Ways technology can elevate your interior design prowess

Three images of homes decorated with plants and mid century furniture — (Image credit: Future)

Jump to category:

1. Step into your future home with AR
2. Assistance at your fingertips
3. Top of the class
4. Form Meets Function
5. Keep Your Reno on Track
6. Design Sleep Sanctuaries

As we venture further into 2024, we may not have kept all of our resolutions, but many of us still dream of realising our interior design ambitions. But where do you start, and how can you ensure your visions come to life in the way you imagine?

Allow us to introduce you to smart technology. Augmented Reality, VR, and AI are no longer just for gamers and tech enthusiasts – they’re the must-have tools for any savvy interior designer. And thanks to the EE Smart Hub Plus’ strong connection, it’s never been easier to harness the power of tech to design a home to suit your style and needs.

From virtual walkthroughs of your future living room to management tools that keep your projects on track, let’s explore six innovative ways that smart technology can elevate your interior design game to new heights.

1. Step into your future home with AR

Forget about thumbing through bulky catalogues or second-guessing your space measurements. With Augmented Reality (AR) at your fingertips, you can visualise furniture and decor in your space before making a single purchase. Using these clever apps allows you to place virtual items in your room, ensuring everything fits perfectly and matches your aesthetic.

A person using AI software to measure their interior space

2. Assistance at your fingertips

Imagine having a personal interior designer at your beck and call. Thanks to AI-powered style assistants, this dream is about to get real. Virtual assistants are just a simple command away, and they can analyse your space and style to provide customised design recommendations based on your preferences. From selecting the perfect colour palette to choosing the right textures, it’s never been easier to design a home that reflects your unique style. Of course, every masterpiece begins with a spark of inspiration. With EE's Smart Hub Plus powering your home network, you can also take advantage of digital mood boards and collaboration tools to compile and refine your ideas before sharing them with family and friends.

3. Top of the class

With a staggering 91% of us turning to technology to learn new skills, online interior design workshops and courses have never been more accessible. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to polish your existing skills, there's guaranteed to be a course for you. EE broadband ensures a smooth streaming experience, so you can learn at your own pace without buffering interruptions, allowing you to transform your living room into a virtual classroom.

4. Form Meets Function

Interior design isn't just about aesthetics; it's about creating a space that is equal parts functional and beautiful. Using smart technology, you can adjust your lighting to complement the time of day or set up the perfect temperature for a cosy evening in – all with a simple voice command or tap on your smartphone. You can also jumpstart your journey to a more sustainable lifestyle by keeping a careful eye on your home’s energy consumption. A smart thermostat allows you to control your heating remotely with the simple click of a button, keeping your home comfortable year-round and only using what you need.

A woman reaching out to a smart home thermostat

5. Keep Your Reno on Track

When it comes to renovations, organisation is key. Thankfully, staying on track has never been easier with cutting-edge technology just a touch away. Virtual reality tools invite you to step into stunning 360-degree visualisations of your future home, where you can explore every corner of your interior space before it becomes a reality. Meanwhile, AI planning tools take the stress out of managing your time and budget, predicting potential pitfalls, and offering solutions for every step of your home reno. And when you’re deep into a renovation project, having access to cloud storage means all your design files, instructional tutorials, and project plans can be safely stored and accessible from anywhere at any time.

6. Design Sleep Sanctuaries

Take your bedroom to the next level by using smart tech to design an environment perfectly tailored to a peaceful night’s rest. With the EE Smart Hub Plus anchoring your home devices, you can dim the lights to mimic the sunset, setting the stage for sleep. And when it comes to ensuring the digital world doesn’t keep you up past your bedtime, look no further than EE Wi-Fi controls. Press pause on individual devices at bedtime or set a schedule to automatically give your home network a rest, allowing you to disconnect and drift off without a hitch.

So, say hello to the future of home living, where every device and every moment is seamlessly connected for your comfort and well-being. To discover more ways EE can help your home run smarter, visit EE.co.uk/home.

Gabriella is a freelance contributor for Homes & Gardens. She is a DIY enthusiast and a lover of all things interior design, often found antiquing or browsing the aisles of her local hardware store. She has a particular passion for historic buildings and is in the process of renovating a Victorian coachhouse in the countryside.

For much of the past decade, Gabriella has worked as a freelance writer, crafting copy for national publications and renowned homeware brands. Most recently, she worked for Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine and is the former Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens, focusing on case studies for the magazine and website, as well as writing features about issues surrounding historic and listed building projects.