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How Will COVID-19 Impact Home Design?
Think back to your life a year ago. You were going to work each day, seeing your friends and family regularly, not worrying about things grocery shopping or takeout. Now, nine months after the first shutdowns and spikes in cases, reflect on how your life has changed. What is one of the first things you think of? Likely, it is your home – notably, how much time you have spent at your home this year.
Before the pandemic, the home was likely a place you primarily spent your evenings and weekends—but not your entire workweek. Now, your home is functioning in many ways that it may not have been designed for. It's now a home office, a classroom, a quarantine center, a vacation home, and more. Your home is more important than ever.
This article will discuss some trends that we have seen in the housing industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, broken down by amenities and then specific design features. But first, we wanted to give a few examples of how epidemics have changed home design through the years.
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By Maria Saxton, Rise Writer
Apr 13, 2025 · 5 min read
Sleeping Porches
Screened-in decks or balconies, either on the front or back of a house, were designed to combat tuberculosis in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the time, sunlight and fresh are were thought of as the best cures for this disease. A typical architectural feature, especially in warmer climates, many people do not know the origin of sleeping porches.
Powder Rooms
Half bathrooms, also known as powder rooms, were initially designed to curb germs. They allowed a transition space for visitors to clean up and wash their hands to limit exposure to the rest of the house. Now that we know the value of washing hands with the COVID-19 pandemic, these powder or mudrooms may become very popular again.
Office Spaces
If you have begun working from home this past year, you likely have had to adapt space in your home to fit your needs. Dedicated workspaces separate from lively parts of the house like the kitchen are extremely important in creating a professional work-from-home setup. Future home designs will likely move away from the open floor plan trend. Instead, designs will create pockets of privacy for working and studying, possibly even with intentionally designed backgrounds fit for Zoom meetings! In a recent Zillow survey, 27% of consumers surveyed shared that they would consider moving to have a house with more rooms.
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Touchless Technology
Now more than ever, smart home technology that incorporates touchless technology is making its mark on the residential industry. Touch-free toilets, faucets, trash cans, light switches, and thermostats are all ways to curb the spread of germs. According to a survey of over 3,000 households, over 50% wanted touch-free faucets, appliances, and smart toilets.
Efficient Ventilation
Achieving good air quality through efficient ventilation is perhaps the most effective design change to combat pandemics. Efficient ventilation goes beyond opening a window or installing a screen door. To achieve year-round ventilation, you need an effective HVAC system.
Not sure if these design trends will stick? Bank of America conducted a survey that found that over 70% of Americans have done a home improvement or renovation project. Home Depot, Lowe's, Tractor Supply, and other home improvement companies have seen increased stock market values since the beginning of the pandemic. Contractors all over have seen a massive spike in demand, while the cost of building materials has seen a steady incline since March.
Just as past epidemics have influenced home design, so will COVID-19.
Rise Writer
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Article by
Maria Saxton
Located in Roanoke, Virginia, Maria Saxton holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning from Virginia Tech. She works as an Environmental Planner and Housing Researcher for a local firm specializing in Community Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Historic Preservation. Her dissertation explored the environmental impacts of small-scale homes. She serves as a volunteer board member for the Tiny Home Industry Association.
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