The rapid adoption of smart and voice-activated devices, in addition to fast broadband, is the main driver behind home entertainment trends. Consumers are demanding products of higher quality that are more convenient and provide better experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic has also played a huge role in home entertainment trends as we are spending more time at home than ever before.
Before the pandemic, our society was in innovation cycles. We focused on both premium and smart features being built into our technology. This included larger screens, the use of online applications, better connectivity, and enhanced displays. In 2018, more than half of global television revenues were televisions with screen sizes of at least 50 inches. In 2019, 70% of the global smartphone revenues were smartphones with a display of at least 6 inches.
An important part of consumer interactions with their mobile devices, specifically more personalized interactions like listening to music, watching videos, or playing games. This has contributed to the growth of wireless earbuds, as consumers are looking for privacy, mobility, comfort, and style. True wireless earbuds saw a triple-digit increase in 2019 with nearly every other headset sold being wireless.
Consumers demand for efficiency, convenience, and speed, along with the desire for higher quality products, has caused brands to innovate with newer content formats and technologies. This has led to everything from voice recognition to virtual reality. This is all possible with the advancements in cloud computing, faster internet speeds, and the launch of 5G.
More and more consumers want devices with the ability to react to voice, which has changed the way we interact with technology. For example, a lot of entertainment consumers goods are now usually compatible with voice assistants like Google Home or Amazon Alexa. This allows users to control multiple connected devices verbally from a singular hub. In 2020, there was a 61% boost in sales for voice-controlled devices, making them one of the year’s top-selling technological products.
These advancements in technology have a domino effect. With advancements in smartphones and broadband coupled with the pandemic, it’s no wonder consumers are asking for more advanced technology both inside and outside of their homes. The in-home entertainment industry has seen a lot of change over the past few years. Below, you will find a comprehensive list of the top in-home entertainment trends of 2022.
Smart Interior Lighting/Exterior Lighting
With the advancement in technology in the past few years, consumers now have the ability not only to control lights through an application on their phone but to control smart lights with just their voice alone. Never flip a light switch again by replacing all of your old, boring lights with smart ones!
With new lighting systems, you can have your smart lights do a multitude of things. For example, you can set your lights to greet you when you arrive at home. With smart lights, you can transform your outdoor space into the perfect place to entertain. With just a tap of your phone, you can adjust the ambiance the lights create to fit any occasion by changing both the color and the level of the light.
For the interior of your home, voice-reactive smart lights are the most convenient way to control your lights without having to move a muscle (well, except for your mouth)! With a voice-controlled lighting system, you can control any individual light with your voice. You can even change the color and brightness. You can even turn off all the lights in your house from the comfort of your own bed. With all of these different smart options, you have endless possibilities for your next interior residential lighting design project.
Smart Sound System
A powerful sound system can really make or break an in-home entertainment set-up. One of the leaders in the smart home industry is Sonos, known for their high-quality sound systems. Unlike traditional full-home sound systems that involve a mess of wires connecting every which way or the other, Sonos offers a more innovative alternative. Even though the Sonos infrastructure is not completely wireless, the system’s control is. You can control your Sonos system through an application compatible with both iPhones and Androids. This allows you to play music stored on your phone or from your favorite streaming service throughout your entire home.
Sonos has one of the most intelligent sound systems of 2002. All of the speaker zones have the ability to communicate with each other. Say you’re watching a football game in the living room, but you still want to be able to hear the commentary when you go to the bathroom. With the Sonos application, you can easily link these two zones so that they are sharing audio between them. You can even set up speakers outside, making the Sonos smart home lighting system a great choice for any residential interior or exterior design project.
Home Theater
Speaking of speakers, your home theater experience would also be enhanced with new smart speakers. Since Sonos offers both indoor and outdoor speaker options, they are a great choice for either indoor or outdoor home theaters. In addition to your smart speakers, it’s important that you have a smart television to go with it. A big flat screen television is the perfect choice for a home theater, as it can mimic the feel of being in a movie theater. You can get smart televisions that take up your entire wall!
Advances in internet technology has changed when, where, and how we consume television. Streaming platforms have now made it easy to access personalized entertainment for a fraction of the cost of traditional cable services. If you want to be able to stream videos, music, and other things on your television, you need to make sure it’s a smart one. If you already have a television and don’t want to splurge on a smart one, you can also connect a gaming console, as a lot of them now have built-in access to streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu.
In 2022, many interior and exterior design trends revolve around blurring the lines between the home and nature. A great way to do this is to convert an old garage into a home theater. By replacing the garage door with a glass door, you can sit in your home theater and still feel close to nature. On nicer days, you can open the glass door and allow your home theater to become one with nature.
