The COVID-19 pandemic has shaped the world of real estate in many ways, but one of the most enduring ways is in how home architecture preferences have shifted. While there are certain elements that remain appealing, from large kitchens to plenty of bathrooms, there are also new trends emerging. Buyers who might have seen an open floor plan in the past and thought, “how wonderful for entertaining,” are now weighing that interest against the reality that, if the inhabitants need it, they want to be able to work from home in relative quiet. 

So what are some architecture trends that are likely to still have an impact on the 2022 housing market, even as total caseloads of COVID-19 begin to decrease? Here are some that are worth considering. 

Work From Home Spaces Gain A Permanent Role in the Home

While many jobs that only require a laptop can technically allow you to work from anywhere in the home, most buyers who have remote or hybrid jobs are house-hunting with office space in mind. If buyers would have thought 3 or 4 bedrooms were plenty before, they may now be inching into 5-bedroom territory or looking for homes with convenient and quiet bonus rooms or alcoves. Many companies have chosen to make work-from-home optional long-term or only have teams in the office for a few core hours a week. These workers aren’t looking to just sit on a barstool at the kitchen counter all day anymore - they want their workspace at home to be as functional as their office. 

While this can shape architecture trends in many ways, a big one is an emphasis on bonus rooms, separated space, and layouts that allow for audio isolation. Two remote workers are going to envision whether their dueling Zoom meetings will make either of them distractable or annoyed, so having a strong layout that is valuable for both work and leisure is going to continue to matter at least to buyers who work is still remote-friendly. 

Indoor/Outdoor Spaces Continue to Hold Popularity

Even the least outdoorsy of people found ways to get their fresh air during the height of COVID-19, particularly because many indoor large gatherings were canceled or changed, limiting the options for leisure time and entertainment. As a result, homes that had hybrid spaces, from covered decks to sunrooms, have seen a burst of demand, as these spaces allow both nature lovers and more indoor-loving people to socialize with plenty of sunlight and fresh air. Not only do these spaces offer natural beauty, but they also expand on the square footage of the home, giving yet another spot for people to spend time if the home feels a little too small some days.

Furthermore, for people who like fully-outdoor time, the backyard has become the gathering space and that is reflected in the built hardscape there: outdoor kitchens, swimming pools, and patios are all growing in popularity as the family wants all the features and storage options of indoors available on their back porches.

Accessory Dwelling Units Make Higher Prices Easier to Handle

In many popular markets, an already-unaffordable place to buy has become a very difficult market to find anything at all, much less anything in one’s price range. Many homes that get a lot of attention come with built-in monetization opportunities in the form of an ADU, or accessory dwelling unit. These include mother-in-law suites, finished basement apartments, and tiny homes on the property that, with minimal additional work, can become a source of additional short-term rental income. Short-term rental units have been big business since the pandemic began, but the interest doesn’t seem to wane just because cases go down; people genuinely like the experience and convenience of staying in a short-term rental.

While these features always had some appeal in a world with long-term rentals, the short-term rental market offers potentially higher monetary benefits and flexibility to not always have someone in the unit, which appeals to a wide range of people. If you’re looking at a home’s estimated value online, there’s a good chance that an additional living space separate from the main household will be driving up that value in a big way, at least as long as these prices persist. 

Whether you’re shopping, selling, or renovating your home, keeping indoor-outdoor spaces, work-from-home options, and the potential for short-term rentals in mind is wise. Not every one of these projects will yield a huge ROI if you’re doing them immediately prior to sale, but many can effectively pay for themselves in value if you get some years of use out of any architectural changes you make and then also sell your home to buyers who want those features. Making your own ideal home office, short-term rental, or outdoor oasis gives you a chance to see what all the fuss is about; look up helpful CAD drawings to start finding the right plans and designs that you’ll need today!

Author: Laura Leavitt

Resources:

https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/2021/01/04/Covid-19-trends-home-design-pandemic-work-from-home - Mentions the less-open-floor-plan, more home office spaces trend.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jq794dtkl4ov4hv/AAAazLc2gfKGcugF0V9t15Rwa?dl=0&preview=OutdoorObstaclesInfographic.jpg Infographic of study that shows people are spending more time outside/in their yards than pre-pandemic. 

https://porch.com/advice/state-of-adu-market-2021 - details on how much ADU’s increase value.