How has the pandemic affected intimacy? Why are people going off open-plan design? And will remote-working trigger an urban exodus? In this part of the 2021 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about the forces set to shape our homes and relationships in the year ahead.

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a swift evolution of the home. Where it was once a private space, it’s now a pseudo-public, multipurpose area required to fill a range of personal and professional needs. How can brands tap into changing nesting aspirations and address new domestic challenges?

With frightening rates of COVID-19 in many nursing homes and retirement communities, a number of elderly Americans have moved in with their children. But to protect everyone’s mental health, some have taken up residence in newly built “in-law flats” – self-contained homes in the back garden.

Home improvement brand Lowe’s has released a commercial that highlights the joy and satisfaction of redecorating in the time of COVID-19. With many homeowners interested in upgrading their abodes, the ad shows how changing up your surroundings can boost happiness and wellbeing.