Imagining the future use of our homes is part of the challenge of an interior designer. People employing an interior designer are interested in a home that is cutting edge and leading the thinking in interiors. Fortunately, technology is evolving rapidly and helping set some of the trends that designers might follow. Here we explore this technology and how it is writing the rules for those in the interior design game.
The evolution of the smart home
The smart home is evolving at a rapid pace. What was once referred to as your thermostat connected to your phone now covers most aspects of a home. You might be able to turn your television off or adjust your lights, ask your smart speaker to remind you of an important appointment or have your doorbell project images to your smartphone.
It is a need to plan for the current smart technologies and future proof an interior design. Soon there will be voice-controlled showers as standards and a sink that can disappear from view with the wave of a hand. While interior design is exciting, it can also prove a headache when ensuring compatibility with future innovations. Interiors will likely get smarter and smarter, and the designer will need to adapt.
3D printing possibilities
While 3D printing is costly and clunky now, it is likely to become more mainstream and game-changing in the future. 3D printing allows an interior designer to demonstrate a design to a client, allowing them to touch the design in miniature form. It is too expensive for such demonstrations to be cost-effective now, but in the future, it will speed up the process of the designer’s work, saving money for all.
3D printing can also create intricate designs that look haphazard on current machinery. Designers can create the most intricate pieces, such as lamps and stools, to offer a unique appeal to a finished design.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is a game-changer in the world of interior design. Rather than using the headsets for gaming, a designer can use them to excite the client with multiple possible designs that can be experienced rather than only imagined. Rather than explaining how a structure works, the client can be transported within the building to see it in place.
It is also an excellent way to test out the potential paint schemes and wallpapers that are available for the finishes. It is difficult to envision the colour selections from different swatches, and stepping inside a fully realised room can bring these choices to life.
Augmented Reality
Where cost and practicality might make VR impractical, AR or Augmented Reality is an equally powerful tool. While the client is not immersed in the design, they can see 3D renderings of furnishing and decoration choices in situ. Using a smartphone or tablet, a client can scan the room and see the design come alive in front of them. It is a perfect way to quickly swiped between shades to find the perfect combination when choosing your paints.
Those interior designers who use AR to perfect their work early in the design process speak of greater client satisfaction in the finished product. The more manual processes of design and client sign-off are seen as holding a modern designer back.
Tiny Homes Movement
While the Tiny Homes Movement is not fuelled by technology, it will be made possible by innovations in how we live. The high cost of living and an increased appreciation of our carbon footprint has led many to downsize significantly. Powerful in the US, there is a move to reduce the size of a home to less than 40 square metres.
Technology is essential to the success of these small spaces, as designers will need to actualise designs and demonstrate they are fully functional before building. There will also need to be appliances that serve multiple purposes and take up less space.
It is the future
Technology is the future of interior design. Whether it is the inclusion of tech within the design or innovation to create the space, no designer can prosper without the full deployment of tech options.
