Homes of the future: what can we expect?

New predictions of how houses will change in five, 10 and 20 years

Sustainability, smart technologies and multi-purpose spaces will feature prominently in homes over the next 20 years, according to a new poll.

Following the government’s announcement in last year’s budget to build 300,000 new homes a year, AXA Insurance and Grand Designs Live polled the British public to see how they envisage homes of the future.

With predicted technology like driverless cars and mirror smart screens expected to land within the next two decades, our homes are expected to change to accommodate these new gadgets.

General shifts in multigenerational living mean that houses with have to become flexible spaces that can comfortably hold an ageing population. There are also clear moves towards cleaner energy, eco-building and protection against more extreme weather conditions caused by climate change. 

READ MORE: 27 ways to futureproof your home

One trend that shows no sign of waning is the idea of homes becoming multi-purpose spaces, where increasingly we will see them as both workplaces and havens to wind down in at the end of the day, with 64% of those polled saying that more people will be working from home in years to come.

Here is a breakdown of what to expect over the next two decades and how quickly these trends will become commonplace.

Homes in five years’ time

The speed at which technology has taken over our lives has been incredible and it isn’t expected to slow down any time soon. Smart technologies such as Hive and Amazon Echo will become commonplace, while a quarter of those asked believe we’ll soon be able to charge our electric cars at home with no need to visit charging points. Smarts TVs, which we can phone friends through, are also expected to be seen throughout UK homes by 2023.

Homes in 10 years’ time

Our consciences regarding the impact we leave on the planet will start to filter through to our homes with almost 20 percent of respondents believing we will see more sustainable materials being used in builds and green solutions such as solar panels being used to help cope with the nation’s energy demands.

We will also have one eye on the future, with homes better equipped to cope with environmental factors such as rain, wind and storms, and one in five homes will have access to driverless cars by 2028.

Homes in 20 years’ time

As more and more of us work from home, by 2038 it is anticipated that we will have the ability to change our rooms depending on their purpose. This versatility could prove useful as 31% of people polled believe homes will get smaller over the next 20 years. Paired with the belief that more homes will house multi-generational families, it seems we will have to get very creative with how we use our space.

Looking to the future

AXA is sponsoring the Grand Room Sets feature at Grand Designs Live, on at London’s ExCel until Sunday, in which five designers will transform spaces in a bid to inspire people to reimagine their homes.

Gareth Howell, managing director at AXA Insurance, says: “Today more than ever, people are starting to use their homes for multiple purposes and are relying more heavily on new technology, and this is set to continue. In the next five, 10 and 20 years we expect homes to change once again, but into what is a conversation we all need to have.” 

Read the full report on the Home of the Future.