Remodeling Ideas for a Post-COVID World

You may not have known that the beginning of the year would change your life in so many ways. With the passage of COVID-19 throughout the world, people everywhere are rethinking what it means to live, work, learn, and have fun. Your sanitation regimen will never be the same, and maybe that’s a good thing. If your home isn’t keeping up with these changing times, however, you might need to improve it to work with your new normal. Try out these home improvements that will help make your day easier now and continue to provide great value in the future.

PRIVATE HOME OFFICE

Remember when the idea of a home office seemed like something that most people had for work in the evenings or weekends? It’s a full-time responsibility now. Working from home and achieving a high level of productivity requires a private space. Without it, you are at the mercy of all the noises in the house that will disrupt your meetings and make it harder to focus. Converting a room into a home office can be a small or big project, depending on the space and what you want to do with it. Even a small guest room could become the perfect spot for your desk, comfortable chair, supplies, and computer.

HOME CLASSROOM

Education experts say that the best way to promote learning from home is to create a space that is ideally conducive to learning. If your kids are currently taking online classes, they probably need a space outside of their own bedrooms. A home classroom doesn’t have to be large, because you don’t need a ton of furniture to fill it. Leave enough space for:

• Desks
• Chairs
• Built-in shelving
• Hooks to keep headphones within grasp
• Drawers for school supplies

Some parents add a small refrigerator so that their children can take a quick snack or lunch without missing the start of the next class.

KITCHEN EXPANSION

The kitchen is one place in your home that is probably getting a lot more use than its used to. If you already have a kitchen with plenty of room for various tasks, you might not have any problems. On the other hand, if your kitchen was already a little cramped, needing space for additional sanitation may feel like too much of a burden. Many people use the kitchen as an ad-hoc place to work while the kids are studying or doing homework. In order for that to be effective, you need the right amount of space. Expanding the kitchen could be the answer to a lot of problems, including all the ones that you had before the pandemic.

MUDROOM

Homeowners who want the ultimate barrier between the world outside and the house need a mudroom. Simply put, a mudroom is a room in the house that has an exterior door and an interior walkway or door. People like to use them as a way to organize coats and other things they need to take as they leave. You might also install a sink so that everyone can wash their hands when they get inside. Mudrooms are a delightful addition almost anytime, especially for people who spend a lot of time gardening or who need to clean up before they go inside.

POWDER ROOM

If you don’t have a small half-bathroom just inside your front door, you might wonder how that came to be popular. After the influenza pandemic of 1918-20, designers started adding a sink or small bathroom near the front door. The sink made it easy for people to wash their hands as soon as they got home before they touched anything else. Many Portland homes have kept this design element. If yours doesn’t, you might have the space to create one. A powder room is ideal for helping you to keep outside and inside separated, especially if you don’t have the right layout to create a mudroom.

COVERED PORCH OR DECK

Like it or not, it seems that many of your interactions with friends and relatives who don’t live with you will need to be outside the home for a while. If you haven’t taken the opportunity to rethink your porch or deck, now is a great time to do so. People who want to gather need space to ensure physical distancing while they remain comfortable. A large deck with plenty of seating makes it easy to invite a handful of people over for socializing or to share a meal, depending on the current limitations. A covered porch gives you added protection from wet weather or the sun. When you can finally feel free to gather as a crowd again, you’ll have more space for a bigger party.

QUARANTINE LIVING SPACE

In the early weeks of the pandemic, experts recommended that people try to isolate themselves inside their homes if they were exposed. Unfortunately, most homes aren’t set up for people to sleep, eat, and wash without interacting with other members of the household. If you have space, creating a small living area for someone in quarantine may be an effective approach. With this type of home improvement, you’re ensuring that you have bedroom space and a bathroom for the person who is isolating. You might even add a mini kitchen if you have the room. That way, they can remain separate without putting other people in the house at risk. Once the pandemic is over, you’ll have a great guest suite for long-term visitors.

Within a few short months, COVID-19 changed our lives forever. As a homeowner, you have to determine how your home will grow with your needs. Hiring the experts at Cooper Design Build is a great way to guarantee that your project will meet your expectations now and in the years to come. To learn more about our services or find out how we can help you, contact us today.