A modern home needs light, green, storage and one or two well-chosen pieces of tech, not a house full of gadgets. Here are 15 things every modern home needs, including houseplants, ambient lighting, art, clever storage, good knives and a pet.
Managing a modern home is a creative business. Since 2020, many of us have turned our homes into offices, schools, hang-outs, restaurants and bars, and while the lockdown phase has passed, the habit of working and living in one space has stayed for many people. That makes home upgrades more worthwhile than ever. Welcome to Alux.com, the place where future billionaires come to get inspired. If you are not subscribed yet, you are missing out.
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What does a modern home need most?
| Priority | Items |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Plants, ambient lighting, wood, art, a favourite spot |
| Function | Clever storage, good knives, quality-of-life tech |
| Lifestyle | Entertainment, fresh greens, air fryer and slow cooker, a pet |
| Responsibility | Recycling solutions |
15 things every modern home needs
1. House plants
Forget the plastic plants that need dusting. Adding a little green brings life and fresh air into your space, and nothing says stylish and modern like houseplants. Most require only a little attention, and many thrive on a “treat them mean, keep them keen” level of care.
They are not going out of fashion anytime soon, so feel free to invest.
2. Ambient lighting
Great lighting makes a house a home. You do not have to rewire the place. Dimmer switches or well-placed lamps create a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere at the flick of a switch.
No one looks attractive in fluorescent stadium lighting.
3. Art
You do not need a masterpiece or a degree in art history. Art adds depth to your walls, points of interest and expresses your style. Looking at art is also known to relax the mind, whether you understand it or not.
Choose pieces that speak to you, or remind you of a personal experience. Nobody is born with an artsy side, and you can begin understanding right now. Read What’s happening to ART in the age of the internet.
4. Wood
A modern home does not have to be filled with tech gadgets. Modern means functional and uncluttered. Wooden touches add warmth, whether a statement dining table or a solid wood cutting board and towel rail.
Natural wood boosts the mood and the vibe of any room.
5. A favourite spot
We all need a cocoon sometimes, a place that speaks to who we are, where we can retreat for a minute. A reading nook near a window with a cosy chair, a warm lamp and a throw works, and so does a kitchen of your dreams if cooking is your passion.
Reflect your passions in the space and it will feel like a mini vacation every time you visit it.
6. A style direction
Decorating is best done with an end goal in mind. Very few people who buy a few things each time they go to the store end up with a cohesive style; it often looks like a charity shop mixed with a furniture-store display.
Work out your aesthetic, whether boho chic or ultra-modern minimalist. Mood boards can help you pin down a look, then work toward it with the right paint palette, furnishings and a few signature pieces.
7. Quality-of-life tech
A modern house needs some tech, but tech for tech’s sake becomes a burden. Keep it functional and well designed. Smart-home gadgets used to be a mess of incompatible brands, but the Matter standard, whose version 1.0 specification was published on 4 October 2022 and which was founded by Amazon, Apple and Google among others, is meant to make devices from different makers work together.
Even so, do not be suckered into everything smart just because you can. Ask whether it really makes your life easier or just different. Leave some things for real life.
8. Entertainment
Think about how you and your guests can be entertained at home. We do not mean cinema screens, but a wine corner, a gaming nook or a games area with darts or board games. A little friendly rivalry gets guests involved.
If hosting is your thing, check out our video 15 Ways To Be The Perfect Host, the ALUXER Way.
9. Clever storage
Somewhere in our DNA is the need to store things neatly. Marie Kondo became a household name by teaching people to sort out clutter, which shows a lust for order. Nothing promotes order like clever storage.
Drawers built into staircase steps or a foldaway shoe rack are modern-day dream features. Look around with an eye for a place for everything, and you will see where smart storage could organise your life.
10. Good knives
Nothing enhances cooking like a great set of kitchen knives. You can buy cheap knives many times and regret it every time, or buy a premium set once and let cooking be a pleasure.
Most chefs will tell you the most important tool in the kitchen is a good knife.
11. A few great bottles
Even if you are only a social drinker, it is nice to have a few decent bottles for when an unexpected guest shows up or to toast a special occasion. Drink responsibly, and make sure you have the glassware and bar accessories to match.
A few signature drinks on hand add style and sophistication.
12. Fresh greens
It has never been easier to grow your own greens. There are all-in-one gadgets and build-your-own tutorials for any size of home, from microgreens to indoor containers, a balcony garden or even an aquaponics setup.
Growing food also teaches you about where it comes from, and the herbs on your windowsill beat the supermarket ones.
13. An air fryer and a slow cooker
Countertop appliances can clutter a kitchen, but these two let you cook efficiently and prepare bulk meals. Philips introduced the Airfryer brand in 2010, and a reported 36% of US households had an air fryer or similar convection appliance in 2020, rising to an estimated 60% in 2023.
Many have timers so you can arrive home to a warm meal. They are the perfect companion to modern living.
14. Recycling solutions
None of us wants to be knee-deep in rubbish. Adopting some form of recycling is part of managing waste, and a good system makes it easy.
Find out what your local depots accept and how they want it sorted, then get nice containers or separating bins and label them. Without a system, recyclables end up in the regular trash.
15. A pet
Nothing makes a house a home like a pet. They bring a happy presence when you come home and a feeling of company even when you are alone.
Choose a pet that suits your space and lifestyle. Even a fish tank can be a great feature of modern living.
What is something in your home that you could never live without? Let us know in the comments.
Keep reading
- Levels of wealth (car edition): another look at what upgrades say about you.
FAQ
What does every modern home need?
Houseplants, good lighting, art, storage, a favourite spot and a few well-chosen pieces of technology. Modern means functional and uncluttered.
What is the Matter smart-home standard?
Matter is a standard intended to make smart-home devices from different manufacturers work together. Version 1.0 was published on 4 October 2022.
Are air fryers common in homes?
A reported 36% of US households had one in 2020, rising to an estimated 60% in 2023.
Is smart home tech worth it?
Only where it makes life easier. Keep it functional and well designed, and do not automate everything just because you can.
How do I choose a style for my home?
Work out your aesthetic first, such as boho chic or minimalist, use mood boards, then buy toward that look with a consistent palette.
Do you need to be good with plants?
No. Most houseplants thrive on little care and do not like being fussed over.
How we put this list together
We kept the original 15 items, removed the lockdown-era framing and checked the facts that depend on dates, such as smart-home standards and air fryer adoption.
Last updated: October 2026.
