What Will the House of the Future Look Like?
Four industry experts cast their predictions for the future of interior design
What do you think our homes will look like in 10 or 15 years’ time? Will they be high-tech palaces that cater for our every whim, or will we go back to basics and return to a simpler way of life? How will we decorate them and, most importantly, how will we live in them? Here, four design experts share their predictions.
Expert advice from: Olga and Anatoly Alekseev, founders of Black & Milk | Kasper Iversen, editor of Houzz Denmark | Jennifer Chong, interior designer and founder of the Cambridge Home + Garden Show
Expert advice from: Olga and Anatoly Alekseev, founders of Black & Milk | Kasper Iversen, editor of Houzz Denmark | Jennifer Chong, interior designer and founder of the Cambridge Home + Garden Show
“People are thinking more and more about the future life of a piece of furniture,” Kasper Iversen says. “So designers are increasingly producing items that are multi-functional. Whether it’s small accessories or bigger pieces of furniture, there’s now a greater chance you’ll keep the item as your life changes, so there needs to be flexibility and an awareness of the future life of a product.”
Looking for someone to help you transform your home? Check out the Houzz Directory, where you can search professionals in your area and read reviews of their work
Looking for someone to help you transform your home? Check out the Houzz Directory, where you can search professionals in your area and read reviews of their work
Will we be concerned with health and wellbeing?
“I think the pace of modern life is having an effect on homeowners and, in turn, on design,” Olga says. “In an age where we’re being overloaded with information, people want their homes to be a retreat from the outside world.
“We’re often asked to design using neutral colours and to create a relaxed look,” Olga continues. “Recently, for example, a client asked us to create a retreat from her hectic work life. She said all she wants at home is somewhere to relax and switch off from the outside world.
“In terms of a design aesthetic,” she says, “we predict we’ll see more people moving away from large, glitzy statements and being more willing to invest in iconic pieces and understated luxury.”
“I think the pace of modern life is having an effect on homeowners and, in turn, on design,” Olga says. “In an age where we’re being overloaded with information, people want their homes to be a retreat from the outside world.
“We’re often asked to design using neutral colours and to create a relaxed look,” Olga continues. “Recently, for example, a client asked us to create a retreat from her hectic work life. She said all she wants at home is somewhere to relax and switch off from the outside world.
“In terms of a design aesthetic,” she says, “we predict we’ll see more people moving away from large, glitzy statements and being more willing to invest in iconic pieces and understated luxury.”
“I think issues surrounding chemicals, plastic and unsustainable materials in the home are going to become increasingly important,” Jennifer says.
“People are becoming more aware of these concerns, so I suspect it will have an impact on design, with many of us looking beyond the obvious materials for alternatives.
“Homeowners tend to be more educated now, too,” she says. “For example, it’s not just a case of choosing to use wood as a material; the question now is often, ‘What type of wood is it and where was it sourced?’”
“People are becoming more aware of these concerns, so I suspect it will have an impact on design, with many of us looking beyond the obvious materials for alternatives.
“Homeowners tend to be more educated now, too,” she says. “For example, it’s not just a case of choosing to use wood as a material; the question now is often, ‘What type of wood is it and where was it sourced?’”
How much will technology play a part in the future?
“We have more and more access to all kinds of tech now,” Kasper says. “You can control everything at home from your mobile phone if you want to. So you can sit at work and control your house. But while some people will embrace this, at the same time I feel there could be a backlash, with other homeowners wanting to cut back a bit.”
“Because the whole world of technology is growing and changing so quickly and there are so many different elements you can incorporate,” Jennifer adds, “there are now entire companies that specialise in niche areas of home tech, such as audio or lighting.
“In the UK, I actually think we have some catching up to do – other countries are already probably far ahead of us,” she says.
“We have more and more access to all kinds of tech now,” Kasper says. “You can control everything at home from your mobile phone if you want to. So you can sit at work and control your house. But while some people will embrace this, at the same time I feel there could be a backlash, with other homeowners wanting to cut back a bit.”
“Because the whole world of technology is growing and changing so quickly and there are so many different elements you can incorporate,” Jennifer adds, “there are now entire companies that specialise in niche areas of home tech, such as audio or lighting.
“In the UK, I actually think we have some catching up to do – other countries are already probably far ahead of us,” she says.
“We’re on a learning curve,” Anatoly agrees, “and a lot of people could benefit from home automation and energy efficiency.” However, Olga adds that “some homeowners are getting tired of the level of choice. Some of our clients are going back to very simple light switches, for example.”
“With regard to how we’ll live in the future,” Kasper says, “I don’t believe there’s one clear answer; there isn’t one solution that fits everyone. Some people are tech-savvy and others aren’t. It comes back to individuality.
“I think there’ll be a broader acceptance of the fact that there isn’t one trend or one way of doing things,” he says.
“With regard to how we’ll live in the future,” Kasper says, “I don’t believe there’s one clear answer; there isn’t one solution that fits everyone. Some people are tech-savvy and others aren’t. It comes back to individuality.
“I think there’ll be a broader acceptance of the fact that there isn’t one trend or one way of doing things,” he says.
What decorating trends do you predict will be big in the next 10 years?
“Our personal approach is to avoid short-lived trends,” Olga says. “We don’t go for fashionable colours or patterns and aim instead to reflect the personality of the owner. We don’t want to reflect something that’s going to be out of fashion in a few years.
“That said, though,” she adds, “according to [trend forecasting company] WGSN, furniture made from recycled materials is a big trend to look out for and this makes sense to us, as people are becoming more interested in waste and green issues. We try to design timeless interiors for this reason.”
Jennifer agrees. “A lot of people are now really thinking about the environment in terms of how they live their life, and that’s coming into homes as well,” she says.
“Our personal approach is to avoid short-lived trends,” Olga says. “We don’t go for fashionable colours or patterns and aim instead to reflect the personality of the owner. We don’t want to reflect something that’s going to be out of fashion in a few years.
“That said, though,” she adds, “according to [trend forecasting company] WGSN, furniture made from recycled materials is a big trend to look out for and this makes sense to us, as people are becoming more interested in waste and green issues. We try to design timeless interiors for this reason.”
Jennifer agrees. “A lot of people are now really thinking about the environment in terms of how they live their life, and that’s coming into homes as well,” she says.
“On the Scandi scene, wood is a big trend, partly for its eco credentials,” Kasper says. “It’s sustainable and, for that reason, it’s a ‘trustworthy’ material; it adds authenticity.”
Jennifer agrees. “At last year’s [Cambridge] Home + Garden Show, many consumers were saying they didn’t want uPVC windows and were willing to invest in timber-framed ones,” she says.
“There’s also been a revival of interest in the design classics from the 1950s and 60s,” Kasper adds. “I’d argue that this has something to do with the proven longevity of such pieces. It’s sustainable to buy something you know will stand the test of time.
“I think homeowners will increasingly look for piece that are classic in style rather than ‘cool’ and, in some cases, designers are actually going back into their archives to reissue old designs,” he says.
Jennifer agrees. “At last year’s [Cambridge] Home + Garden Show, many consumers were saying they didn’t want uPVC windows and were willing to invest in timber-framed ones,” she says.
“There’s also been a revival of interest in the design classics from the 1950s and 60s,” Kasper adds. “I’d argue that this has something to do with the proven longevity of such pieces. It’s sustainable to buy something you know will stand the test of time.
“I think homeowners will increasingly look for piece that are classic in style rather than ‘cool’ and, in some cases, designers are actually going back into their archives to reissue old designs,” he says.
“Consumers are getting much braver and people want their homes to be individual,” Jennifer says. “Rather than trying to copy whatever new trend is out there, people are becoming more experimental. Possibly this is because of the way social media has made [taking an interest in] interiors more mainstream.
“Buying vintage is becoming increasingly popular, for example, as well as upcycling older pieces. This is partly an eco and budget issue, but it also allows for greater individuality.
“For my clients, neutral colours used to be the norm, as they didn’t date,” she continues. “There was also an inclination to follow the design rules – you would have neutral carpets and a three piece suite, for example. But this is changing.
“When people come to design their homes now, they want to feel something when they look at their room,” she says. “They want it to make them happy – it’s not just a room with furniture in it, they want to look at it and have their heart skip a beat.”
“Buying vintage is becoming increasingly popular, for example, as well as upcycling older pieces. This is partly an eco and budget issue, but it also allows for greater individuality.
“For my clients, neutral colours used to be the norm, as they didn’t date,” she continues. “There was also an inclination to follow the design rules – you would have neutral carpets and a three piece suite, for example. But this is changing.
“When people come to design their homes now, they want to feel something when they look at their room,” she says. “They want it to make them happy – it’s not just a room with furniture in it, they want to look at it and have their heart skip a beat.”
How will we use design professionals in the future?
“I think the market for design is growing and there’s an argument that the home of the future will be designed by a professional rather than by homeowners doing it themselves,” Anatoly says. “I’d even go so far as to say that, in 10 years’ time, there’s won’t be such a thing as an apartment that isn’t ‘designed’.”
“In Denmark, it certainly didn’t used to be the norm to hire an interior designer,” Kasper says. “You got an architect to design your house, but for the interior design part, there was an assumption that ‘everyone can do that’.
“I think there’s been – and will increasingly be – a shift in attitudes on this front, though,” he says. “More people are getting professional help, as they want their home to be special.
“On the flipside, however,” he adds, “I think there will also be homeowners who want to create something unique but who might be on a lower budget, and they will have the confidence to do it themselves. Ultimately, I think it’s about choice now.”
“I think the market for design is growing and there’s an argument that the home of the future will be designed by a professional rather than by homeowners doing it themselves,” Anatoly says. “I’d even go so far as to say that, in 10 years’ time, there’s won’t be such a thing as an apartment that isn’t ‘designed’.”
“In Denmark, it certainly didn’t used to be the norm to hire an interior designer,” Kasper says. “You got an architect to design your house, but for the interior design part, there was an assumption that ‘everyone can do that’.
“I think there’s been – and will increasingly be – a shift in attitudes on this front, though,” he says. “More people are getting professional help, as they want their home to be special.
“On the flipside, however,” he adds, “I think there will also be homeowners who want to create something unique but who might be on a lower budget, and they will have the confidence to do it themselves. Ultimately, I think it’s about choice now.”
“In previous years, only certain types of people were into interiors,” Jennifer says. “Now homeowners are becoming more informed and they all want the same thing – for their home to make them happy.”
This conversation took place on the Speaker stage at Decorex on Wednesday 19 September 2018.
Tell us…
How do you think we’ll live in the future? Are we getting more high-tech or increasingly turning our backs on technology? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
This conversation took place on the Speaker stage at Decorex on Wednesday 19 September 2018.
Tell us…
How do you think we’ll live in the future? Are we getting more high-tech or increasingly turning our backs on technology? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“Our core clients live in central London and we’ve noticed that apartments are becoming smaller and smaller,” Anatoly Alekseev says. “This is having a big impact on design, as it means there’s then a need to create multi-functional spaces. This also has an impact on furniture design.”
“Flexible spaces are definitely key these days,” Jennifer Chong agrees. “Inclusive design is also becoming much more of a consideration and will, I think, continue to be important in the future. This is the idea that a home should be designed to be accessible and adaptable for all, be that small children, older people, or homeowners with disabilities.
“This is not just about the obvious things, either, such as level thresholds,” she continues, “but about having the space and flexibility for people to live in the property whatever stage of life they’re at; to allow people to stay in their homes for longer and effectively ‘future-proof’ them.”