Many designers note that customers prioritize simple-to-operate equipment, handcrafted furniture, and technology-free areas to increase face-to-face interaction.
As connected, app-controlled devices and artificial intelligence become more and more popular, some homeowners want to reduce technology in their living spaces. Designers in London (UK), New York and Houston (USA) recognized customers' need for basic equipment, simple operating systems and screen-free areas.
This trend is often referred to by concepts such as "dumb home", analog furniture or "lo-fi" spaces. The common point of this space lies in reducing unnecessary smart devices, replacing them with mechanical switches, standard sockets and appliances with direct operations.
Bari Jerauld, founder of Blank Slate Studio in London, believes the demand comes from stimulus overload. This is a condition in which a person has to take in too many stimuli at the same time such as screens, notifications, sounds, images, information and digital interactions, making it more difficult to concentrate or relax. Prolonged exposure to screens and digital environments makes many people want their homes to create a contrasting feeling.
According to Jerauld, clients are increasingly demanding spaces with warm materials, handcrafted accents and layouts that evoke a sense of timelessness, rather than a focus on technologically driven systems.
New York-based interior designer Thomas Jayne had a similar request. Some of his customers want to simply flip a switch to control the lights, instead of using a computer, an app or setting up a program first.
Dr. Sally Augustin, an expert in applied environmental psychology, said that automated systems do not always make home use more convenient. When users must intervene to install or resolve system errors, the sense of initiative may decrease.
Computers can crash and smart devices can also malfunction. With homes that rely heavily on automation, users must consider the risk of the system losing connection or the device becoming incompatible.
Besides operational factors, organizing the space around the screen can influence how members interact. Augustin believes that people have a need for face-to-face communication, while phones and screens easily interrupt conversations.
Venetia Rudebeck, co-founder of Studio Vero in London, finds that families with young children are among the groups most interested in this trend. Parents are increasingly paying attention to the time their children spend using screens and proactively creating more activities that do not require electronic devices.
Another factor driving analog interiors comes from a sense of nostalgia. According to Augustin, positive memories can improve mood, which in turn aids concentration and social interaction.
However, the designers do not propose to completely eliminate technology. Emily Spanos, a Houston-based designer, believes that housing needs to balance nostalgia and current needs. Technology is still necessary, especially for people working at home, but it does not necessarily appear in all daily activities.
Spanos often arranges a "dumping point" near the entrance for members to place their phones when they get home. This area can use a device storage cabinet with integrated charging sockets or a large shared basket, helping to reduce the need to bring phones to the dining table and living spaces.
For families with young children, she also recommends a wired landline phone. Fixed devices make users focus on calls, instead of chatting and performing many operations on smartphones.
Rudebeck takes a similar approach with the work area. Instead of multiple screens, some spaces have simple desk arrangements. According to her, having a fixed position to read, write or handle work creates a unique habit, in a context where many activities have moved to phones.
The living room does not necessarily have all the seats facing the TV. Studio Vero is working on many projects in which homeowners request additional areas for reading, writing, playing games with children or chatting.
Solutions could include a chalkboard wall for children to draw on, a billiards table for teenagers, or a bookshelf system placed in an easily accessible location. The goal is not to eliminate television but to allocate more space for screen-free activities.
In addition to the organization of the premises, the lighting system and sockets are also adjusted to reduce dependence on technology. Samantha Feuer of Norris Studio limits the use of modern recessed lights in some projects. Instead, she combines surface lamps, table lamps, floor lamps and wall lamps to create multiple layers of lighting.
The light can be controlled with a dimming knob or a basic on-off switch. Feuer also prioritizes standard power outlets instead of integrating USB or USB-C ports directly into the wall.
According to her, connection standards may continue to change. When the charging port fixed to the wall becomes obsolete, the homeowner must remove and replace the device. Conventional electrical outlets allow homeowners to use them easily without interfering with the wall electrical system.
Augustin suggests using more curved furniture and decorations to create a softer feel. Thomas Jayne believes that handmade carpets can also quickly change the feel of a space.
Designers assess that the analog approach also has advantages in terms of long-term use costs. Smart devices can fail, stop being supported, or become incompatible with new generations of technology after a few years. Meanwhile, mechanical switches, standard sockets and simple operating devices are less dependent on software and easier to repair and replace.
According to Feuer, it is difficult for homeowners to continuously upgrade their homes at the pace of technological change. So, instead of turning the entire space into an automation system, keeping basic equipment in the right locations can make the home easier to use and limit future upgrade costs.
