Designers Agree: These 4 Smart Appliance Trends Will Define Homes in 2026

It started with smartphones and, now, nearly every appliance in our home has the ability to be “smart.” From ovens you can control from your phone to thermostats that make sure each room maintains the same temperature, cutting-edge technology is quickly taking over our homes.

And, in an ideal world, we’re both more efficient and more comfortable for it, particularly as we look ahead to the smart appliances that are making a splash in the coming year.

“2026 will consider which devices actually support how people feel and function in their homes, not just add convenience (although that certainly decreases our mental load!),” says Catherine Shuman, founder and interior designer at The Intentional Design Studio.

Want to know what the experts are incorporating into their homes and designs this coming year? Here’s what two designers had to say about the smart appliances they’re excited to use in their next projects.

Smart Lighting for More Comfortable Living

Lighting sets the tone for how you feel, even if you don’t realize it right away. There’s a reason people gravitate towards warm lighting and soft white bulbs.

They make people feel calm and comfortable, unlike the harsher, brighter light emitted by certain lamps and light fixtures.

Shuman anticipates that 2026 will take this a step further by emphasizing smart bulbs and circadian lighting systems that adapt to the natural cycle of the day.

“We’re moving beyond lights you can control from your phone and into science-backed lighting that mimics natural daylight rhythms,” explains Shuman. “Better lighting means better sleep, improved mood, and more regulated nervous systems.”

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Time-Saving Smart Kitchen Appliances

Shuman explains that, as someone who’s a busy designer and mom, she looks for smart appliances that will help take some of the mental load off.

She anticipates 2026 will bring even more adoption of smart kitchen appliances, including ovens that you can control remotely (no waiting until you get home to preheat!), dishwashers that run at the optimal time for energy usage, and faucets that will measure the exact amount of water you need rather than letting the water run needlessly.

Shuman adds, “These features genuinely save time, reduce stress, and promote healthier routines.”

Smart Air Quality Monitors 

You may be familiar with air quality alerts that tell you when it’s a good idea to limit your time outside, but did you know the air in your home can also suffer from quality issues?

Shuman believes that smart air quality monitoring devices will be one of the smart appliances that skyrockets in popularity in the coming year, particularly as people become more aware of how indoor air quality impacts their health and wellness.

“Integrated systems will monitor VOCs, CO2 levels, humidity, and allergens, and automatically activate purifiers or ventilation in response,” says Shuman. “Healthy air is foundational to a healthy home, and clients are becoming far more aware of its importance.”

Smart Refrigerators for Inventory Management

There’s not much worse than getting home from the grocery store only to realize that you didn’t buy milk and you don’t have enough for tomorrow’s coffee.

One way around that is to have a notepad on the fridge that you use to write down items as they run out, but that won’t help you if you pop by the grocery store on the way home and you don’t have your trusty list. That’s when smart refrigerators come into play.

Ilene Chase, the owner and lead designer of Ilene Chase Design LLC, explains, “I’d love to see more smart appliances that optimize food preservation, support healthier cooking, and communicate without multiple apps.”

With a smart refrigerator that has remote inventory management, you can see what you have, what’s expiring, and what you need to use ASAP.

This not only saves you the frustration of running out of items you need, but it also helps you save money by prioritizing the items that need to be used first.