Good space design improves people’s health, according to 67% of interior designers
The study “The New Habitat 24-25”, promoted by APE Grupo, analyses the future of design in the spaces where we live and work: homes, hotels, offices and retail.
Homes become emotional and inclusive, offices seek to retain talent, hotels aspire to create connections through lifestyles and businesses focus on customer experience.
The study was conducted by a specialised consultancy firm with the collaboration of more than 400 interior designers, professional bodies and a panel of 10 interior design experts.
According to 66.6% of interior design professionals, a good design improves people’s health, thus becoming one of the fundamental pillars when creating spaces and, as a result, 98% of interior designers take well-being into account when designing their projects: these are some of the main conclusions of the third edition of the investigative study “The New Habitat 24/25: This is how the spaces where we live and work are changing”, promoted by the company APE Grupo.
In addition to well-being, one of the most important values remaining in the wake of the pandemic, environmental impact is gaining significant weight. In fact, the percentage of professionals who apply sustainability criteria to their designs has risen from 66% in 2021 to 80.9% in 2023.
The study was conducted by the specialised consultancy firm Futurea, with the collaboration of more than 400 interior designers, as well as a panel of experts made up of ten prestigious designers who work all over the world: Merry Design Studio, More & Co, Urbano by U, Trenchs Studio, Ideas Interiorismo, Made Studio, El Equipo Creativo, Denys & von Arend, PimPam Studio and Ciszak Dalmas.
Homes: Smaller and healthier. Homes are becoming inclusive of the older generation. Young people are redefining the concept of the home as a feeling.
In 2023, the most important trend in households is to design more sustainable and energy-efficient homes. Inclusivity is also gaining importance; in other words, human diversity is being taken into account, such as spaces designed for older people with different needs.
Homes are coming to life. The way in which a home is designed can reflect the values, memories and feelings of those who live in it. Designers and architects are reinventing shared spaces to accommodate the growing communal living trend.
‘Homes with a soul’ are on the rise. In the design of such homes, great importance is attached to shared spaces and the integration of different perspectives in order to incorporate the new needs and visions of society. Homes have therefore taken on a more emotional meaning, going beyond their mere physical function, especially for young people.
Offices: Adapted to new needs, with a more collaborative approach and a focus on employee well-being.
The IT company Owl Labs reveals that 84% of workers prefer hybrid work. Therefore, one of the most important challenges for companies and designers is to find a balance between going back to the office and on-site work, so professionals need to ensure that the office is an attractive space.
The study also brought to light that good interior design improves people’s performance in the office by 75%. Natural light and flexibility are the main priorities, while ergonomics is increasingly more important for improving productivity.
Interior designers are turning their focus to outdoor working, a growing trend that could radically change the way workplaces look. Sustainability is also becoming an important aspect in these spaces, with 81.2% of designers applying sustainable criteria when designing offices.
Hotels: Looking for new ways to build brands to establish close and fruitful connections with their guests.
Hotels are adopting a guest-focused approach to foster more emotional relationships. The challenge faced by designers is to help hotels expand their services according to the tastes and preferences of their guests. This includes membership-based services such as members-only clubs and pet-friendly spaces.
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of physical and mental health, and hotels have adapted to offer customised experiences focused on well-being and personal growth.
Another important figure brought to light by the study ‘The New Habitat’ is that, according to 34% of professionals, investment in interior design in the hotel sector will double in the next year. So much so that interior design contributes up to 63% of a hotel’s revenue.
Retail: Shops are becoming unique experiences as a result of the boom in e-commerce.
E-commerce is forcing brands and shops to focus on giving their customers a unique experience, innovating in retail environments and taking advantage of screen fatigue. It is no longer just about selling products, but about creating a symbolic space and offering a wide range of experiences.
The APE Grupo study shows that 40% of professionals consider this to be the most important aspect when designing a retail space.
Designers maintain that shop immersion is an essential part of the retail experience, even more so than the way in which products are displayed. Shops thus become a focal point for creating a community and prioritising the role of the company over the business. According to Deloitte data, this type of customer is willing to pay 20% more for a customised and exclusive product.
Study:
It was conducted by the Futurea consultancy firm, with the collaboration of the General Council of Official Colleges of Decorators and Interior Designers, Casa Decor, the Fundació del Disseny de la Comunitat Valenciana and Strabe.
Panel of experts: Merry Design Studio, More & Co, Urbano by U, Trenchs Studio, Ideas Interiorismo, Made Studio, El Equipo Creativo, Denys & von Arend, PimPam Studio and Ciszak Dalmas.
For this study, we employed coolhunting techniques to undertake research into trends on a global scale. In parallel, during the months of February and March 2023, a consultation was carried out among interior design and architecture experts, with 403 responses. Among those interviewed, 79% work on residential projects, 48.5% are specialised in retail projects, 42.9% are involved in office projects and 26.8% are focused on hotel projects.
About APE Grupo:
APE Grupo is an industry leader in the creation of unique spaces, by offering an extensive range of design ceramics, advanced technical products and services that help its customers reach their optimum potential. APE Grupo was established as a business group in February 2016, bringing together four brands with 30 years of experience – APE, Carmen, XLINING and Ilbagno – and a technical office that provides advanced architectural and interior design solutions. Thanks to the effort and work carried out in each of its brands, the result of an expansive strategy and the great diversity in the range of products, the group is present in over 120 countries. The tile company, based in Castellón, has nearly 150 employees and a turnover of 64 million euros in 2022.
