COVID Conscious Fixtures – 2021 Home Design Trend
by Provenance Sales Designer, Camille Tharpe
The COVID pandemic has produced a year of challenges, but with these challenges has come great ingenuity in many fields, including that of interior design! One large problem that the pandemic has posed is that of reducing the number of germs we transfer on a daily basis. We rarely think of fixtures such as faucets, knobs, handles and light switches because they can become such peripheral aspects of our home, but these items can be host to more germs than we know.
One ingenious new design invention is that of the touchless light switch. Lights can be controlled with the wave of a hand. This especially comes in handy (no pun intended) in bathrooms and kitchens which we often associate as the main hubs of germ spread.
If touchless light switches aren’t your thing, then maybe consider a home lighting system that can be controlled remotely from your phone, or better yet… your voice! Amazon’s Alexa has the capability to turn on and off lights, lock doors, play music, control the temperature and much more with the sound of your voice through the Brilliant Smart Home System. This system also allows you to control your smart home with your phone. Today, there are so many smart home systems available, this is just one option.
Another great design feat which has become common in many homes, and will probably grow in popularity due to the pandemic, is the touchless faucet. With healthcare providers putting such an emphasis on washing our hands, touchless faucets are a great way to limit the spread of germs. Not only are touchless faucets practical, but they are also sleek and modern.
Cabinet handles and pulls are design aspects that many people put a lot of thought into when choosing, but you might want to consider more than just aesthetics when picking out your cabinetry accessories. Consider ease of cleaning when deciding on cabinet fixtures. Handles that are attractive, but difficult to clean between might not be the best choice for your home. Think about how often you use your cabinets throughout the day. If you’re a passionate home chef, or if you have a lot of traffic in and out of your kitchen, then investing in cabinet accessories that are easy to sanitize might be the smartest choice for you. Many companies are jumping on this idea due to the pandemic and are combining style with convenience, so more and more easy-to-clean options will become available in the future. If you’re a big fan of modernism, bypass the handles and pulls altogether and opt for touch-open cabinets!
Investing in these COVID conscious fixtures is not only beneficial for you and your family, but can also be an added bonus when considering the resale of your home. I think that COVID conscious fixtures will become the new standard in home building and buying!