Home design after the pandemic focuses on self-care using art, AI and smart devices

Smart beds, filters, lighting, even art connect with the Internet of Things to keep a virtual finger on our pulse and adjust to our rhythms

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Using biometric data and adaptive technologies, smart home systems can adjust lighting, temperature and even decor in real time to suit individual moods and activities in our homes. Photo: Shutterstock

Richard James Havis

Published: 6:15pm, 29 Jun 2024

The work-from-home phenomenon has led to people forging a different kind of relationship with the places they live in.

Although lockdowns in the pandemic triggered a feeling of claustrophobia and a manic desire to get outside, many of us ultimately decided that we actually liked our homes, and were happy to spend more time in them.

According to The Future of Wellness 2024 Trends, a report from United States-based non-profit organisation the Global Wellness Institute, this has resulted in people taking greater note of how their homes can be adapted to improve their health and wellness.

This involves introducing new technology to monitor health and changing the interior design – and even the architectural elements – of a home to create a more wellness-oriented living environment.

Today’s advanced smart air purifiers ensure clean air. Photo: Shutterstock

Art, too, may have a therapeutic role to play, experts say.

“The pandemic significantly increased the time people spent at home, heightening their awareness of health and wellness,” says Jessica Smith, a brand strategist who co-authored the “Home as Highest-tech Health Hub” section of the report.