Create a future-proofed home

Learn how to future-proof your home to survive years of use and shift with your changing life stages and needs.

- JESSICA BELLEF

Did you know The Jetsons was set in the year 2062? The space-age cartoon family lived in a high-tech world of aero cars and cloud-adjacent homes that supposedly is only a handful of decades from now. First aired in the 1960s, The Jetsons represented a future version of society and family living.

Australian homes today encompass a wide range of styles and sizes, reflecting our diverse population and lifestyle choices. From sunburnt shacks in the dusty outback to sleek inner-city apartments and sprawling double-brick builds in the 'burbs, our residential landscape is worlds away from "Orbit City" the Jetsons' town in the stratosphere. Forward-thinking home design, however, can improve life in a myriad of ways.

What is a future-proofed home?

A future-proofed home is designed for longevity, offering reassurance and a sense of security for the homeowners. It represents not only a technologically equipped dwelling but one that incorporates flexibility. It's a home built to survive years of use, shifting with the inhabitants' changing life stages and needs. An investment of planning time and dollars during the build or refurbishment of a home can deliver reduced levels of stress and greater financial returns for years to come.

As Sydney-based architect and interior designer, Sarah Blacker explains, "Future-proofing your home is about making considered design decisions that will allow for the long-term sustainability of your property, for not just yourself, but future residents, should you move out or add to your family."