Did you know that interior designers use the features of smart technologies to create designs for “smart homes”? The construction of modern smart homes all over the world is progressing at a rapid pace, as many interior designers are incorporating a host of smart technologies and tools such as virtual design tools, project management tools, 3D modeling tools, etc.
By George Nicola (Expert Stager)
Whether you are a professional interior designer or eager to know more about smart technologies in interior design, in the text below, you can learn more about:
- Importance of Implementing Smart Technologies in Interior Design
- How Smart Technologies and Interior Design are Combined
- Smart Technologies Interior Designers Should Know
- Benefits of a Smart Home
- Smart Home Styling Tips
What are Smart Technologies?
“Smart home” or “Smart House” is a property, space, or building that utilizes a combination of sensors, internet protocols, and technology to detect, filter, and transmit data to its owner or other parties for surveillance, control, or data gathering.
Nowadays “Smart homes” technology is well integrated into the design of space and architecture.
The 21st century has seen a rapid technological revolution that has evolved into intelligent technologies. The word “SMART,” according to Netlingo, refers to “self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology.” Therefore, innovative technology provides cognitive awareness to objects using artificial intelligence, big data, and machine learning, from which homeowners benefit most.
Inanimate objects in a home, such as doors, windows, walls, ceilings, lights, alarm systems, switches, and many others, can now communicate using intelligent technologies.
There are three kinds of intelligent technologies:
Internet of Things (IoT) Devices
IoT is a network of devices that intelligently use applications, chips, data analytics, online connectivity, sensors, and software to bring control immobile physical objects. These automated, futuristic, scalable devices are common in smart homes, smart cities, smart factories, etc.
Smart Connected Devices
Smart connected devices are controlled using a remote and connected to Bluetooth or the internet to provide a customized experience. Examples include smart bulbs, smart security cameras, etc.
Innovative technology conveniently helps interior designers not only to work with clients but also to collaborate with other designers all over the world remotely.
Software like Zoom, Gather, Miro, and Googler Meet have eliminated physical meet-ups while allowing designers to deliver face-to-face contacts to convey their ideas to clients.
Smart Devices
Smart devices, such as smart coffeemakers provide certain personalized services at a particular time. They work without the internet and with limited automation.
Benefits of Implementing Smart Technologies in Smart Home Designs
To Design Smarter Homes
In the past, interior designers only had to worry about arranging furniture around the TV. However, with wide-ranging home tech today, interior designers must accommodate each in modern homes.
The focus has shifted to designing intelligent homes to integrate innovative technologies, such as smart lighting, smart switches, intelligent security systems, etc.
If you consider hiring an interior designer to design your “Smart home,” one of the first questions is how much does an interior designer cost?
This article outlines a comprehensive guide on average costs, price rates, and steps to hire a designer.
To Find Interior Design Ideas
Interior designers constantly look for design inspiration by collecting ideas for their future projects. In the past, they relied on design magazines, trade shows, or peaceful hikes in nature to find inspiration.
Today, they can find fresh and innovative design ideas from inspirational websites of other interior designers, such as Architectural Digest, Houzz, and Pinterest.
To Turn 2D Drawings into Realistic Renders
Many interior designers use 3D rendering software such as SketchUp, Archicad, Lumion, Revit, and many others to turn 2D drawings into realistic renders.
These tools help clients visualize their spaces with an enriched viewpoint. For example, SketchUp designs in 3D but documents in 2D, making it easier to communicate the final design to clients through various mediums.
Whether for renovation or new construction, designing a home is as exciting as 3D home design rendering has significantly changed home design projects, saving time, money, and effort while minimizing contingencies.
To Step into the Future of Interior Design
Integrating VR and AR with interior design is one of the most exciting developments for providing design clients with a completely immersive consultation experience.
With a VR headset, interior designers can walk clients through an immediate impression of their visually designed space, providing more accurate feedback.
How are Smart Technologies and Interior Design Combined?
Interior designers use various intelligent technologies to create projects that have complex ideas.
Today, interior designers and architects collaborate with suppliers of intelligent systems to create coziness and comfort in modern smart homes in the following ways:
- To save water and electricity in green homes, they use intelligent technologies to monitor the heating of rooms, leak sensors, LED-backlighting, motion sensors, and voice sensors.
- Modern bathrooms are equipped not only with screens and sound but are also programmed to play specific songs. In addition, the mirror is also fitted with a defogger.
- They program the walls of modern homes to change patterns or textures for different occasions once they receive specific commands.
- To save electricity, several intelligent devices in green homes run on solar. Most green homes in warm and sunny parts of the world use solar power all year long.
And to make things right, we should mention that the more technologies we use in our homes, the more we have to be aware of cyber threats and hacks to the systems.
Perhaps this is the only major drawback that some consider an obstacle.
7 Smart Technologies Interior Designers Should Know
Smart Designs
In the modern-day world of rapid technological advancements, interior designers can effortlessly use the internet to create designs using virtual staging as well as augmented reality and virtual reality. These tools help designers collaborate easily with their clients while cutting down on one-on-one meetings and the project’s overall cost.
Interior designers usually go through several stages and mini-stages during the design process. As such, they cut down the duration and efforts required to arrive at the final output using AR and VR.
Smart Kitchens
The IoT has made it possible for the interior design industry to make improvements to the traditional kitchen.
Smart kitchens can follow instructions because they have in-built technological integrations for performing tasks, such as adjusting lighting, temperature, etc.
Other smart technologies and appliances in the modern kitchen include voice-controlled dishwashers and ovens, smart refrigerators, etc.
You can also use apps to perform tasks, such as setting the oven’s temperature!
Smart Lighting
Interior designers have eliminated the need for traditional light switches by using remote controls to turn on and off lights in different rooms of intelligent homes. Smart lighting is also energy efficient and reduces the frequency of replacing faulty light bulbs in the house.
You can also use customized bright lighting for festivities, holidays, and other special occasions. In addition, interior designers and architects provide their clients with irresistible intelligent home designs with lighting control.
Smart Switches
Interior designers install smart switches to ensure that the home’s overall cost is affordable. Smart switches are commonly used in homes that require renovation, which eliminates the need to upgrade appliances in a home.
Smart switches can be controlled using a remote or smartphone so long as the devices are connected to the internet.
To save more energy, you can also extend the controls of a smart switch to the home’s entertainment system, lighting, and fans.
Smart Entertainment
Entertainment in smart homes has undergone automation in such a way that you can use Alexa or Google Home to control entertainment devices using your voice. Interior designers make the most of smart entertainment by hooking these systems to the TV and sound systems.
To enjoy smart entertainment in your home, you simply have to command your TV and sound systems to play movies, music, and videos without moving a muscle.
A number of interior designers have convinced clients to incorporate smart entertainment systems into their homes to keep each family member captivated.
Smart HVAC Systems
Smart home heating, ventilation, and air conditioning require round-the-clock energy efficiency and temperature control.
Interior designers widely use intelligent HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption and lower energy bills. They install various gadgets, such as smart thermostats and Google Home, to monitor overall energy costs in the smart home.
Smart Security Systems
The popularity of smart home security systems today has prompted many interior designers to incorporate them in modern homes for clients who want to remotely monitor the safety of their homes.
To see who is at the door, homeowners can now connect their security cameras to smartphone apps, which allow them to open or close doors and gates for visitors.
Motion detectors and alarm systems are also part of smart security systems for detecting intruders in smart homes.
Benefits of a Smart Home
A smart home is a house equipped with a broadband connection, fiber-optic cables, and a wireless network that helps convey data and video signals over radio frequencies.
Besides the fact that homeowners can remotely monitor their homes via the Internet, the following are some key benefits of a smart home:
A More Connected World
Today, you can control several interior design elements without moving a muscle.
With many intelligent devices connected through Smart Assistants like Siri and Alexa, you can effortlessly play music, control the temperature of every room, switch your television on or off, and open or close your doors, windows, and curtains from a distance.
The home environment can also be controlled using pre-set timers for switching lights on or off to create desirable moods depending on various occasions and times of the day.
The pre-set times can also sync the lights to the rhythm of different genres of music and detect water leaks.
Peace of Mind
Nowadays, you can rest assured that high-tech security systems will keep your smart home safe. For instance, homeowners of intelligent homes can get instant alerts when visitors come to their gates or doors and speak to them before letting them in.
In addition, many door locks of intelligent homes are usually redesigned to make them impossible for burglars to pick them up.
With many intelligent homes installing motion sensors that detect movement, you can enjoy some peace of mind when you are not around, even in an insecure neighborhood.
Increased Energy Efficiency
Smart homes use intelligent switchboard automation to make cooking, cooling, and heating energy efficient by monitoring the power consumption of various appliances. In addition, thermal and motion sensors detect any activity in multiple rooms and save energy by switching off all the lights.
For comfort, you can also pre-set optimal temperatures in a room using smart thermostats. For example, once the intelligent thermostat detects that the blinds are raised, the lights dim. In addition, intelligent solar panels can follow the sun’s angle to capture solar energy.
Smart Home Styling Tips for Exceptional Interiors
Blend Smart Devices with Existing Interior Design Style
Blending intelligent technologies in a well-curated space that matches your interior design style is advisable.
For example, the Frame TV by Samsung is an innovative smart home tech designed with aesthetics. When the TV is off, it displays an artwork or image to make your living room look more elegant.
Play with Colour
In the past, most intelligent technologies and devices came in black, but they are now produced in wide-ranging appealing shades that go with the color scheme of smart homes’ design.
For example, you can go for modern speaker systems with trendy shades of rose gold or install remote-controlled chandeliers that change colors according to the time of day or room type.
Conceal Your Smart Technologies
Rather than going for smart technologies that are easily spotted in your home, you can hide the less attractive technology as part of your innovative home design.
To keep the tech out of sight, consider creating custom-made storage for home technologies that do not match your interior style. These might include a piece of art, a storage unit, or a well-placed ornament.
Key Takeaways
- “SMART” means “self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology.”
- Using AI, big data, and machine learning, innovative technology provides cognitive awareness to objects.
- Intelligent technologies are of 3 kinds: IoT, internet-connected, and smart devices.
- Interior designers use smart technologies to create projects that have complex ideas.
- Smart homes provide a more connected world, peace of mind, and energy efficiency.
- For an exceptional interior in a smart home, play with color, blend smart devices with interior design style, and conceal intelligent technologies.
