If you and your partner have some money saved up and want to foster closer relationships in your family, one of the best ways to do so is by making starting home project improvements and upgrades that all of you will enjoy. For one, the pandemic will continue for the foreseeable future, and we might not have many opportunities to leave our houses for leisure. One solution is to invest in our home since doing so is a great way to ensure that our family members are still entertained even while social distancing. For another, investing in these upgrades might significantly increase your home’s property value.
Here are some home design ideas and projects that can help foster closer bonds in the family.
Open-floor plan
There has been much debate in the architectural and interior design world about the relevance of open-floor plans in the time of COVID-19. Those against it say that open-floor plans don’t leave much room for self-isolation—what if a family member contracts COVID-19? We can argue that they can stay in their rooms, but what if they’re simply asymptomatic and want to be able to move freely around the house?
On the other hand, open-floor plan loyalists say that even in a post-pandemic world, there will always be room for an open concept home since it’s a great way for families to bond in big numbers and to entertain guests when COVID-19 is over. At the end of the day, an open concept home is all about marrying together the house’s common areas, which are the living room, kitchen, and dining room.
If you and your family have a love for cooking and entertaining, an open floor plan might still be your best bet for keeping alive fun family traditions like cooking together and hosting guests. It’s also a great way to stay connected even if you’re doing different things throughout the house.
Family room
However, if the open concept is losing its luster for you during the pandemic, having a family room can be a great alternative. It can be solely dedicated to you and your family’s game or movie nights, which means no office or homework station in the room. You can place your family’s entertainment unit and game consoles in this room, as well as the most comfortable couch and furniture set that can fit your entire family.
If you have toddlers or small kids, you can be sure they will be rolling around the floor. Ensure it’s safe and clean for them to do so by investing in high-quality laminate floors that complement the room’s style and aesthetic. The best designs can even look like real hardwood floors if installed correctly.
Backyard fun
Another home trend that’s gaining a lot of steam during the COVID-19 crisis is investing in elaborate backyard installations, Here are some ideas you can look into to turn your backyard into a place where your family can have fun:
- Home playgrounds and monkey bars
- Dog park
- Barbecue and cooking station
- Water slide in your swimming pool
- Home zip line for kids
- Patio with entertainment unit
- Greenhouse for plants
- Treehouse
- Indoor-outdoor extension
No matter how big your yard is, you can surely find an update or feature that can fit in it and will meet your family’s specific entertainment needs.
Communal workroom
The prospect of sharing an office or workstation with your partner or child may seem daunting, especially if you’re all doing video calls at the same time. Still, it can be a great way to foster support and encouragement with each other during stressful work and schooldays. Here are some ways to make communal office work:
- If the room is big enough, you can set enough distance to disturb one another during video calls. There are plenty of units in the market that can accommodate multiple workstations. You can also invest in high-quality headsets for you and your family members.
- Designing your child’s workstation in a way that stimulates their creativity, motivation, and energy for learning is one of the best ways to help them adjust to the challenges of remote learning. You can paint their desk or chair their favorite color and paint your own workstation a complementary shade or hue.
The Bottom Line
Multiple studies have shown the significant effects of our home’s state on our mental health and emotional well-being. If you want to encourage closeness and intimacy within your family, use your home as a tool to do so. These projects may seem like a lot of work, but they’re well worth the effort.
