Life Post Covid-19

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A world after Covid-19 sometimes feels like a lifetime away as we continue to work from home and alter our lifestyles. Although things have calmed down since March when we first went into lockdown, things are still going to take a while to get back to normal. But what is the new normal? Should we even be saying "back to normal" knowing full well there's no such definition anymore...

The pandemic has vastly accelerated the upcoming trends that were predicted for 21/22 forward such as multifunctional living and wellbeing in our homes. Being stuck at home has made many of us think about how we're living and start to appreciate the importance of interior design and the part it plays in how it can make us feel.

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I wrote a post at the start of lockdown to emphasises how important it was to create a comfortable space for your home working; no matter if it was hidden inside a cupboard or taking over the family dining table. A few months have passed since then and what we thought was a temporary fix, we now can't imagine life without having our home working stations. As we become more accepting of flexible working, and new builds continue to get smaller, the multifunctional space will be something we will start to demand from the housing market, therefore changing the way we look at potential housing in the future. As smart tech accessories increase in our homes thanks to the oh so popular Alexa, smart lighting and table lamps that double up as a speaker (thanks IKEA) we'll start to see these smart features incorporated into furniture.  

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Questioning the functionality of our space doesn't stop inside the home as we start to appreciate our garden space due to the stress and pressures of the pandemic. We're suddenly told we can't go on our summer holidays or even down the local park- and when someone tells you that you can't do something... well of course it's going to make us want to do it. So we've had to improvise and create a wellbeing retreat in our gardens. Blending the inside and outside living had been forecasted as an upcoming trend but has been catapulted forward due to us being stuck inside and May bringing such nice weather. Again with multifunctional living, potential housing properties will see much more interest by having garden space. As a result of the immediate interest in garden design, many have taken this one step further growing their own fruit, vegetables and compost which is fantastic news for the environment. Maybe in 5 years time we'll all have a 'grow your own' attitude no matter if its a tiny greenhouse on the balcony, tomato plants on the window ledge or a boastful allotment.

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One good thing that Covid-19 has brought is giving the environment a well needed break, and with us constructing beautiful gardens and starting to grow our own food the wildlife are thriving in these miniature green cities. Up-cycling is another way we've been helping to address the worlds waste problem. Just because trends and styles change doesn't mean you have to buy brand new pieces, and with the shops shut during the pandemic we look to what we already have. Think outside the box by using wood stainers or cane to design masterpieces you'll feel proud to display in your home. Arguably the social media app Tik Tok has got our creative juices flowing as we've been jumping onto trends like geometric and free hand wall painting to bring a little joy to our homes. If you're not on Tik Tok where have you been, and no it's not just for 16 year olds. I had the same mentality... until I realised how funny and inspiring the app actually is. 

Investing time into our hobbies and love of craft has never been as integral for our mental wellbeing with many of us either discovering a new hobby or an old one we forgot we enjoyed so much. There's something therapeutic and rewarding about completing something you've started from scratch. For me, I've been getting into the beauty of flower pressing as well as trying a new bake every weekend. I'm actually so impressed with what I've been able to learn, achieve, and most importantly pig out on over lockdown. 

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As a result of all the above; multifunctional living; wellbeing; love of craft and up-cycling they have all caused a catalyst for a rise in maximalism interior design. With everything going to pot, the one thing we can cherish is all our STUFF. This goes against the words of Marie Kondo in that if it doesn't spark joy, GET RID, REMOVE, BANISH... but hold on just one second there. Sometimes our stuff maybe doesn't have a purpose but being surrounded by our belongings can make us feel safe and homely, something minimalism just can't do. As long as you know that maximalism is a style that suits your personality and you're not going to just toss all these "things" out once you get bored of it, then hell yes to the maximalism interior. Be bold with a busy wallpaper choice, clashing colour and gallery walls that never seem to end.

These are just a few of the trends that have emerged or fast forwarded because of the pandemic, and we can't even see the end yet. I hope we have the same positivity as we did at the start of lockdown if a second wave does occur. Stay safe!