Home interiors have always changed and adjusted based on current trends, the adoption of new technologies, and different lifestyles. As a result, the standards in interior design are constantly changing, and interior designers are challenged constantly to keep up with new trends and meet client demands.

Fashion, the way we live, and different materials used have always been changing, and they’ve affected how the interior looks, but technology has the power to make big changes we haven’t even thought were possible.

This is becoming clear now, in this digital age where tech solutions are improving rapidly and changing various industries, including interior design. But which technologies are going to be implemented? Are there signs that show the direction in which interior design will go? Let’s explore this topic a bit more.

1. VR (Virtual Reality)

We will start with VR, as this technology has already entered the world of architecture, predominantly interior design.

Even though VR was the main topic of the gaming world when it first arrived, this technology didn’t actually achieve all the greatness everyone was hyped about. Even though VR hasn’t been very successful in gaming, its potential was recognized by other industries, the main ones being design, construction, and architecture.

VR is already used for architectural visualization, and there are people who are already using it to show their work to their stakeholders and customers. As VR gets better, we can only expect a greater implementation of this technology.

Designers will be able to walk clients through rooms, help them understand and visualize how the interior will look. Additionally, customers will be able to look at design pieces in the digital world and instantly change things that they don’t like or test out different combinations.

This way, they will get exactly what they want, down to the smallest detail.

2. AR (Augmented Reality)

With IKEA’s “IKEA Place” entering the market, it has become clear that AR is no longer a farfetched story, and that it has tangible uses in interior design.

At the same time, many new similar AR apps have appeared and are used on a daily basis. One of the biggest issues for architects and designers is to help clients explain their vision.

With the potential of AR, not only will this issue no longer exist, but there is a chance that AR will completely remove the need for digital renderings. The only things necessary for AR to do its magic is a tablet and an app which allows clients and designers to make instant changes in real time while walking through rooms.

AR allows clients to make changes and mix different options, similarly to VR, but it saves a lot of resources, including time and money. On top of that, AR also helps designers tend to client’s needs, no matter where they are.

These interactive tools can be remotely accessed to supplement the current proposal with careful guidance.

3. 3D Printing

3D printing technology has been improving so fast that today, everyone can buy their own home printer at an affordable price. At the same time, some of the best 3D printers have the power to print simply amazing things, even houses. Some even claim that this technology will be the next industrial revolution.

When it comes to interior design, the cost-effectiveness, speed, and efficiency of 3D printing are what excites the industry the most.

These things will allow interior designers to present ideas very quickly in the form of physical models, without even starting to build or decorate. In a way, 3D printing will have a similar use like VR, but the projects will be demonstrated in the physical world.

Another reason why 3D printing has so much potential is that it greatly reduces the time spent going from an idea, to prototype, and to production, while at the same time reducing all the costs associated with the process.

This technology will make the lives of designers much easier with quick and cost-effective production, and it will make things more pleasant for customers too.

4. Smart Homes

Smart homes are already a big industry on their own, with NEST and Google delivering many new tech innovations that improve the control of home security, heating, lighting, gadgets, and so on.

Homeowners can now view security feeds from their smartphones, and even interact with them, have autonomous control over heat, turn on home appliances or lights when they aren’t home.

However, is this everything that we are going to see from smart homes? Of course not. In the near future, we can expect to see smart homes extend into many different areas, not just standalone devices. We can see the shift towards this direction with the example of Tuler, a kitchen work surface designed by an Italian design company called Tiptic.

This surface has a motion-detecting sensor used to reveal and hide sink with a simple hand gesture. The surface also has wireless chargers, induction hobs, and scales. In the future, we can expect many new voice-controlled devices, adjustable windows, and sophisticated smart software connected to the whole home infrastructure.

5. New Materials & Sustainable Design

Consumers are growing more conscious about the environment and how their behavior will affect the world. This is why there is more interest in sustainable design and eco-friendly solutions.

Today sustainable design is a major buzzword throughout many different industries. No matter if we are talking about construction, beauty, manufacturing, food, going green is the new norm.

When it comes to interior design, sustainable solutions have been chic and shabby, but now they’ve matured into viable options, and they are in demand. This trend is extending to interior design in a lightning-fast manner, with new upcycling furniture, new materials, and the culture of buying local.

Designers have realized that it’s equally important to create sustainable solutions that are also visually appealing. This has led to an increase in this kind of furniture, decorations, and home solutions.

There are also many new material alternatives for food, walls are built from glass boxes, and recycled composite materials are making internal designs more eco-friendly and efficient.

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With new technology and innovation in design solutions, the future of living will be completely different than today. These changes will have a big impact on both clients and designers, which indicates how big they actually are.

At the same time, the buying experience will change completely, as interior design is going completely digital. What seemed like science fiction a couple of years ago might become a reality in the next couple of years.