McCamy Construction

How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Changing the Way We Live in Our Homes

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

It seems like the COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our day-to-day lives, including the way we live inside our homes. One of the most noticeable ways our lives have shifted is the way we work. An estimated one in four people now work entirely from home. An additional 20 percent of the workforce works at least partially from home, according to a Gallup poll conducted the first two weeks of August. A year ago, only 5 percent of workers said they worked from home 20 days out of the month. Now, that number is 22 percent. And we’re not just working from home. As the pandemic rages on, we’re staying home more often than we did in an effort to reduce exposure to the virus. People are eating out and traveling less, spending more time cooking in their own kitchens and working all over the house. For many families, school is taking place at the dining room table, and bedrooms and dens have replaced gyms. Home improvement projects — both DIY and traditional renovations — have soared. Home renovation website Houzz.com reported a 58 percent increase in renovation consultations, with an additional 52 percent increase in home addition consultations. These requests aren’t based on the current situation alone — it comes from concern that a full-fledged lockdown could happen again, as well as the belief that working from home will become more the norm than the exception. McCamy’s President of Construction Grant McMahan said that he believes the pandemic will permanently change how we think about life at home. Fantastic outdoor spaces and flexible indoor spaces are often part of the discussion he has with homeowners these days, whether they’re renovating or building new homes. That was already the case, but the pandemic has pushed it forward even more. Here are some of the top changes people are making to their homes.

Creative Solutions to Schooling from Home

For many people, adding a room over the garage or renovating the garage completely into a full-fledged living space is a quick way to get the most out of untapped square footage. The same can be done with unfinished basements. A garage overhaul avoids the chaos that can come from renovating your home, so that life can continue as normal until the work is done. Homeowners across the nation are using that additional space for all kinds of things. Some use it as a school-house in counties that are still doing 100 percent virtual schooling. Many families are taking schooling into their own hands whether their districts are learning in-person or not. A dedicated space allows children to focus fully on school without being distracted by the activities they normally do at home. It also allows tutors to come and go easily, and offers the space to do more than just sit at a desk. Many families are schooling in pods, sharing space with family and neighbors. When the pandemic first hit, parents had no time to plan. Many people have already made these renovations over the summer, preparing for a scenario where their children remain at home through the winter.

Making WFH a Pleasure

But it’s not just kids who need more space. For couples who both work from home, the need for dedicated office space is huge. Some large companies, like Google, have announced that their employees will work from home until summer 2021, and in a hybrid model after that. If you plan to work from home into the foreseeable future, a home addition or renovation may make sense. Home designs are now featuring flexible spaces, larger porches and fully functional home offices that serve as dedicated spaces for work only. Sitting at the dining room table is only sustainable for so long. It can wreak havoc on your posture, creating aches and pains you wouldn’t have had if you were sitting in an ergonomic chair at an actual desk. Transforming a rarely used space into a permanent office space can do the trick if you need a less permanent solution. Think about spaces like your laundry room, guest bedroom, or enclosed porch. An innovative solution that doesn’t require an extensive remodel or addition is a she-shed. These are portable units that can be placed in your backyard and can be made as simple or extravagant as you want. Originally an alternative to the “man cave,” the she shed is now a space for any member of the family to have some quiet and a little extra space. One family recently had a home built by McCamy in the WindRiver community. The pandemic hit soon after they settled in. “I’ve been stuck here for 100 days, it seems,” he joked. “In reality, it feels like I’ve been on vacation since March!” The bonus room that McCamy designed is perfect for his new work-from-home lifestyle. They’ve enjoyed having the time to settle into the house without distractions, and complete some landscaping projects.

Moving to the Great Outdoors

People are traveling and eating out less. All that staying at home can make a person claustrophobic and, well, bored. The act of simply taking a walk or sitting on a park bench has been a source of comfort. Home improvement projects took off during the first part of the quarantine, as did outdoor projects. People across the nation were planting “victory gardens” and creating outdoor living areas. As people build new homes, dramatic outdoor living spaces are in demand. Spending time outside is therapeutic in many ways. Being out in the sunshine provides Vitamin D and boosts your mood. Getting down in the dirt while gardening boosts serotonin levels and provides a sense of accomplishment. And if you’re part of a family, having an outdoor space gives you some space from being crowded. A recent outdoor living space McCamy built was on a Westmoreland property. Rather than being an understated—and often underused—accessory to a home, back porches or decks today are being designed as classy, cozy extensions of a home’s living space. The homeowners had primarily used the deck for grilling, which was convenient since it extends off the open kitchen and living room area. However, they knew the deck space could become a much more inviting place where they and their 2 small children could relax and entertain friends. “We suggested a secondary grill landing a few steps down from the main porch,” said McMahan. “It’s uncovered for ventilation, but still close to the entertaining space. There are so many ways to add an outdoor living space that makes your home feel like a vacation spot. That’s a great feature during these uncertain times. Your home really does become your castle.” Pools, outdoor kitchens, and gathering spaces are becoming increasingly sought after. Luxury lighting, sophisticated grills and high end fire pits are in demand, as are new decks, backyard bars and inground pools. Google Trends shows a 192 percent increase in the terms “backyard bars,” and a 148 percent increase in the search term “fire pits.” The search term “general contractor” went up a whopping 300 percent in the last six months and “home improvement loan” went up 100 percent. Big or small, there’s no denying that the pandemic has infiltrated every aspect of our life. While fear and anxieties about the future — our health, our work, our economy — can be overwhelming, creating functional spaces that are a pleasure to live in can offset some of that.

Looking for inspiration for your new spaces? Check out more of our projects below.

From home renovation to building a custom home, McCamy Construction has the experience and expertise to match your lifestyle and vision. We take into account the way your life looks, feels, and functions — and the way life has changed — to envision the smartest solutions to customize or renovate your home. If you’d like to see other inspiring projects we’re working on, you can find examples of the McCamy quality on our Facebook page, Instagram, or Houzz. If you’re considering renovating or building a custom-designed outdoor living space or home, we would love to talk with you. Schedule your consultation by filling out this form or give us a call at (865) 247-7068.