COVID-19 Impact on Interior Design
Written by: Hannah Holbrook
COVID-19 has impacted every facet of our lives, and it should come as no surprise that it has caused prolonged effects on many industries. The shortages we saw at grocery stores during the beginning of the pandemic were not confined to only food and household items. Manufacturing is at a historic low globally, and we are seeing the effects trickle down into our industry.
Trust us, if you have been one of the stir-crazy home-goers who has tried to use the abundant amount of time at home productively to remodel a space or two, but have come into some roadblocks in receiving furniture when originally designated, or a contractor has had to postpone the installment of new cabinetry or fixtures due to a delay in materials - we feel you!
Interior Designers all over the world are feeling this pain, and it is frustrating for all parties involved. Not only are lead times for products astronomically long (try an extra 8-12 weeks compared to usual), shows, such as the grand High Point Market, have been cancelled consecutively, leaving designers reliant on virtual buying trips. And believe us when we say it’s important to see, feel, and touch the product in person - think about that blouse you’ve bought online that looked spectacular on the model, only to look like a handkerchief when it arrives. You don’t want that to happen to a $2,000 console with a 7.5% freight charge.
But let’s look at the possible positive impact COVID-19 may have on the interior design industry. Social distancing guidelines and recent knowledge about antimicrobial materials have us considering a new approach to commercial design. Although I am still a fan of open-concept in pretty much every avenue, it makes one think, how may open-concept be reimaged to accommodate for these changes that are becoming a normal aspect of our every day life?
My first thought is back to the days of the cinderblock privacy screens separating dining venues and it makes me cringe with disgust. YUCK! But, is there a way we could take that approach in a new and exciting way? Possibly by creating small, intimate niches throughout an open-concept design and separating areas by live plants, wainscoting, large slabs of marble, rope, water walls… the possibilities are immense. And that is exciting for a creative mind to dream about.
This separation throughout a large space allows for designers to create intimate areas throughout the design, with a mix of soft and hard seating, each a little different than the other, but overall flowing seamlessly into one another.
COVID-19 has also encouraged the incorporation of more outdoor seating, and the fresh air and sunshine is something that everyone can use a daily dose of. Another often overlooked effect of COVID-19 on the interior design industry is the way it has made us re-think the finishes we choose. Often, antimicrobial materials, such as quartz, copper, titanium, cork and laminate, are more durable and last longer, too.
So, maybe COVID-19’s effects on the job front aren’t all bad. It has us rethinking the way we have done a lot of things, and sometimes, change can be a good thing.