Home is where the start is

It’s been said a number of times that the pandemic has affected nearly all facets of people’s lives in one way or another. While this is certainly true, it is also remarkable to note how adaptable people have been in navigating those changes.

In addition to altering the way they work, learn, exercise and socialize during the past year and more, people have also changed how they remodel and improve their homes.

Paul Rowe of Holyoke has owned Rowe Remodeling since 2006 and began working in construction in 1994.

He works in many areas of home improvement — painting, carpentry, floors, carpet tile installation, bathroom and kitchen remodels and basement finishes and remodels.

He has noticed recent trends in the remodeling and home improvement industry. He said it seems that the pandemic caused people to shift focus from purchasing new to instead remodeling what they already have, putting a fresh face on their homes or the rooms inside.

He noted that he has been very busy this spring with the number of projects. “I’m booked until the end of the summer,” he said, adding that he may be looking to hire another employee or two.

Before the pandemic, in the early part of 2020, remodeling and home improvement trends included knocking down walls to create areas that could be used as shared spaces for family and friends.

When the pandemic hit and people started working and learning from home, many discovered that these open spaces might not provide the quiet atmosphere needed to complete those tasks effectively.

Rowe spoke of a project he completed in mid-May. He built a pantry and two other rooms in a wide-open basement, which is now broken up into separate rooms.

This reflects some home improvement trends that are expected to continue even beyond 2021. During the pandemic, people ate out and traveled less than before, and in some cases they put the money saved back into their homes where they were spending so much time.

According to a study conducted by the Caney Group in partnership with the Home Improvement Research Institute, lockdowns during the pandemic drove short-term fixes, such as transforming a spare room into a space that could be conducive to working or learning remotely if needed.

Homeowners are creating more dedicated spaces where they can work or learn remotely without distraction, and even as pandemic restrictions fade, some envision the possibility of working from home again at some point in the future.  

People are looking at options like having built-in furniture that can be hidden away when not needed, or further insulating walls to keep too much sound from entering the room when they’re working.

Another innovative way to create personal space is the use of “cloffices,” which are closets used as offices. They have become popular since the pandemic forced many people to work from home.

However, cloffices don’t have to necessarily involve a closet. People have made them in their unused spaces under their stairs or even in something as simple as a corner or nook.

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