The market for fashion apps that use augmented reality is already hot, with the likes of The North Face, Nike and even luxury brand Burberry all launching some sort of AR app on their websites. But another sector of the industry seems to be following suit, as furniture retailers are getting in on augmented reality too.
However, while these have been case studies done by individual companies on an ad hoc basis so far, what’s next? What can we expect from this technology when it comes to the future of interior design and furnishing? Here we take a look at five ways technology could change our homes within five years.
Virtual try-ons:
The problem with buying antisocial clothing online is that often they don fit properly or need tailoring. In the same way, buying furniture online poses a problem because you don’t know if it will fit in your living room or how it looks from different angles.
This is where augmented reality can help, VR companies like Zanran enable users to superimpose images of 3D models onto their actual surroundings and see what they would look like before purchasing. This means that even if you’re buying a sofa, for example, without seeing the size first-hand you could check if it fits through AR before making a purchase.
The finished product:
While experimental apps have given us a glimpse at this technology’s potential so far, only now are retailers beginning to really incorporate augmented reality into their workflows an important step in increasing engagement.
For example, rather than just including a traditional product catalogue a retailer could offer a ‘virtual room planner’, which enables customers to see how different items of furniture would look in their own homes. This is an important step forward for retailers as it gives them a chance to promote not just individual products but the full collection, and with social media being such an important part of most people’s lives now, augmented reality can give furnishing companies a chance to really stand out from the crowd.
The 3D effect:
Another way that retailers can use augmented reality to standout from competitors is through adding 3D models into the picture. Although up until now this has been done on an ad hoc basis mostly by smaller companies or individual entrepreneurs, there are plenty of reasons why this approach could become mainstream in the near future.
For example, there are companies out there now that offer 3D scanning services which take measurements of any room and then produce a 3D model for you to see before you buy. As this type of technology becomes more widespread it has the potential to change the way that homeowners go about interior design.
Personalized pieces:
With augmented reality enabling shoppers to visualize how products will look before buying commes de garcon, another interesting trend is likely to be personalizing these items even further through customization.
Already there are some companies like Morphine who let users upload their own images onto objects like chairs or lamps, but as AR technology improves we can expect home furnishing companies to begin offering various ways for customers to make their products unique. For example, retailers could allow users to print 3D models of their own furniture, allowing them to create bespoke pieces that are perfect for their homes.
The smart home:
The final frontier when it comes to augmented reality is in making our lives easier when we’re at home by taking care of small day-to-day tasks.
One interesting idea in this respect is having technology in place which can enable you to visualize how your garden will look before you plant anything, through either AR or VR. Or instead of having to take photos and measurements on a new build project, potential homeowners could use apps like HoloBuilder which lets you see what it will look like before the first brick is laid.
This type of technology could be especially useful when it comes to creating unique spaces like garden ponds or swimming pools, where customers can visualize what the finished project will look like without having to go through months of trial and error first.
