The home isolation has made us more aware of the spaces we live in and of their limitations too: with more time spent in our homes, we have inevitably felt the urge to make considerable changes and adapt them to our new needs and habits.
We often consider the changes in bathroom design as a direct consequence of improved sanitation, plumbing and infrastructure. However, home design changes and improvements are often the result of pandemics. With people spending more time at home and investing in home improvement projects, new styles and trends are changing too. Just like how past pandemics changed home design, so too is Covid19.
For years, interiors have been designed as openconcept floors but with Covid people are going back to more classical layouts with rooms that are easily closed off to create individual areas for more privacy when working or home schooling.
With Covid19 rooms are designed as multi purposes spaces, with the room that once served for dining to become the epicenter for virtual learning. The need for more flexible spaces has boosted the popularity of modular and multifunctional furniture.
The bathroom is of course at the centre of this new improvement in home design. Antimicrobial and easy to clean materials as well as handfree sinks and toilets have seen a boost over the last months. Where possible, people create new separate toilets in their hallways to make it easier wash their hands when entering home and space saving sanitary ware can make the difference.
The bathroom is of course at the centre of this new improvement in home design. Antimicrobial and easy to clean materials as well as handfree sinks and toilets have seen a boost over the last months. Where possible, people create new separate toilets in their hallways to make it easier to wash their hands when entering home and space saving sanitary ware can make the difference.
This pandemic has changed the layout of the bathroom and redesigned its spaces, taking inspiration from the Nordic countries where the bathtub and bathroom fittings are separated from each other by a door or even simply a partition.
A particularly popular solution during the lockdown, when people find themselves spending more time at home, perhaps with the whole family. Two separate rooms, where available, could avoid having to “queue” and wait for your turn.
Hardwearing and smooth materials that are easy to maintain and sanitise are more and more used nowadays. The same applies to the shapes, which are becoming more linear and simple in order to make cleaning easier.
Faucets are also becoming contactless in private homes thanks to the use of infrared systems which are sensitive to movement and which allow to regulate the duration of water flow.
Shower toilets have become more in fashion, thanks to the possibility of combining two functions in a single object, thus minimising contact with different surfaces. Aesthetically identical to the classic ceramic bowl, this toilet has a small, discreet knob on the side to activate the hand shower, which offers an intense jet of water at a pleasantly warm temperature, for gentle and complete hygiene. They reduce the amount of toilet paper waste and increase hygiene and are a perfect spacesaving solution.
Softer fabrics, lighter colors and more natural light have become popular to create a relaxing and serene atmosphere with easy to clean surfaces in neutral colors. At the other end, bold designs with brighter colours can be very energizing and inspiring especially for people who are stuck in the same routine.