Reimagining What the Homes of Tomorrow Will Look Like
Morgan Olsen•Thumbtack’s Home Design Expert•Last updated Oct 21, 2025
Last updated Oct 21, 2025
Table of Contents
Technology is reshaping how we live, and homeowners are preparing their houses for the future faster than you might think. Thumbtack’s new Home of the Future report asked 1,000 U.S. homeowners, and nearly 600 Thumbtack home service pros, what they expect — and what they worry about — when it comes to the homes of tomorrow.The findings paint a clear picture: Americans are optimistic about the role of technology, especially artificial intelligence, but want affordability, safety, and sustainability to come first.And while every generation is paying attention, Gen Z homeowners stand out for their enthusiasm — they’re more likely to research AI products (56%), follow influencers using AI at home (43%), and believe AI can help solve the housing crisis compared to older generations. Pros echo this interest: 69% told us homeowners have already asked to “future-proof” their homes, showing that demand is already influencing the kinds of projects happening today.
The future is already taking shape in today’s homes. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of homeowners already use at least one technology that experts once considered futuristic:
- Smart thermostats that learn habits (37%)
- AI-connected security and monitoring tools (35%)
- Smart water heating systems (30%)
- Air quality tracking devices (30%)
- EV smart charging (17%)
These are not niche gadgets anymore — they’re becoming standard features of modern living. Just a decade ago, most of these technologies were considered cutting-edge; today, millions of homeowners already rely on them to save energy, stay secure, and manage their homes more efficiently.And no group is normalizing these tools faster than Gen Z. Half already use air quality trackers (50%) and nearly as many rely on smart water heating systems (46%). For the youngest homeowners, the “future home” is less a distant concept and more a baseline expectation of how their living spaces should function.Pros see this evolution in their work too: 51% believe homes of the future will require more professional maintenance than today, driven by the complexity of smart systems. And by 2050, they expect features like prefab or 3D-printed components (50%) and integrated renewable energy systems (50%) to be mainstream.
When asked what matters most in the home of tomorrow, Americans focus on fundamentals. Affordability remains the top priority for a majority of homeowners (70%) and energy efficiency, cost savings and safety were ranked equally (74%) as essential home goals. Gen Z diverges, ranking sustainability (47%) as their top priority and safety (48%) as their main goal for future homes.
These priorities are already shaping investment decisions. Today, homeowners say they’re most likely to spend on energy-saving technologies like high-efficiency HVAC systems (18%), solar panels or battery backup systems (16%), as well as smart home infrastructure (12%). Gen Z, however, is more likely to prioritize whole-home surge protection or backup systems (16%), smart wellness-focused bathrooms (16%), and smart home infrastructure (15%) compared to older generations.But beyond upgrades that improve efficiency and comfort, homeowners are also thinking about how to protect their investment for the long haul. That’s where durability comes in.Pros confirm this alignment: the top priorities their clients want for future-ready homes include affordability (72%), personalization (42%), and smart technology integration (38%), alongside flexibility (28%), wellness (24%), climate resistance (23%), and sustainability (21%).
Durability is emerging as the next frontier. The most important features cited for the home of the future were disaster-resistant materials (90%) and predictive maintenance tools (88%) — systems that can alert homeowners to issues before failures occur, alongside AI-managed energy, climate, and resource systems (78%). With more frequent storms, floods, and wildfires, homeowners are increasingly looking for ways to harden their homes against extreme weather. Durability isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s quickly becoming a necessity.
When asked about the most promising materials, disaster-resistant construction materials again led the way (53%), but Gen Z bucked the trend, placing high-efficiency insulation (38%) at the top of their list.
Still, for most homeowners, the excitement about these futuristic features goes hand in hand with optimism about technology’s practical role in the home.
Pros emphasize the same risks: 63% believe extreme heat will have the biggest impact on home design in the next 25 years, followed by flooding (51%) and wildfires (44%). Nearly half (45%) say fire-, flood-, or hurricane-resistant materials are the most promising innovations for resilient homes.
Not all visions of the future are about energy efficiency or weatherproofing — many homeowners are captivated by upgrades that sound more like science fiction. Nearly one in three Gen Z homeowners (31%) want immersive VR or AR living spaces built directly into their homes, compared to fewer than 15% of Baby Boomers. Others are drawn to more flexible designs, with 77% of Gen Z excited about adaptive interiors — smart walls, floors, or partitions that can shift with light, temperature, or use.
Robotics also spark imagination. About a third of homeowners would welcome robots to help with chores like laundry and kitchen prep (33%), while nearly as many are intrigued by drones that could handle exterior care tasks like gutter cleaning or roof maintenance (31%). And younger generations are even thinking about sustainability in futuristic terms, with 32% of Gen Z pointing to biodegradable materials as one of the most promising innovations for tomorrow’s homes.Even glass isn’t just glass anymore: nearly a quarter of homeowners (24%) are intrigued by smart windows that automatically tint to reduce glare and heat. What once sounded like Jetsons-style living is increasingly being considered a realistic part of how the next generation imagines home design.Pros envision a similar trajectory: they believe AI-managed energy, climate, and resource systems (46%), AI-powered surveillance that can distinguish between family, pets, and strangers (37%), fully integrated voice- or gesture-controlled systems (37%), biometric and sensor-based security (36%), and predictive maintenance alerts (36%) will all be commonplace by 2050. They also foresee robotic assistants (11%), embedded health monitoring (10%), and adaptive sleep environments (8%) as part of everyday living.
AI is seen not just as a tool, but as a transformative force for the home. Eight in ten homeowners (80%) believe AI has the potential to improve their homes, and nearly half (46%) say it will make their homes “better, smarter, and easier to care for.”
Awareness and conversation are widespread: half of homeowners (50%) pay attention to news about AI integration into homes, and 40% discuss the topic with friends or family. Gen Z is especially engaged, with 56% having already researched AI-connected home products.
Ultimately, that optimism extends to the bottom line. The typical homeowner predicts AI and future-ready technology will boost their home’s resale value by 15% over the next decade. With today’s median home sale price at $440,000, that’s an added $66,000 in value. More notably, almost 1 in 10 Gen Z homeowners expect AI could increase home values by more than 25%.Pros agree AI is central to the home of tomorrow: 23% believe there will be more reliance on AI and automation tools over the next 25 years, particularly for predictive maintenance and energy management. However, 32% of pros feel the industry still needs more education and tools to adapt fully and another 13% believe the industry is not prepared at all for futuristic technologies.
Optimism, however, isn’t enough — trust and proof are critical. A staggering 93% have “must-haves” before adopting AI at home — including privacy protections (79%), guarantees of product reliability over time (76%), and accessible audit logs (67%). Younger homeowners are especially adamant: 34% of Gen Z want legally assured privacy protections before bringing AI into their homes.
Inspiration also plays a role. Beyond trust and privacy, homeowners want to see how AI can make everyday life easier before fully embracing it. The features that spark the most excitement aren’t abstract — they’re tangible conveniences. Half of homeowners say they’d be more likely to integrate AI if their homes offered self-cleaning surfaces or smart thermostats that automatically adjust when specific people enter a room. Nearly as many point to more electrical capacity, like extra outlets and charging ports (48%), or heated floors that adapt to time of day and room temperature (43%). These aren’t far-off fantasies — they’re practical upgrades that show how AI could translate into comfort, efficiency, and ease in daily living.
And while AI promises automation, people still want experts to help bring it to life. 58% of homeowners say they would prefer professionals to install and manage AI-powered home tools. Gen Z, however, is less cautious: more than half expect AI will help alleviate the housing crisis and create new opportunities for first-time buyers.
Pros point to similar barriers: nearly half (47%) cite high upfront costs as the biggest hurdle, followed by lack of awareness and concerns about reliability. Resistance to change and uncertain ROI also remain sticking points.
From self-cleaning surfaces to disaster-resistant materials, the innovations homeowners want are practical, not sci-fi. Most (80%) believe AI can improve structural safety, and 60% think it could expand opportunities for first-time buyers.
Still, enthusiasm doesn’t always mean readiness. Only 8% of homeowners want AI features in their homes immediately. The median homeowner has a five-year timeline for adoption, and among those planning to integrate AI, just 12% have budgeted for it so far. By contrast, a full third of Gen Z expect to integrate AI within the next 2–3 years, compared to just 15% of Baby Boomers.
Pros, for their part, see the home of 2050 as primarily smart (42%), energy-independent (35%), and automated (31%). Many also believe Gen Alpha (27%) and Gen Z (25%) will benefit most from these advances.
The takeaway is clear: the home of the future is less about science fiction and more about solving real-world needs. Americans want homes that are affordable, resilient, and intelligent — and Gen Z is leading the charge to get there.
Gen-pop Survey Methodology: This survey was conducted by DKC Analytics from September 16–18, 2025, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 U.S. adult homeowners ages 18–65. All respondents confirmed they own their current primary residence. The survey, delivered through the Pollfish platform, has a margin of error of ±3.1% at the 95% confidence level.
Pro Survey Methodology: Sample B of 594 U.S. adults was surveyed between July 28 and October 5, 2025. All respondents in Sample B are primarily employed in the skilled trades in home construction, home maintenance or home systems via self-confirmation. Thumbtack conducted this survey via link sharing through their internal email list. No post-stratification has been applied to the results.
How it works.
Search.
Browse profiles, see prices and use filters to find pros who match your project.
Chat.
Contact the pros you like to discuss project details.
Hire.
Check pro availability and book appointments right in the app.
Find local pros for your project
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll show you pros right for the job, with prices.