Go back a few years and some families spent very few hours within the four walls of their home. Out of the house and at work for approx. ten hours a day, then perhaps a couple of evenings spent indulging their hobbies/favourite ways to spend their downtime, another catching up with friends and/or family, they probably only spent a couple of hours a day at home.
Now that the pandemic has made our homes practically the only safe place to be, now that working practices for many companies involve remote working, and now that some of our hobbies are subject to ongoing social distancing restrictions, many of us are spending most of our time at home.
Builders and their fellow contractors are in short supply currently, as these changes have seen a record number of householders want to change, extend or adapt their dwellings.
As the variant has shown, the Covid show’s not quite over yet. There could be further variants lurking around the corner, ready to prolong the pandemic. It may be quite a while before we go back to our homes being the place where we simply lay our heads on a night—if we return to this at all.
Therefore, there will continue to be a huge demand for products that make our home lives more comfortable.
For example, products that help us separate our work and leisure/family time, such as moveable divider-type screens, ergonomic furniture, and pieces that can adapt to different tasks and which can be stored away when not in use.
Smart plugs and bulbs that can streamline our lives. Heating systems that can be managed via apps. Fast-charging stations for our electric vehicles. A plentiful supply of plug sockets, given how many more devices, chargers and equipment we have at home, particularly if remote working. Intelligent, powerful wi-fi. Gardens that can double as an outdoor room when the weather is nice, that enjoy plenty of privacy/screening from neighbouring properties. An additional loo or bathroom to accommodate everyone in the house at the same time. Hard landscaping to accommodate children’s vehicles as well as the family car(s), given that many young adults are remaining at home with their parents for a lot longer than in decades past.
Today’s technology, such as large-screen TVs and smart speakers around the home. Different types of lighting, e.g. soft lighting for downtime, task lighting in the kitchen, spot lighting for the home office, motion-sensor security lighting for the outside.
For housebuilders and developers, staying ahead of lifestyle trends (even if some are unwanted, e.g. lockdowns and pandemics) makes all the difference. How we use our homes today may be a little different to how we would have used them a few years ago, and it’s definitely different to how they were used in our mothers’ and grandmothers’ times. In their day, small kitchens, separate dining rooms and serving hatches were popular. Coal fires were the norm and few people had radiators. There are still some properties with an outside loo in existence, though they will likely have had an indoor loo added by now, too!
Electricals Online sell a wide range of products for tradespeople who are looking to cater to today’s homeowners. Delivery is free on orders over £50 and if you place this before 12pm, it will be with you the very next day. Check out our brands here