The humankind across the world, has been forced to stay quarantined inside homes. We probably had never used our homes so rigorously as we have since March this year.
As the national lockdown initiated, in my house, every morning, I would go to the guest room to write, and see my articles and research through. My husband claimed the dining hall, and the kid frolicked around the whole house as he could not restrict himself with mere one room as his territory.
The first month of the lockdown went in idling, pondering, hypothesizing… Once the reality befell us that ‘working from home’ is going to be the way ahead, at least for the near future, home had to be readjusted to maximize productivity and maintain a peaceable environment. We all needed to create space for ourselves, our own little sanctuaries.
We made modifications and adjustments based on what was available at home. The resulting comfort and ‘work-conducive’ space motivated me to share a few ideas here. These pointers include the changes one may create with the available furniture/supplies at home while some concepts may be indicative of what one may build as the lockdown situations persist.
Home Offices: We need dedicated workspaces at home, more than just temporary spots. When one spends a lot of time working from home, one needs to have a space separated from the thoroughfare, to maintain productivity and a distinct separation between working hours and leisure hours.
The upright office furniture can be easily replaced with comfy seating, low or normal height. With summers in, multiple cotton or jute mats could be thrown around, to ensure an extended workspace. Some crucial interior design elements that need to be factored in are
pleasant lighting and efficient storage (especially when office files and material start arriving home)
home ‘work-places’ to be suitable for video calls, soundproofed as much as possible, also aesthetically appealing when exposed to the clients/co-workers on the screen
private space away from children’s and pets’ stray area. The traditional closed scheme houses fare better than the modern open plans where cooking, sitting, dining areas merge.
Shelves Stacked with Books: Books and novels may start adorning our studies and living rooms once again since the concept of home work-place will become common. Besides being the best refuge from world’s current state, they are perfect companions for information and relaxation. They transfer a person in a compete different world. The reason we advocate books over e reading material is their less distractive characteristic. The phones are used for multiple activities, hence one may find it difficult to entirely switch off from work, when need be.
Open Crockery Shelves: Shelves for glasses, cups, and spoons are convenient for the family members, especially when there are ‘many’ to consume and occupy the home space for the entire 24 hours.
Instead of hunting for each piece of crockery and cutlery in the kitchen cabinets, large families with children may find it convenient to stock a few serving dishes in these open cabinets or shelves.
Toilets and Washing Areas: There is huge sensitivity towards home hygiene and sanitization. Most of these germ-resistant and auto-cleaning technologies will take a while to surface in India, one can hope to install smart toilets and faucets (common in Japan) to minimize physical contact.
One futuristic technology I craved for during this pandemic is ‘vocal control’ systems. It would have been an ideal solution to avoid touching the elevator buttons, doorknobs, doorbells, etc.
Biophilic Interiors: The severe tendency of lockdowns completely obliterated the age-old reverence of nature dwelling/walks. To remain connected with nature for its health and environment benefits, we must bring the nature in. If you cannot go out to her, bring her in! We need to go green with plenty of real (not faux) indoor and outdoor (if you have balconies, terraces) plants to revive our mental health and well-being, plus
“Going green with nice, real indoor plants help give personality and another layer to a space.” — Linda Hayslett
Biophilic (nature friendly) design and vertical gardening are becoming popular and can be installed anywhere in the house – living rooms, bathrooms, foyer… With pandemic and its restrains, gardening is likely to see a huge comeback!
With food deliveries adversely impacted and anxiety of viral communication mounting, it would be a dream come true to self-sustain and grow our own food. Although space is a constrain to many, yet, Biophilia may soon become more of a necessity than just a trend.
Balconies/Terraces: Balconies and terraces are our only possible promenade during this pandemic. Let balconies be an extension of our Biophilia, a showcase of our earthen artistic capabilities.
Balconies and terraces will serve as a space that allows some essential muscle stretch, walk as well as a hideaway to take office or personal calls, away from the prying ears and eyes of the family. Hey, these areas have better signal reception as well. So, let us do it up a bit with lots of plants, flowers, a small rattan sitting area, and a fan/cooler, to ward off heat and insects.
Bedrooms: We use bedrooms sparingly during the day. If possible, settle in a separate room during the day so once the office work has been wrapped up, you get the feeling of returning home (believe me!).
You would find yourself in a mood for relaxation, chat, television, nap…once you enter your bedroom in the evening.
Convenient Kitchens: The kitchens are likely to go through rigorous makeover based on the changed requirements and conditions.
Indian households depend enormously on house help for cleaning and cooking services. In the wake of paucity of labour, it would be wise to acquire kitchen appliances that speed up the work. We may witness greater use of food processors, dish washers, and high function ovens.
Cleaning the kitchens surfaces and supplies is going to be the priority. Some people actually emphasized the need for a heavy duty scrubber, to not only clean the surfaces and counters but also the vegetables. Well, call it paranoia, if you wish!!
The slabs and countertops are heavily used spaces in kitchens. People may shift towards an ‘easy to clean’, stain proof material (faux marble, nano glass) rather than having to deal with the upkeep of a real stone.
Multipurpose Kitchens: With householders increasingly multitasking, the kitchens would have to serve several functions. Besides cooking, it will be a cosy place where couples work (office), cook and clean, maintaining proximity with one another; a place where mom and dad cook and attend to kids’ academic requirements; a haven where family members cook, chat and relax together.
The kitchens must be equipped with comfortable and varied sitting options. For kids, high chairs near the countertops, for elderly or those desiring a nap next to their loved one, an easy chair with cushions and a shawl.
If the students are using kitchens frequently to complete their academic assignments, we may have to dedicate one or two glass covered kitchen shelves for their study material/books/stationery. Covered, to shield from kitchen grime and glass, for easy reminder. Lockdown or not, you have to complete your homework!!
Monica (Managing Editor) is the quintessential researcher - she thrives on showcasing overlooked aspects that form the foundation blocks of people, places and issues. She is a social scientist by profession with masters in Economics and loves to travel.