In December 2019, a cluster of patients in Wuhan, China began to experience pneumonia-like symptoms that didn’t respond well to available treatments. Less than a month later, the Centers for Disease Control activated a response to investigate this novel coronavirus. It was spreading fast across Asia, Europe and into the United States. On March, 15, 2020, according to the CDC’s timeline, “States begin to implement shutdowns in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.” That was five years ago this week. How we think about our living spaces – and appreciating their links to our health, safety and well-being – has shifted significantly since then.
1. Increased Consumer Awareness Of Wellness-Home Links
According to research conducted by the New Home Trends Institute, 93% of homeowners and single family house renters earning $50,000 or more responded in a survey that wellness was important to them; 73% said it would be a factor in selecting their next home, (up from 43% who cited it as a factor in their current residence), Mikaela Arroyo told me for a January 17, 2023 Forbes.com article. There were additional findings in that piece about wellness features trending on Zillow. (I had never seen responses that strong before the pandemic!)
More recently, a strong interest in wellness features by homeowners has shown up in surveys conducted by the American Institute of Architects, National Kitchen & Bath Association, American Society of Interior Designers, Global Wellness Institute and other organizations. I’ve reported on many of them, including two February articles on ASID’s 2025 Trend Outlook report.
2. Air Filtration And Indoor Air Quality Prioritization
Some of this interest, including the prioritization of indoor air quality, dates back to late 2020 findings that the virus causing Covid-19 was spread through airborne aerosolized particles, not droplets found mainly within a six foot radius, as earlier believed. “Aerosols infect much more easily in close proximity, because they are much more concentrated there, just like the smoke being breathed out by a smoker (smoke is an aerosol),” explained University of Colorado at Boulder professor Jose Jimenez, an aerosols specialist in an interview I conducted for a September 22, 2020 Forbes.com article.
Air purification addresses not only viruses and pathogens, which can be extremely dangerous for vulnerable individuals, but also smoke and ash from wildfires and pollutants in general. “Designers have been more intentional about integrating air-purifying solutions — whether through HVAC upgrades with HEPA filtration, biophilic design that naturally improves air quality, or selecting materials that don’t contribute to indoor pollution,” Dallas-based interior designer Veronica Sanders told me for the ASID trend report article.
3. Outdoor Living Imperative
One of the early decisions in some state- and locally mandated shutdowns was closing beaches, parks and trails. This cut off healthy green space access for millions of urbanites, hiking and cycling enthusiasts and children denied the fun of playing in nature.
Homeowners who had yards, balconies or other private outdoor space were strongly advantaged during those early days. “Six of the top 10 features that help homes sell for more are outdoor features, signaling that the pandemic-era demand for functional outdoor space remains,” according to a Spring 2024 Zillow list I shared in an April 16, 2024 Forbes.com article. This trend continues!
Realtor.com wrote this in its 2025 trends outlook, published on March 4, 2025: “One of the most significant shifts in housing trends is the growing emphasis on outdoor spaces and community connectivity.” This is showing up as strong desire for backyards, rooftop terraces, decks, patios and balconies. It’s also showing up as a priority for finding homes near open community spaces. “According to recent data, 50% of homebuyers now prioritize proximity to such amenities in their search for a new home,” the site reported.
4. Bidet Functionality Popularization
“Toilet paper became a coveted item in late March when many cities and states across the country issued shelter-in-place orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic, prompting people to purchase large amounts of household goods,” observed North Carolina State University in a post titled “How the Coronavirus Created a Toilet Paper Shortage.” An increased need as more people were home from work and school, created a panic buying trend, and resulted in stores running out.
Households that had or purchased bidet toilets or bidet seats during those difficult days were sitting pretty. They were able to maintain their personal hygiene throughout the shortage. In fact, bidet functionality is considered a superior cleansing approach to paper; it is more thorough and gentler.
Bidets have an additional benefit in helping someone who has mobility or balance issues handle their own hygiene needs without a caregiver helping them into a bath or shower each trip to the bathroom. This proved helpful when nursing homes were sending residents home during the pandemic, and it continues to help those seeking independent living while aging. “The US Bidets industry size accounted for USD 2.94 Billion in 2023 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.12% from 2023 to 2033,” according to a forecast published in April 2022 by Evolve Business Intelligence.
One of the positive outcomes of this bidet trend is increased selection for consumers. At the February 2025 Design & Construction Week expo, there were new bidet toilet models with $2500 and $2000 price tags. When these toilets were first introduced to the US market, they were typically $7,000 or more.
There is also a broader selection of bidet-enabled seats for standard toilets starting below $100. Cognitive Market Research put the 2023 to 2030 bidet seat growth rate at 12.11% in a 2025 report. “By some estimates, the entire bidet market grew two to three times during 2020,” CNN Business reported on March 24, 2024.
5. YOLO Outlook
I have a theory, based on 20 years of designing home spaces and writing about them: Prior to the Great Recession – during which close to 10 million Americans were displaced, according to Investopedia – clients were strongly inclined to choose major room finishes that would enhance their resale value and appeal to future buyers. Those who were able to hold onto their houses, or buy a home afterward, have less confidence in their home as a sure-fire investment vehicle. They’ve seen the crash. They may have felt the burn too.
Segue to the pandemic a decade later and not only was the financial stability of one’s property called into question, but the actual stability of one’s very life and health was challenged. The “You only live once” ethos beloved by Millennials and Gen Z was painfully driven home to all age groups, along with the realization that your life may be shorter than you might think.
YOLO thinking has led to a more liberated approach to home design that’s more personalized, creative risk-taking and, frankly, fun. New York-based architectural historian Kate Reggev confirmed this: “The biggest trend that I’ve seen in residential design, especially single-family home design, is a continued push towards what I would describe as joyful, personal interiors: colorful spaces that range from maximalist to minimalist, but that regardless of specific aesthetic have a personality to them and a strong color palette. These spaces are fun and playful, and I think got their start during the pandemic when people were looking to their homes to bring them joy.”
Last Words
“The pandemic has had a profound impact on home design, much like historical events of the past,” noted Sacramento-based interior designer Kerrie Kelly, alluding to the Spanish Flu. “Wellness spaces have become a priority, with more homeowners integrating biophilic design and creating dedicated areas for meditation, yoga, and relaxation.”
She cites bidets, air purification systems, and touchless faucets surging in popularity as homeowners seek more hygienic, low-touch solutions. “The pandemic made us all re-evaluate our spaces, driving demand for multi-functional rooms, better outdoor connections, and designs focused on mental and physical well-being.”
Past pandemics, including tuberculosis and the Spanish flu, brought us powder rooms, sleeping porches, white subway tiles and closets, according to a March 31, 2020 Architectural Digest article. We may not have to wait another century to learn what the next one will bring. Public health professionals like those from the Center for Global Development, told a July 2021 conference, “The next pandemic could be much sooner and more severe than we think.” They predict a 47 to 57% chance of another Covid-level global crisis in the next 25 years.
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Interviews for articles written by Jamie Gold were conducted by email.
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