HOME IN THE AGE OF ISOLATION: PREDICTING WHAT COMES NEXT
During this time of self isolation and quarantine, home has taken on a completely new meaning. Home has long been defined as a place of refuge that we often come back to after a long day of work, play, gym or whatever other activities that take you outside. Right now, this situation is no longer possible; unless you are deemed “essential,” most people are fortunate enough to work from home, especially those who are still in their jobs currently. This whole situation has created an upended situation, and even if you aren’t working from home, the word and definition itself has certainly taken on a new connotation in today’s world.
So what does it mean to stay home today? With so many filling their apartments and social media feed with creative ideas, including ways to keep yourself busy and work on yourself, it can be hard to do that when the very space you are inhabiting can start to feel confining. For some, the separation between work and home is no longer apparent, and working longer hours can be more possible. I consulted WGSN lifestyle and interiors, a leading trend report source, for home inspiration and trends that are predicted to continue post-quarantine.
Creating and cultivating a space: Whether this translates to cultivating spaces where you feel most comfortable in, the home becomes a cocoon, a place of refuge, and a place of exploring ideas. At a time when most are confined to small spaces, oftentimes without access to nature and stacked in densely packed spaces, places where we can feel most comfortable become precious. Allowing ourselves a space where we can unwind, soothe our anxieties and enter into modes of calm is more important than ever. This will continue to trend even after things resume to normal, as the home has become a space for reflection and calm when faced with the outside world.
A rise in DIY: Already immensely popular with many, DIY has seen an uptick in recent years, with plenty of blogs, instagram accounts and Pinterest worthy hacks condoned and appreciated by many. As more and more of us stay at home, this trend will only continue, especially as we are forced to become more self-reliant on ourselves. Some of my favorite DIY’s involve making things in my home, including painting, organizing and styling my home. One of my favorite platforms to follow is ApartmentTherapy, which features posts and ideas from people around the world.
During this time, some other do-it-yourself ideas will go further than just traditional crafts and mending. While many of us are confined to our homes, staying fit and focusing on your appearance relies more on ourselves. Today, teaching people through ZOOM or other video services how to dye and color their own hair, do their own makeup, style their own clothes and more, has grown. These services that are typically outsourced to experienced individuals will start to be combined with ways we can achieve this look or idea on our own, albeit still with help from those who know it best.
Self-reliance: It’s apparent to me, and to others, that relying on yourself and your own skills is most important once we emerge from this strange world we are living in currently. Whether this means working on business plans or ideas, or even cultivating the space you envision for yourself and the future, relying on your own needs and handy skills are more important than ever. In the home, this translates to a focus on products that enhance this experience, including ways to grow your own vegetables or ingredients. Creating a sense of self-reliance will help during this time especially, allowing us to mitigate anxiety and work towards more security.
Less is more: Always words to live by, this becomes ever more important as we think about the spaces we are inhabiting. There are several ways to keep this trend up in your home, mainly by decluttering and focusing on the products, items and needs that you absolutely require, as opposed to our wants in life. This, hopefully, will allow our homes to truly become the sanctuary and refuges we need in times like this, and moving forward.
These trends will continue to infiltrate our systems, long after quarantine and social distancing has slowed down. The home, as it has always been, will become ever more essential as a space where we decamp to de-stress and take in our day. For some, a home symbolizes a space of calm, where we can truly be comfortable and ourselves. Following this period of unrest, this will become ever more apparent.