When we think about technology, we often go straight to smartphones, computers, and artificial intelligence. But, have you ever given thought to the way that it’s shaped the way we design our homes?
Technology has revolutionized nearly every aspect of home design, including flooring, lighting, fabrics, and security, making it easier than ever to create a stylish and practical home. It’s helped us advance the ways we make our living spaces more comfortable, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.
Let’s take a look at some of the greatest improvements we’ve seen in the last few years, and how you can use them to design your perfect space.
The rise of surface technology
When it comes to surfaces, technological innovation is everywhere. From paints that reflect heat to reduce energy usage, to 3D wall panels that add interest and depth to your interiors, there are many ways that technology has shaped the inside and outside of your home.
Hybrid flooring, in particular, is a great innovation. It has the qualities of both a luxury vinyl and a laminate, making it a more durable flooring option. Hybrid flooring has been developed to be stronger and lower maintenance than traditional flooring types, which makes it a win-win, ticking all boxes.
Other surfaces that have benefited from technology are engineered stone countertops that come in a variety of shades and patterns, smart glass that changes tint based on outside conditions, and fabrics that are resistant to stains and wear, making them perfect for homes with pets and children.
Virtual and augmented reality in interior design
Have you ever made a change in your home just to realise it doesn’t look the way you hoped it would? Well, advancements in virtual and augmented reality in interior design have helped make this a problem of the past.
Homeowners can now visualise their design choices — whether with flooring, paint colours, layouts and more —before making a commitment, using virtual reality to walk through their potential design choices. Even furniture designers are jumping on the trend, allowing customers to use virtual reality to take a photo of their room and place virtual furniture where they think it would go to see if it’s ‘just right’.
Smart homes and automation
Technology isn’t just a part of building and designing homes, but also the way we use them. Smart homes and automation are becoming the new normal for renovations and new builds, making life easier, and homes more secure and even helping save money on running costs.
Nearly every element of homes can be automated these days, and there’s an app for everything. It’s easy to turn lights on and off, set the thermostat, or check who’s at the door without even being home. Security systems are now smarter than ever, with facial recognition, phone control and more. Even fridges have had an upgrade with the ability to monitor their contents and automatically add items to your shopping list.
Enhanced home security solutions
Home security technology isn’t just smarter, but more accessible for everyone. Even renters are now able to install basic home security systems and cameras, with devices easily connected to your phone for easy monitoring wherever you are.
Other options include smart locks, alarm systems, facial recognition for gates and more. Smart locks ditch keys in place of pin codes or facial recognition, and can even be installed on gates for extra peace of mind. Most security devices can now be connected to your smartphone to give you more control over your home than ever before. This not only gives you added security, but helps increase the value of your home.
Advancements in home entertainment systems
Unwinding from a long day with some music or in front of the TV is a common routine for many. With advancements in home entertainment systems, it’s gotten all the more indulgent, to the point you don’t even need to lift a finger to change a song, movie, or TV show.
Most televisions now come with voice command options, letting you simply tell your TV what show you want to watch or to even ask it for a movie or music suggestion. Your audio system can even be wired directly into your home, providing a seamless and minimalist feel to the space.
The future of tech-driven home design
Technology is evolving every day, and each year there are smarter, more innovative home design options. It’s helping us build and improve our homes, making them more secure, helpful and secure than ever before. In the future, who knows what changes we’ll see!
