Data-Driven Home Design Preferences Highlight Post-Pandemic Necessities

Design features on display in the Smart/Connected home at ProBuilder’s 2022 virtual Show Village highlighted the changing needs of homeowners post-pandemic, according to insights from the New Home Trends Institute. As remote work became more prevalent over the past two years, 82% of architectural designers included dual office spaces in one or more of their residential projects during the pandemic.

A common desire for increased space caused more homeowners to trade separate dining areas for island seating, and 88% of homeowners also prioritized their outdoor spaces for entertainment, comfort, and additional livability mid-pandemic, John Burns Real Estate Consulting reports.

Why include so much outdoor access?

• 88% of homeowners say their outdoor spaces are important or very important to them. 59% say the importance has increased due to the pandemic.
• Architectural designers say that connection to the outdoors/nature will be their second largest consideration when designing homes, after cost, over the next three years.

Why connect outdoor space to the kitchen?

• 51% of homeowners say the kitchen is the most important space that home design “gets right.” Outdoor kitchens and entertainment-centric yards increase the value of outdoor spaces by making them an extension of the most valued part of the home (the kitchen).
• Architectural designers say that designing great outdoor entertainment spaces will become a bigger focus than designing great indoor ones.

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