Interior Design in a Post Covid-19 World

As we isolate in our homes, we become increasingly aware of how our interior spaces affect our moods, our ability to work and our physical comfort. Coronavirus has confined us to our homes for three months now. While the pandemic has affected us all in different ways, it has also taught us how to adapt to a challenging situation and make the best of it. Spending more time at home has allowed us to bond with our families, explore new skills, take on more household responsibilities, and truly appreciate nature. There’s absolutely no doubt that for the foreseeable future work from home will be the new norm and interior design trends, as we know them, are about to change to adapt to this ‘new normal’. 

As we look to redecorate our homes, in the current scenario, our priorities are going to be quite different than they were in a Pre-COVID world. Practicality, ease of maintenance, sustainability, utilizing every square footage effectively – these are only some of the aspects that will play a critical role in our design choices going forward. To gather trends Pre & Post COVID-19 on different aspects of the interior design industry, we divided this article into two sections: one being the buying behaviour of customers going forward and the other being the interior trends that will be adopted – to give you a clear understanding of the interior design industry as we live in a new normal world - a COVID world.

I. Buying Behaviour of Customers

Go Local, Be Vocal 

It is becoming very apparent that the “Make in India” sentiment that has been on the rise in recent years has further been cemented by the pandemic. The Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan as announced by our PM last month, or the resolve of a self-reliant India, allows us to turn this crisis into an opportunity. While the need to promote local businesses and raw materials has always been the need of the hour, the current crisis forces clients to re-evaluate their buying choices and look towards homegrown brands. Trade restrictions due to the limitation of transportation further promotes this need.

Proud to be a Make in India brand through and through, Bharat Floorings & Tiles established in 1922, was a result of Pherozesha Sidhwa’s endeavour to help colonial India end its reliance on British goods. We have advocated the ‘Go Local Be Vocal’ idiom since 1922 wherein our core philosophy has been to serve our country in the best possible way, producing quality tiles that have graced the floors of several landmark buildings for nearly a century now! The resilience of these long-standing floors attests to Bharat Floorings’ deep-rooted connection with the identity of India.

In an era of mass-produced goods, made entirely by machines, Bharat Floorings & Tiles (BFT) has created a successful brand around manufacturing hand-crafted cement tiles locally. At the BFT factory, the company’s production remains small-scale and bespoke, with artisans working the same way they did decades ago, hand-crafting cement before pressing it under hydraulic pressure to form a tile. This ensures an end product that is one-of-a-kind and long-lasting! As a home-grown brand, we believe in giving back to the society, which adds value to the company. At BFT, we provide employment to artisans from different sections of society and help them generate income for themselves and their families.

Technology in Business

In an era of social distancing where your customers may be reluctant to come to you, it has become essential to use technology to take your product and services to them. 

We at Bharat Floorings, have eased out the accessibility of our flooring options and customization aspects through the Floor IT App on our website. Floor IT is a user-friendly application that allows customers to browse through our different collections of tiles and drag and drop different options to create their own custom made floors. Right from Heritage^TM Tiles range and the Made in India range, to our designer collaboration, BFT+ range and Unitinta^TM Tiles, we have it all covered. Customers are also able to choose a colour combination of their choice, best suited to their space. 

To maintain social distancing and taking into account the safety of our customers, we encourage them to make use of Floor IT, a DIY flooring application. The customers can access it online from the comfort of their home which will ensure that they remain safe and also saves them time. Customers have to just create an account on the application, select a design from the vast range of options available and save it. Customers, before placing their order can also request for the quote of the floor. We will give you a detailed quote for the selected tile and then accordingly you can place your order or change your preference. Once you have saved your desired creation, and sent us all the details, our team will get in touch with you, update you about stock availability and ensure delivery is done keeping the necessary safety measures in mind.

If you need guidance on using the Floor IT application, please refer to this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcNSLsez6zE

Budget Consciousness

Buyers are definitely more conservative with the way they spend their cash in the current scenario. Cost effectiveness, durability, value for money – these are terms that are more relevant today than ever before, and will affect buying decisions.

BFT tiles has always been widely recognized for its quality and durability, A brand that is loved by all for its unique & creative designs, BFT tiles are also known to be cost-efficient. The option of customizing tiles allows us to cater to clients working with varied budget criteria. We are proud to announce some pocket-friendly packages of our beautiful tiles. These consist of a combination of plain and pattern tiles (approximate ratio: 80:20) that can fit any budget or design requirement. Below is a sample floor for your reference. DM us on Instagram (@bharatfloorings) or email us at info@bharatfloorings.com to know more about our pocket friendly options!

Gravitation Towards Easy-to-Maintain Materials

Most of us have had to become self-reliant in a time when our domestic help have fled to their hometowns. With the absence of an extra pair of hands to assist us in keeping our houses sanitized and germ free, it is important to incorporate materials that are easy to clean and maintain.

Cement has a reputation for being sturdy, durable and easy-to-clean. All you need to do to is to add two tablespoons of kerosene or a mild liquid soap cleaner to half a bucket of clean water. Each room should be cleaned with fresh water and later taking a dry cloth again, rub the floor hard & dry. We also have a cleaning solution which will clean the floor and enhance the sheen by using it daily.

II. Interior Trends

Biophilia 

Working from home can be tiresome especially if there is no room for fresh air. This pandemic has made us crave the natural environment from within the confines of our home. This can be addressed by bringing that environment home through various indoor plants and allowing natural light to stream in, promoting a bright and airy atmosphere for you to thrive within. Gardening is said to be a good stress-buster that helps in relaxing and calming our mind. Even a small set of plants on the study table can make a person feel energized and help him / her to think with a clear mind. Allow for sunlight to enter your room; there is no harm in getting some extra vitamin D! The fresh air brought in by sunlight is good for your health. 

Bright Colours 

An overall sense of gloom has set in on our lives since the onset of the coronavirus. The last two months or so have gone deep into self-realization, working from home 24x7. In these despondent times, it is important to bring in some cheer to your life through bright and bold colours. A good environment at home is necessary to keep our mental health stable. Colours seem to have an impact on our brains. Take yellow for example. It represents positivity, freshness and happiness. Similarly, green is the colour of the environment which represents growth. Pretty prints and designs on the floor bring forth smiles and happiness, much needed currently in our otherwise dreary lives! 

Multi-Purpose Furniture

As we settle into our make-shift office at home, creation of efficient space is of utmost importance. Every piece of furniture available at home can find utilization in the office. A dining table can become your study table if you require a large table to work on. Even a footrest can serve as a laptop table to make it level-headed with your eyes. 

Sometimes, some furniture items can also act as great storage facility. A comfortable chair with a storage compartment, a staircase having drawers at the bottom, or a bed with storage bins can really help in saving up space. Multi-purpose furniture is convenient at so many levels. These simple tricks can save you the hassle of having to invest in new furniture items while also saving a lot of space at home.

Home Office

While working from home there should be a clear distinction between the office space and the rest of the house. This helps one in working peacefully minus any disturbances, while also allowing you to switch off and enjoy some downtime when exiting the office space within the house. To create a make-shift office at home, try to keep it minimalistic with limited furniture, only items that are absolutely required. A messy room might not prove to be a productive space and can lead to a confused and cluttered mind that prohibits creative and focused thinking. 

Wallpapers by BFT are yet another way to create an office-like environment at your home. The stylish yet subtle wallpapers give an altogether different dimension and meaning to a space. BFT’s wallpapers are available in varied designs and colours which will make the home-office look quite rich but at the same time very simplistic. Explore the all new BFT Wallpaper Range. DM us on Instagram or share your inquiry on our website.

Check out our wallpaper and tile collection only on our website!

Although BFT has opened its offices and showroom, we are taking all necessary steps to keep our customers safe and provide maximum support in maintaining social distancing. We, the citizens of this beautiful mother land, need to come together and fight this pandemic as one! We wish you all a safe return back to normalcy, and wish you the very best in your next home renovation project.

MUMBAI – HEAD OFFICE

Bharat Floorings & Tiles (Mumbai) Pvt. Ltd

32, Mumbai Samachar Marg, Ground Floor, Next to Stock Exchange, Fort, Mumbai - 400 023

Tel: 91 (22) 4057 4400/23/44

E-mail: info@bharatfloorings.com

For more details visit us at – www.bharatfloorings.com

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