Why some find a return to analog appealing in an age of smart homes | Canada Voices

These days, the idiom “as easy as flipping a light switch” may no longer be true. It can feel like you need an iPhone, a special app and, at times, a background in computer science just to turn on the lights. Which is why some homeowners are embracing – or perhaps re-embracing – so-called dumb homes. But are these analog abodes the future or a step back?

What is a dumb home?

Simply put, it’s a home where much of the complex tech – smartphone-enabled thermostats, motion-activated lights, blinds that raise or lower of their own accord – has been stripped away. More people are choosing to swap their touch screens and voice commands for manual knobs and switches, according to numerous publications, including Dwell, Techspot and even The Hollywood Reporter.

Why is this happening?

The reasons are many, including privacy concerns and a general frustration when app-enabled appliances don’t work as advertised (leading to what Consumer Reports has ominously dubbed “zombie appliances”). Real estate company Zillow’s 2026 home trends forecast simply notes an increase in homeowners who “are craving quiet corners for themselves, where they can put down the phone and recharge.”

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But don’t we need the tech?

That depends on what you mean by need. “Too much home technology simply solves problems people don’t really need to have solved,” says Dr. Bruce Wallace, a professor of engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa. “I really do not need to be able to tell a virtual assistant to turn my lights on and off.”

Seriously, though, don’t we need it?

According to Toronto-based architect Robert Kastelic, whose firm AKB has won more than two dozen Canadian and international awards for residential design, the answer is no. “Asking for less technology is not a rejection of progress,” he says. “It’s a desire to ensure that the machine still serves the human, and not the other way around.”

Tell me more.

“I often use a Star Trek analogy,” says Kastelic. “No matter how advanced the starship, when the on-board computer is compromised during a life-saving moment, the captain or engineer ultimately has to reach for a manual override – pulling a physical lever to reassert human control. That instinct resonates deeply with homeowners. They want reassurance that when systems fail, the house still works – lights turn on, windows open, heat flows, doors lock – without negotiating with software.”

Is this a generational issue?

Again Kastelic says no. “Tech fatigue spans generations,” he notes. “While it is often associated with Boomers or Gen X, we increasingly see the same reaction among younger clients who have grown up immersed in digital systems and are acutely aware of their fragility and cognitive burden.”

What are some of the benefits of a tech-reduced home?

It can be greener. “There are material and environmental considerations,” says Kastelic. “Multiple stand-alone devices typically mean multiple electrical boxes, plastics, metals and components, many of which are difficult to recycle and will be obsolete in a few years.”

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Anything else?

Perhaps ironically, given the streamlined aesthetic of modern tech, homes with less tech can also look sleeker. “Smart systems frequently introduce layers of controls – keypads, touch panels, multigang light switches – that accumulate quickly,” says Kastelic. “When we reduce or carefully distill those controls, walls become calmer and what we sometimes call ‘wall blemishes’ are minimized.”

No one likes blemishes.

No – not even home-tech experts. And to be fair, some say the clutter can be avoided. Adam Stowe is the director of communications at Wenner, home-automation specialists on Vancouver Island. “You don’t have to have big banks of keypads,” he says. “You don’t have to have thermostats on your walls. Discreet sensors, the size of a quarter, can hide behind art and link to control panels tucked away in a mechanical room.”

But you would still have a lot of apps to contend with?

Again, not necessarily. According to Stowe, reducing the mental load of all the apps comes down to being intentional about what is automated and what is not. “Just because you can integrate technology into your house doesn’t mean you should,” says Stowe. “There are lots of cases where it makes sense not to include certain technology, because it can be cumbersome.”

Like what?

Stowe says certain systems, such as security, lighting and temperature control, can easily be integrated into a single app, one that can be controlled with a few button clicks. Some appliances, however – such as stovetops and ovens – are harder to integrate, because manufacturers tend to rely on proprietary programs that don’t play well with others. “For some people, having a folder on their phone with a handful of apps can feel overwhelming,” says Stowe. “They might only use those apps once or twice a month. It can be tough to remember what they do.”

Very relatable.

Right? Kastelic takes things a step further, pushing for tech that’s not only simple to use, but also uplifting. He says, “The most successful technology supports comfort and well-being, allowing the experience of being in the house to feel more human, not more digital.”

What are some examples?

Wallace of Carleton University says tech can do much to enrich our lives. In a book he co-authored, Supportive Smart Homes: Their Role In Aging in Place, he documented the many ways modern devices can help care for people with dementia. “Sensors can alert caregivers if someone is wandering off in the middle of the night,” he explains. “That, in turn, provides peace of mind to caregivers, who tend to be spouses or adult children. That peace of mind can make the difference between sleeping through the night and not. It can help prevent burnout – a major issue for caregivers.”

That sounds positive.

For sure. “There are also simple devices that can help shut off stoves that have been left on by accident, preventing house fires,” adds Wallace. “And again, for people with dementia, the same device can help monitor whether someone has been eating, logging whether they have turned the oven on in a while. The right tech can really help with fundamental health and safety issues.”

Again, positive. So what’s the verdict?

Go for tech that genuinely makes your life better without too much clutter. Opt out if the thought of keeping up with the Jetsons makes you long for the days of the Flintstones.