Our needs are tied to our emotions, which are themselves influenced by our surroundings. The pandemic we’re living through has intensified certain emotions and shaken up our priorities. It totally changes the way we normally do things. As our homes increasingly become our refuges, find out how we can provide a better quality of life at our own home...
MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS
Home isn’t just home anymore. With the pandemic and lockdown, it has become an office, a school, a gym, a play area, a restaurant, a dormitory and a place to retreat and relax. We, therefore, need more flexibility in our interiors today, with modular and adaptable elements. Look for furniture and accessories that will allow you to work and play in the same space. Hybrid designs, detachable units and convertible pieces are the keys to creating a home suited to the “new normal.”
CLEAN INDOOR AIR AND WATER
Before COVID-19 there was already a growing awareness of the importance of healthy air, but today it has really become a priority as we spend more and more time at home. We are looking for all possible means to improve indoor air quality: furniture that doesn’t emit VOCs or other pollutants, sensors that monitor air quality and air-purifying treatments. This also applies to the filtration of the water we drink or bathe with.
DISINFECTING PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS
Hygiene is another big topic. We need to re-evaluate our normal routines to be more sanitary overall. Disinfection is in high demand, this includes solutions for disinfecting clothing, such as disinfecting wardrobes; antimicrobial products and fabrics for children and bedding; soaps that change colour when you’ve washed your hands long enough; and self-disinfecting features such as door handles. There’s also a new emphasis on contactless ways of stopping germs from multiplying on certain surfaces or limiting their proliferation in the home.
RESTFUL ENVIRONMENTS
Our homes have also become our refuges, a place to rest and recharge our batteries. We need products that ensure high-quality sleep, helping us process our daily emotions and protecting our immune systems, such as sleep and breathing monitors and sound insulation.
AREAS FOR WELLNESS ACTIVITIES
Wellness, in general, has become a priority in this time of anxiety. The experts observed that we’re focusing on ourselves more now, whether mentally, physically or emotionally. “Overall culture is shifting to really value healing and well-being over… excessive displays of wealth.” The growing interest in meditation apps is one of the manifestations of the phenomenon. This search for well-being also includes physical activity at home, with a focus on equipment and furniture resilient enough to withstand daily use, including stain-resistant, waterproof, warming and anti-odour products that can be used for exercise.
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