The Future of Home Security: 11 Trends You Should Know

Homeowners and renters alike are increasingly interested in the peace of mind a home security platform can offer. These days, many home security companies utilize smart home technologies, brand partnerships, and innovative home security solutions.

The most popular smart home devices are smart thermostats, smart cameras, smart bulbs, video doorbells, smart garage door openers and smart door locks [1].  

Discover the latest home security trends that we think will continue to influence the home security industry in the coming year and beyond.

Smart home trends

With the rise of smart homes comes an increase in home security options. People want to feel safe and secure in their homes and smart security devices can help. These devices can

alert you when someone is entering your home through smart sensors or cameras, or simply make your life easier in the case of smart kitchen appliances.

According to Parks Associate, 25% of households plan to buy a smart device in the next six months, and 1/3 of those people want to buy smart light bulbs, smart plugs, and/or a smart thermostat [2].

Going into 2022, we'll continue to see home security taking advantage of home automation trends. We anticipate seeing more home security devices that integrate with smart home features and an expanding selection of smart home appliances.

Smart home integration

Coldwell Banker defines a Smart Home as a home with a minimum of three smart devices; at least one should be a smart security device and one should be a smart climate device [3]. We would take that a step further and suggest that you include a smart device that monitors your home for fire and carbon monoxide.

A smart home helps you remotely control and monitor your devices and security system. The benefits of an integrated smart home and security system are far-reaching. We've included a few of our favorite ways smart home integration can help you watch your home.

• A video doorbell and smart lock can be used together for various tasks. See who is at your door and speak to them with the doorbell, and use the smart lock to allow a guest or emergency responder into your home.

• Add smart lights to closets, hallways or bathrooms and integrate them with smart sensors so the light only comes on if someone walks by the sensor.

• Combine your thermostat with a smart garage sensor and smart CO detector. When high levels of carbon monoxide are sensed, the garage door automatically opens and the CO detector sends you an alert.

According to a Park Associate study in 2019, almost ¼ of broadband households already owned a smart device and had an average of six smart devices [4]. We expect this number to increase in 2022.

DIY smart home security systems

DIY home security has gained traction over the past few years, especially during the pandemic.  

People are attracted to the low prices and the ability to set up a home security system yourself for tech-savvy customers.

A Parks Associate whitepaper found a 15% increase in DIY home security from 2018 to 2020, with projections that this number will continue to increase [5].

What are the best DIY home security systems?

The best DIY system is the system that works for you and your specific needs. Consider what you want your DIY system to accomplish and how invested in self-monitoring or professional monitoring you want to be.

An important thing to note about DIY home security is that you will most likely have to pay for everything up front, which may be difficult for some people.

Read more about DIY home security systems: A Complete Guide to DIY Home Security Systems.

Smarter sensors

Sensors are incredibly flexible and could even be considered the backbone of a security system. Consider that your outdoor and indoor cameras use motion sensors to trigger anything from a notification to the police to switching on lights or an alarm.

Many sensors on the market can be bulky or serve a single purpose. More innovative sensors can do many things and integrate with your smart home security system, or even speakers, to better serve you and your home, catching motion, leaks and more, and alerting you to anything out of the ordinary.

• Window and door sensors will alert if you left a window or door open or if one opens during the night. Use these sensors on a fridge that your kids accidentally leave open or use to monitor who is trying to access your possessions in a safe.

• Flood sensors can detect water leaks early, minimizing damage from burst pipes or floods.

• Glass break sensors can distinguish between a burglar breaking into your home and daily life's simple thumps and bangs.

• The best motion sensors can tell the difference between your pets and a person entering the room when no one is home.

Did you know that over 30% of home burglaries happen when a burglar walks right into your home through an open door or window [7]? Adding a sensor to these critical areas allows you to get an alert if someone comes into your home this way.

Smart locks

With a smart lock, you’ll no longer need to give the babysitter, pet sitter or cleaner the keys to your home. All you have to do is unlock or lock the house remotely. Many smart locks also allow you to give people a unique access code they can use a certain number of times or only on certain days.

Smart locks have a global reach, with a market size estimated at around $1.38 billion [8]. And that's expected to grow 21.4% from 2021 to 2028 due to smart homes and artificial intelligence technology integration.

Smart locks are perfect for integrating with other smart home devices, especially voice-controlled assistants, outdoor cameras, or video doorbells.

Video doorbell camera

Video doorbells are expected to hit $2.83 billion by 2025 and remain one of the most popular smart devices [9, 10]. As video doorbells become more affordable and easier to install, their popularity will continue to rise.

The main reasons for doorbell ownership include feeling secure, peace of mind and ease of use [11].

Here are just a few ways you can use a video doorbell:

• Infrared technology allows you to see your porch, even when it’s dark.

• Two-way audio makes it easy to speak to anyone at your front door, even if you’re not home.

• Did your package get delivered? A video doorbell makes it easy to watch out for packages.

• If a package theft occurs, you’ll have video proof you can hand off to the authorities.
  

Artificial intelligence trends

AI is an important aspect of smart home security and we anticipate that it will continue to push the development of product personalization through interactive security solutions.

We already use AI in many home security applications, especially when video or geofencing is involved. Facial or voice recognition on our smartphones distinguish different faces from each other, then sends a notification if a specific visitor is at the door. Advanced cameras can even determine your family members or friends from one another.

Voice-activated smart speakers

An estimated 33% of the total U.S. population over 12 owns a smart speaker, equivalent to around 94 million people. This number increases to almost 49% for people that work from home [12].

It's easy to see why smart speakers are so prevalent in homes since they can do anything from play music or take notes to order you more dog food. You can even connect them to your smart hub and integrate them with other innovative technology in your home.

Energy management trends

Parks Associates found that 84% of households take some kind of action to reduce their energy consumption, with smart thermostats and smart lights driving the most interest [13]. Familiarity with renewable energy sources grows, and many households desire energy independence [14].

Smart lights

Smart lights include anything from bulbs to smart plugs. In today's landscape, these lights can often be integrated with different sensors or electronics and change the brightness, colors and more based on anything from the weather to the time of day. 

The Phillips Hue line of smart bulbs was the first on the market. And even today, we can see why smart lights remain a popular feature in smart homes. They're affordable, easy to install and can be used in both rented apartments and a home you own yourself.

Because of their versatility and affordability, smart lights have stayed a popular option for smart homes. Constantly evolving technology in the smart light sector will further push innovation with these lights outside the sphere of lightbulbs and into solar security, floodlights and other outdoor smart lighting.

Climate control

Not only are consumers interested in the affordability of these smart devices, but also the innovative features that come with owning a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats can help you save energy and money while tracking your energy consumption and automatically adjust your thermostat based on your specific usage to help you increase savings.

Control your temperature from the comfort of your bed or create schedules that relate to your work schedule with smart climate control, or sync your smart thermostat with other smart devices to help make your home smarter.

Pro-tip: Did you know that many energy companies offer consumers a rebate if you install a smart thermostat in your home? 

Solar-powered cameras and lights

Parks Associates found that over 40% of survey respondents would prefer living in a community powered by solar energy and 35% admit they'd be willing to pay more for clean energy [14]. We predict that the solar market will continue to expand beyond the current offering of solar-powered lights and solar-powered cameras. As the technology becomes more prevalent, the price will continue to decrease.

Adding solar-powered cameras, sensors and other devices to your home security system will allow you to become more independent from traditional energy solutions while reducing your energy consumption and saving you money.

Extending security beyond the home

We predict that 2022 will start to see home security extend beyond the home and towards the things that we love the most, such as vehicles and pets, and increased protection for packages and grocery services delivered to your home.

The home security market is already adjusting to your four-legged friends. Take, for example, home security systems that include sensors that can tell the difference between a pet and a person.

5 more stats and facts about smart homes and security

• 44.6% of homeowners bought smart devices in 2020. The most popular products were home assistants, smart lights and smart speakers [15].

• In a 2021 survey from Parks Associates, they found that ¼ households plan on buying a smart device in the next six months, including 32% that want to buy a smart bulb, 30% that want to buy a smart plug and 29% that want to buy a smart thermostat [16].

• 26% of homes own at least one smart device [17]

• The top three reasons people want a smart home are convenience, security and efficiency [18]

• 29.5% of respondents said they would be willing to pay $100 to $249 for a smart device [18].

Don’t leave your home protection to just anyone. 

For 150 years, ADT has been helping people protect what matters most. And throughout this time, ADT has continued to partner with other innovative companies to help bring you cutting-edge home security year after year.

Protect your home 24/7 with professional monitoring from the #1 home security company.

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