People around the world are reeling from the twin dangers of the Covid-19 pandemic’s latest Omicron variant and extreme weather events brought on by climate change. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron has reached 149 countries as of January 6 this year. Because of its high rate of transmission, people are again staying home most of the time.
Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated that 2021 was one of the seven warmest years recorded based on several international data sets. The global temperature exceeded one-degree Centigrade over pre-industrial levels for seven years consecutively. This brought on extreme weather events such as devastating floods in Europe and Asia and droughts in areas of South America, Africa, and the United States. In the U.S., this has led to dangerous widespread wildfires. In Canada, the temperature reached a record of almost 50 degrees Centigrade, as hot as the Saharan desert.
Amid all these, people who own house and land properties and renters will want their living spaces to be their sanctuary this year. Interior design choices will reflect their concerns, principles, and commitments.
Healthy Homes
When choosing paint, people are looking for non-toxic and odorless products. Paint with additional properties such as dust and stain repellent, mold-resistant, mildew-resistant, antibacterial, and anti-fungal are preferred.
Other materials used in home interiors are also screened for toxicity. For instance, formaldehyde can be present in manufactured wood used in flooring and furniture and some curtains and upholstery made of synthetic fabric.
New self-cleaning products can be used on surfaces to make homes safer against viruses and bacteria. They can be put on high-touch areas such as door, cabinet, and appliance handles. Touchless systems also reduce the possibilities of contamination. There are touchless light switches readily available.
Every home now needs an area just beside the front door where items can be disinfected before being brought into the house. A table that conceals disinfectant sprays stored underneath can do the job. A mat drenched in a disinfectant liquid must be placed just outside the front door to sanitize footwear automatically.
Sustainable Lifestyles
Sustainability has become a pressing need for the world. People are coming to realize this and are reshaping their daily lives accordingly. For interiors, people use eco-friendly features such as LED lighting and smart appliances with low energy usage.
Furniture made from recycled wood or purchased second-hand is in style. People are even giving away old furniture and home accessories for others to use, and they also pick up free items from others. Some even furnish and decorate the home entirely with pre-used items they get for free. They only spend for transporting bulky items to their homes. Not buying new items will reduce the use of natural resources in manufacturing.
Nature Inside
To bring in the good vibes of nature, indoor plants are popular. People are growing both ornamental and edible plants in pots and are using these as accent pieces. There are decorative hydroponic systems for growing vegetables and herbs. Some are even set up as green walls.
Nature-themed art pieces create the same energy for those who do not have a green thumb. This can also be carried on to fabrics used in upholstery or throw pillows and curtains. Various shades of green on walls give a feel of the forest or a meadow. Other shades of nature, such as earth tones, complement greens, while natural materials like terracotta provide natural warmth. Meanwhile, tabletop fountains with natural stone and plants can provide the calming sound of running water.
Some people prefer to evoke the colors of the sea and the sky with various shades of blue and blue-green complemented with shades of sand and pops of coral. Art pieces with the same theme can pull the look together.
Home Offices and Study Rooms
Most current homes now have at least one home office. If more than one person in the household is working from home, there will be one designated workspace for each. If there are children doing distance learning, a designated study space is needed. These ensure that proper focus can be achieved for work and studying. These home offices and classrooms can also serve as personal areas for hobbies and other interests like meditation after work or study.
If each person has their own bedroom, this can also function as an office or study area. If bedrooms are shared, some offices and study areas can be created in other parts of the house. Movable dividers can partition off these areas. Noise-canceling headsets with microphones will block background noise. The dividers can be put away afterward to free up space.
A Place for Everything
Because people spend almost all their time at home, the living space must provide a place for all their needs, even if some areas must serve multiple purposes. With proper planning, this can be achieved.
