Modern house plans need to accommodate a variety of functions and features for future homeowners. Space planning, sustainability designs, and smart home technology are all factors in the evolution of a modern household.
                      
Touchless technology has seen a boom during COVID-19, with products like hand sanitizer dispensers and doorbells to eliminate contact with potentially contaminated surfaces. Smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home also allow for hands-free control of your entertainment setup.

1. Smart Home Automation

The home automation industry is an advanced market that covers a wide range of products, including programmable appliances, smart lighting, remote-controlled thermostats, and security systems. This technology enables homeowners to manage these devices using a smartphone, tablet, or other gadgets, offering the convenience of remote monitoring and control. With the ability to oversee their homes from afar, residents can promptly address issues such as a forgotten coffee pot or an unlocked door.
                                                                                                           
Referred to as domotics, derived from the Latin word for home (domus), smart home automation offers homeowners security, comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency. It empowers them to supervise and regulate their devices from any location, whether they are at work or away on vacation. Furthermore, these automation devices can interact with one another, allowing for automatic adjustments based on homeowner preferences and routines.

Many new homes integrate smart technologies. For example, a smart garage door can detect the owner's car approaching and open automatically. A smart refrigerator can track food usage and notify the user when it's time to buy more milk. Smart lighting can automatically change colors and brightness based on your schedule or a calendar event, and a smart TV connects to other devices in the house for multimedia entertainment.

A key element of smart home systems is a hardware hub that can sense, process and communicate data with the devices. It's usually connected to a Wi-Fi network and can communicate wirelessly with other devices in your home through a variety of protocols, including Zigbee and Z-Wave. Smart hubs include smart speakers such as Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple HomeKit, which allow users to provide voice commands to automate tasks.

In addition to increasing the functionality of a home, smart technology can reduce utility costs by maximizing energy efficiency and eliminating waste. For example, smart thermostats can learn a homeowner's habits to optimize temperature, and LED light bulbs can be programmed for color and brightness from a smartphone.

For home automation to work, it requires a reliable Internet connection, which may not be operable in the event of a power outage. Many consumers are also concerned about the privacy of data collected by smart devices and home automation platforms.

2. Smart Lighting

Homeowners can enjoy the convenience of being able to control lights, the thermostat, and more using smart technology. Many devices come with self-learning capabilities that help to automate household tasks and adjust as the family changes. The ability to control these features via the Internet of Things (IoT) also helps homeowners reduce energy usage and save money on electricity bills. Some systems even alert the homeowner if motion is detected, and they can automatically call police or fire departments to respond in emergencies.

The most popular smart home technology includes smart speakers, smart locks, smart lighting systems, and smart security systems. However, innovations are expanding the definition of what a smart home is. These include smart kitchen appliances and even outdoor gardening equipment. Those who want to reduce their carbon footprint can choose smart technology connected to renewable energy sources.

One of the hottest trends in smart home technology is voice-activated hubs, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home. These smart devices can turn on lights, play music or order pizza with just the sound of your voice. Many new home builders include these options in their home plans because they allow homeowners to easily control their electronic devices without having to pick up a remote or open an app.

Smart technology is also allowing homeowners to stream their media across the house. They can watch movies or listen to music in multiple rooms at the same time, and some smart home media systems are compatible with one another so that everyone in the family can enjoy them together.

3. Smart Appliances

For many homeowners, smart technology offers a host of benefits. It allows people to control appliances, thermostats, lighting and a home theater system with a single device. It can also provide cost savings on energy use. Smart technology also lets people monitor their homes remotely, which can help them catch problems before they escalate. For example, a smart refrigerator can notify owners when they're low on milk, or a smart home alarm can alert residents that someone has rung their doorbell.

These gadgets are powered by clever technology that is always developing new products. For instance, smart plugs are being installed into wall outlets so that users can just touch a button to turn on and off ceiling fans or lights. Smart kitchen appliances that maintain track of expiration dates and generate shopping lists are among the other innovations. Smart coffee makers that produce a cup at a predetermined time are another example. Smart home monitors can detect power spikes and turn appliances off automatically. They can also alert homeowners to potential frozen pipes or water leaks.

One of the most popular ways that smart tech is being integrated into house plans is through the addition of a first-floor master bedroom. This trend is being driven by a combination of practical concerns and a desire for convenience. Many baby boomers are reaching retirement age, and they're looking to enjoy their golden years without having to deal with navigating stairs. They may be downsizing to a smaller space or moving downstairs so they can live on one level as their health and mobility decline.

4. Smart Security

Smart security technology focuses on the monitoring and control of devices, including cameras, that are connected to a hub. Often, these products are interacted with using a digital assistant that can take voice commands, answer questions, organize a calendar or schedule, or provide alerts.

While smart home technology provides convenience and cost savings, it has also become a target for hackers. Adept hackers have been able to infiltrate interconnected smart devices, such as DVRs and cameras, and launch denial-of-service attacks. As such, it is important to protect your smart devices with a password, use encryption when possible, and limit their connection to trusted networks.