offer authentic experiences of activities such as movie theatres, gyms and restaurants/bars.
Outdoor cooking facilities that comprise more than just a built-in braai will be a must-have for luxury homes. Designed with all the conveniences of an interior kitchen, outdoor kitchens are an extension of the home and can have any number of features, including a pizza oven, grill, refrigeration and washing up facilities.
High-tech home offices
The shift to working from home has created a new awareness that not only do you need a place for your computer but you also need a private, quiet place to have conference calls and Zoom calls and to concentrate undisturbed by daily family life.
Home offices are being outfitted with the latest tech to facilitate productivity and designer décor detail for Zoom chats and video calls and where possible, we can expect to see dedicated work areas for each adult and dedicated study space for each child with powerful Wi-Fi and connectivity throughout the property.
Health and hygiene
This will be foremost in people’s minds for some time to come and we can expect to see to safer and anti-microbial materials in terms of countertops and cabinetry features like air filtration systems no longer being an afterthought. They will become priority installations.
There is also likely to be a spike in demand for touch-free in-home technology to curb exposure to germs on surfaces.
In bathrooms, touchless fixtures like self-flushing toilets and no-touch bidets will become increasingly common. Companies like Kohler and Sloan have already accelerated their production of functional post-pandemic products, some of which use intelligent technology to be hygienic, convenient and environmentally friendly.
Better equipped kitchens
During the pandemic, we are all cooking at home much more than ever before with many people brushing up on their cooking skills and others discovering a new passion.
We can expect to see larger, beautifully fitted kitchens that can accommodate family and friends around a table with a wide array of high-end appliances to create all manner of dishes.
Many kitchens will have dedicated coffee stations with top-of-the-range coffee machines - and every gadget required to bake, roast, grill and steam.
Larger food pantries and storage spaces
People are shopping less often and spending more time at home, and are likely to continue to do so, so it makes sense to properly stock up on each shopping excursion.
Spacious walk-in pantries and ample cupboard space are a must for people who want to be able to create whatever culinary masterpiece takes their fancy – at whatever time of day.
Dedicated delivery space
We have all become very accustomed to the convenience of online shopping and dedicated, secure delivery spaces are predicted to become increasingly prevalent, especially when money is no object and anything the heart desires is now available for purchase online.
Quality of life
Already becoming a key factor, this will now jump to top three on the list for most people after months of lockdown and the further from the city one is, the more space there is for large gardens and expansive homes.
Proximity to the workplace could therefore lose its value as working from home increasingly becomes a real norm and no longer a temporary step.
Rather than panoramic cityscape views, many people will covet locations that offer scenic natural vista’s and allow them to spend more time in the great outdoors communing with nature.
