Luxury is taking backseat in 2011 as home improvement trends see homeowners becoming nature-lovers, tech-savvy, creative and practical. While homeowners will be investing in updates rather than renovations that will create value, reflect their personalities and eco-friendly.  Experts believe that home updates will cling to creating green homes and at the same time a safe place for their families. Even big companies like IBM are also constructing data centers that lives up to international green building and ecological standards.

Abodes will also turn into hybrid structures as more and more people work from home–which will also mark the bombardment of technology like home media devices, home theater setups and smart homes. This chunk is expected to cash out more than any other improvements made to the home, according to an eLocal report (see infographic below) as homeowners are seemingly more willing to spend in home entertainment, audio systems, home theaters and office equipment.

This idea triggered enterprises to upgrade and their products and provide better and cost-efficient solutions. California-based Cisco is investing in Control4, a start-up company that offers home automation and energy gear and services. Apple is also making some upgrades to promote ease of use with Twelve South MagicWand- a tool that will connect Magic TrackPad and Apple Wireless Keyboard for users to utilize multi-touch feature of the technology for iMac or Mac home theater. Skype, being one of the major communication devices for those working at home, is also beefing up and hiring more Finnish engineers to keep up with the Nokia-Microsoft alliance.

As homes become extension of work spaces, tech takeover is inevitable. Together with innovative technology, Big Data enters each abode carrying great promise to also take care of health and wellness of homeowners. With great bulk of information that can be shared via smart house applications, various problems occurring within the home can now be detected.  Energy-efficient home systems can determine how a home’s resources are being allocated, while sensors and associated apps can alert officials if someone in the house has fallen ill.  Another technology closely monitors elderly, making them more independent than ever. Some can wear a sensory wristband that can determine heart malfunctions, and alerts other members of the house and nearby hospitals.

The above-mentioned improvements are gearing towards a cheaper outlay, as these do not entail luxurious renovations and additions to the home. The 2011 trend is more of making use of and reorganizing what is existing so that homes can be readily convertible to a multivalent setting.