Smart home technology and custom furniture are converging. Sometimes brilliantly, sometimes awkwardly.

I’ve spent time with furniture makers who’ve embraced technology integration and those who’ve tried and stepped back. Here’s what I’ve learned about where this works.

The Successful Integrations

Wireless charging surfaces: This one’s mature. Tables and desks with built-in wireless charging are now straightforward to manufacture. The technology is reliable, the components are affordable, and customers actually use them.

Motorized adjustable furniture: Standing desks with app control, beds with programmable positions, TV cabinets with lift mechanisms. The motors and controls have become reliable enough for custom applications.

Integrated lighting: LED strips in shelving, under-cabinet lighting controlled by home automation systems. Done well, this enhances furniture rather than making it feel gimmicky.

Cable management systems: Not glamorous, but probably the most practical technology integration. Channels, pop-up power outlets, and concealed routing paths that work with modern device density.

The Overhyped

Screens embedded in surfaces: Kitchen counters with built-in displays, coffee tables with screens. The technology exists but the practical value is questionable. Screens get dated; furniture should last decades.

Voice-controlled furniture features: Opening drawers by voice command sounds futuristic but rarely provides genuine utility over, you know, just opening the drawer.

IoT-connected everything: Your bookshelf doesn’t need wifi. Neither does your coffee table. Connectivity should serve a purpose, not be added because it’s possible.

Practical Considerations for Makers

If you’re building custom furniture with technology integration, think about:

Serviceability: Technology fails. Can components be accessed and replaced without destroying the furniture?

Longevity: Quality furniture lasts 20+ years. Will the technology still function? Will replacement parts be available?

Power delivery: How does electricity get to the components? Visible cords defeat the purpose. Battery solutions need recharging consideration.

Heat management: Electronics generate heat. Enclosed in wood, this can be a problem.

Where to Get Help

Building technology into furniture requires skills that traditional woodworkers may not have. Options include:

• Partnering with electricians or AV specialists
• Training on specific technology platforms
• Working with AI development companies for custom software or control integration

The most successful makers I’ve met focus on one or two technology categories rather than trying to offer everything.

Client Expectations

Customers interested in smart furniture generally fall into two camps:

Practical integrators: Want specific functions like charging or motorized adjustment. Clear requirements, straightforward to deliver.

Tech enthusiasts: Want the latest everything. More challenging because their expectations may exceed what’s reliable or practical.

Understanding which type of client you’re working with helps set appropriate expectations.

The Future

Smart furniture will become more common, but I expect the successful products will be those where technology enhances traditional furniture functions rather than replacing them.

A beautifully crafted table that also charges your phone is a better product than a technology platform shaped like a table.

The craftsmanship still matters most.

---

Exploring the intersection of traditional furniture making and modern technology.