The last two plus years have profoundly impacted many people's lives. Some have spent much more time in their home than they ever imagined - making it center square for schooling, work, and social activity. Others have worked outside the home and even further away than before, and have craved a place to rest and be at peace when finally returning home. Regardless of the situation, we've all looked a little more deeply at the spaces we occupy and whether or not they're meeting our needs. These reflections are coming to light in changes in design trends for homes; what are people craving in terms of functionality, what features do people need now than they didn't before, what amenities are more important than ever? Here are the top four trends in home design that national research has revealed, along with our own client requests, as a result of the pandemic.

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#1. Natural light

Natural light is proven to be good for mental and physical function, keeping us happy and with enough vitamin D. With advancements in window technology to allow noise reduction and increased thermal insulation, new home builders and renovators are adding large-scale windows where they can to capture the most rays without sacrificing comfort and peace. More windows and natural light can mean lower electric bills, more connection with the outdoors, or even more opportunity to nurture houseplants. So open the curtails, hang a mirror to reflect that gorgeous light, and enjoy the rays.

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#2. Flexible spaces

It should be no surprise that the pandemic massively increased the demand for flexible space in homes. Remote work and remote schooling put high demands on interior space that was previously thought of as 'nice to have'. Home builders and designers are seeing an uptick in the creation of home offices, playrooms, in-law suites, and exercise rooms to account for a new normal of increased time and activity at home. In an unpredictable time, homeowners are solving for the future by allotting space for daily activity to continue as planned, without causing interference for everyone else at home. No more yoga for dad in the living room while mom is on a conference call, trying to keep him out of her background, or kids lessons happening in the walk-in closet to keep them concentrating. As popular as open floor plans are, the desire for 'spill over' space has increased.

"Post pandemic lifestyle norms have dramatically affected the way people are designing & living within their homes.  Specifically, we have seen a dramatic increase in demand for designated spaces within the home built for use as an office or gym . As we design, we have worked to build these spaces with key items like natural light, sound proofing, privacy & and smart home-features incorporated."

- Taylor Gulbins, Program Manager, Architecture & Design at Homebound

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#3. Natural elements

Bringing nature in to our environments is a timeless design feature - one that has seen a resurgence lately - with natural fibers like rattan and wicker incorporated into many types of home furnishings. Sisal and jute rugs, natural wood, and leather elements are other ways to bring nature indoors. Plants also fill this niche; the once-popular fiddle-leaf fig has been usurped as the most trendy plant, replaced by the ficus and ferns, according to the experts at Architectural Digest.

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#4. Smart technology

The pandemic made us realize just how much we touch things in our house, and where we put things coming into our homes from the outside. Thus, designers and smart home providers have seen greater adoption and sales of smart home technology. Smart locks, programmable light bulbs, connected refrigerators, and other voice-activated technology have flourished in the spotlight that the pandemic provided. Once the ease of use for one product has been established, it's easy to jump onboard for many other automated technologies and the frictionless use they provide.