Sustainability and Comfort Trends
Josh Christian, CEO of the Home Technology Association, predicts big leaps in climate control technology, with systems learning our habits and routines over time and climate trends. “These systems adapt to your schedule, adjusting temperatures based on whether you’re home, asleep, or away. The result is maximum comfort and energy efficiency,” he explains. By analyzing both user behavior and weather data, these systems fine-tune the home environment. “As they learn more about your lifestyle, they get smarter, delivering the perfect temperature while minimizing waste and lowering utility bills.”
Safety Trends
Mark Bryan, senior foresight manager at Future Today Institute, envisions AI making our homes safer and more personalized. “Your home will evolve into a proactive partner in your daily life,” he says. By 2025, AI-powered systems will take customization and safety to new heights. Using real-time data and augmented reality, these systems will predict and address risks like slippery floors or hidden leaks, offering immediate solutions to keep your home safe and secure.
Homeowner Capability Trends
Leslie Carothers, principal at Savour Partnership and a digital marketing consultant, predicts AI will revolutionize how homeowners approach design. “AI will help homeowners plan their rooms, find matching products online at the best prices, and make purchases more seamlessly,” she says.
Amanda Pendleton, a home trends expert at Zillow, notes that new homeowners are most likely to invest in interior design and furnishings. “AI tools online can inspire and guide these projects,” she explains. “A leading trend for 2025 will be virtual staging, allowing homeowners and buyers to better visualize how furniture, flooring, or fixtures will look in a space before committing to changes. This technology is evolving rapidly and promises to be transformative for buyers, sellers, and homeowners alike.”
Rachel Hodgdon, president and CEO of the International WELL Building Institute, believes AI will empower homeowners to better envision and plan renovations or new builds. “AI won’t replace designers or architects but can streamline the early design process,” she explains. “Having just designed my own home, I know how many months it took to create an initial concept. AI could enable homeowners to arrive at those concepts much faster.”
Khoi Vo, CEO of the American Society of Interior Designers, sees hyper-personalized AI tools as a game-changer. “Platforms like ProQuest and CoPilot allow homeowners to visualize every step of the design process, making real-time adjustments to fit their unique needs,” he says. This technology simplifies decision-making, reduces costs, and optimizes project timelines. “As AI becomes more intuitive and accessible, we’ll see wider adoption, making personalized and efficient design solutions more achievable for everyone.”
Process Trend
Daryl Friedman, global president and CEO of the CEDIA smart home technology trade association, highlights the growing collaboration between technology integrators, designers, and homeowners. “As technology becomes central to home design, partnerships between interior designers and tech integrators will deepen,” he says. “Together, they’ll ensure that technology is seamlessly integrated into a home’s décor, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics.”
Conclusions
Bill Darcy, global president and CEO of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, emphasizes AI’s potential to personalize design decisions. “The true innovation will come from using AI to create spaces that not only look amazing but are tailored to how people live, from functionality to sustainability,” he says.
Reflecting on these trends, I see AI as both an exciting opportunity and a source of concern. Back in 2018, I read about the conveniences and privacy risks of connected home technology. The ability to check your oven remotely or receive alerts about a refrigerator door left open offers undeniable benefits, but it also opens doors to data privacy concerns. While my earlier predictions about the misuse of data haven’t fully materialized, AI makes such scenarios more plausible.
We’re stepping into a brave new world. Let’s hope it leans more toward innovation and empowerment than dystopia.
