A growing number of homeowners—especially in affluent markets—are actively rejecting the ultra-connected smart home lifestyle in favor of what’s being called “dumb homes,” where manual switches, landlines and offline appliances dominate. According to Global Wellness Institute vice-president Beth McGroarty, the shift is part of a broader “analog wellness” movement in which people crave relief from always-listening, always-leaking, always-updating smart-device ecosystems. The design-media brand Dwell has even identified the decline of smart homes as a major trend for 2025 and beyond. Luxury property specialists report that some wealthy buyers are shunning WiFi-enabled voice-activated appliances and complex home automation systems—often because rapid obsolescence, hidden costs, and privacy concerns outweigh the hype. Meanwhile, the analog wellness movement spans beyond housing into travel and leisure, where “logging off” and returning to tactile, screen-free experiences are gaining traction.
Sources: Hollywood Reporter, SlashDot
Key Takeaways
– Many homeowners are choosing simpler, manually-controlled homes over smart-home systems due to concerns about reliability, obsolescence and privacy.
– The analog wellness trend is driving design and real-estate decisions—homes and resorts are increasingly emphasizing unplugged spaces and tactile experiences.
– While smart-home technologies remain popular in some tech-heavy markets, their perceived value (especially in second-home destinations or for buyers seeking a retreat) is declining.
In-Depth
In recent years the smart-home concept has been positioned as the ultimate modern living upgrade: voice-activated assistants, WiFi-enabled refrigerators, connected thermostats, remote-controlled lighting and HVAC systems. The pitch was clear: convenience, energy savings, seamless automation. But now, a countermovement is gaining momentum—one that argues living fully connected has a hidden cost. Not just in dollars, but in autonomy, privacy and even peace of mind.
According to the Global Wellness Institute’s research, the term “analog wellness” captures a growing sentiment: that being constantly surrounded by listening devices and invisible connectivity can create anxiety rather than comfort. For some homeowners, the smart-home ecosystem has become a house of cards—updates, server shutdowns, forced obsolescence, data harvesting. One luxury market designer even told the Hollywood Reporter that a client in Los Angeles spent more than $100 000 just to rip out a dysfunctional automated system and bring in traditional switches and controls instead.
In the real-estate realm this shows up in interesting ways: higher-end buyers opting out of voice-activated appliances, manual light switches instead of automated mood-scenes, even returning to landlines as a way of separating home from always-on mobile culture. The design media brand Dwell has flagged the “decline of smart homes” as a major trend for 2025 —and Zillow data referenced in the Axios article suggests that features like reading nooks (offline, analog-friendly spaces) are appearing more often in listings.
From a conservative-leaning viewpoint it’s worth noting what may be underlying this trend: a push for durability, transparency and self-reliance rather than a race for novelty. Manual systems, simpler controls, and fewer dependencies on external servers or subscription models align more with the idea of a home as a stable investment rather than a tech gadget. The smart-home industry may promise luxury, but for many buyers the risk of rapid depreciation, forced upgrades or data-leakage is simply not worth the premium.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that all technology is being cast aside—many homeowners still want high-quality appliances, efficient heating/cooling systems and good connectivity. But the difference lies in keeping the tech functional and local, rather than investing in fully networked ecosystems that require constant updates, cloud dependencies or rely on companies that may vanish. In markets where buyers are looking for retreats—second homes, vacation properties, or simply places to unplug—the ROI (return on investment) for smart systems appears weaker.
In practical terms for a homeowner or builder this trend might suggest that rather than defaulting to “smart everything,” one could evaluate: Is this feature truly delivering utility, or is it delivering complexity? Will it be supported five or ten years from now? Could a manual or local-control solution serve the same purpose more reliably? As the analog wellness movement underscores, the value may lie not in the newest gadget, but in the quiet, uninterrupted space free from alerts, listening devices and software end-of-life issues.
In short: A “dumb” home doesn’t mean lacking features or falling behind—it might mean choosing solidity over hype. For homeowners who view their residence as a long-term investment in stability, privacy and personal control, the shift away from ever-connected automation may make more sense than the smart-home race. And in an age when durability and independence increasingly matter, the analogue choice might just be the more forward-looking one.