Architects Say Touchscreens Ruined the Smart Home. Now They're Going Back to Buttons

"The majority now rejects apps and the communication hassles and technology headaches that come with them. These are clients exhausted by digital life who prefer knobs and simplicity. No one wants to struggle with figuring out which of the six switches does what."

"They found these systems could be unreliable, especially in a second home that might sit unused for months. They wanted to avoid arriving after a long travel day only to discover a software update was needed."

"I have yet to see homeowners use digital controls when they have an option for manual control."

Smart home technology has dominated residential design for two decades, but a significant shift is occurring toward making technology invisible or reverting to analog controls. While some clients desire complete integration of systems through single interfaces, the majority now reject apps due to frustration with multiple screens and digital complexity. Homeowners exhausted by digital life prefer simple knobs and manual controls. Reliability issues compound this trend, particularly in secondary residences where software updates and system failures create problems. Designers report that when given the choice, homeowners consistently select manual controls over digital alternatives, indicating a fundamental preference for simplicity and dependability over technological sophistication.

Read at Architectural Digest