Even though it’s been increasing in popularity as of late, this lifestyle choice of “minimalist living” is still deemed somewhat fringe throughout many developed regions of the world. And yet, as a result of certain emerging technologies, I believe minimalist living and minimalist homes will likely take over a majority of peoples’ lives.

Today, most people crowd their homes with a bunch of various different items — largely as a means of self-expression and serves as a testament to one’s individuality. However, this is already changing to a certain extent.

1. SMART HOME TECH.

It all started with the rise of smart home technologies. What was originally a dream only realized throughout sci-fi literature has transformed into a highly successful, open, and international market. At an affordable price, the average person is now capable of retrofitting their homes with devices that are connected to what is known as the Internet of Things (IoT).

Thanks to companies like Google and Amazon, we’ve begun embedding intelligent operations into our homes that enhance the minimalist lifestyle. No matter where you are, with a single voice command we’re able to change the temperature in individual rooms, open and close the blinds, dim or change the color of nearby lights, and be alerted when someone is at the door.

In the near future, your home will become so intelligent that it’ll feel like a living creature in and of itself. You’ll be in bed, and the second that you wake up the blinds will open, your favorite radio station will start playing, the coffee pot downstairs will begin brewing, and the shower will turn on and start heating up. While this won’t necessarily minimalize the number of items in your home, it will minimalize your day-to-day actions while inside it.