5 Ways to Modernize Your Home in 2026

Tuesday, 20 January 2026

Elevated Living for the New Year and Beyond

It’s that time of year when we look ahead to a new year filled with possibilities. As Brad Paisley said on New Year’s Eve, “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.”

So, where do you begin? In 2026, many homeowners are seeking solutions that make everyday life simpler and more enjoyable. They want the pages of their life defined by experiences that bring loved ones together, illuminated with a little spark of magic along the way.

Today’s home automation and AV enhancements provide a great place to start—with nearly limitless customized solutions to transform a home into a modern sanctuary.

As trusted smart-home advisors, our system designers at Applause Custom Sight & Sound help people determine which innovative technologies would make a meaningful difference in their lives. In honor of the New Year, we’re sharing some of our clients' favorites.

Elevating Your Home with Stunning Audio

Whole-home audio transcends the way you listen to music, explore podcasts, and experience your favorite movies, gaming, and sporting events. No longer tied to a portable speaker, Bluetooth earbuds, or a dedicated listening room, high-fidelity audio fills your home or just one room of your choosing. With a high-resolution touchscreen or app, you select the source and rooms and enjoy a stunning audio experience.

Some top features include:

Vinyl Everywhere: You’re no longer limited to one room to hear your record collection. Instead, you can enjoy your favorite musicians following you from room to room.
Streaming Favorites: The system also integrates with all the top music streaming services, including those that offer high-resolution, lossless audio.
From an Unseen Source: In-wall and in-ceiling speakers ensure you retain your home’s aesthetics. A dedicated rack in a utility closet houses your AV equipment, elevating the sleek lines and clutter-free spaces of modern homes.

The Multi-Purpose Media Room

While home theaters remain the leading option in home entertainment, media rooms are gaining traction. These multi-use spaces offer flexibility, creating areas where friends and family come together for game nights, movie nights, and socializing.

These media rooms often feature automated LED lighting, hidden audio and video solutions, and integrated shades. With a single tap on a touchscreen, the room comes to life, creating the ideal setting for the moment.

As with a home theater, cinema-like surround sound and vibrant, lifelike images provide exceptional entertainment.

The Gift of Natural Light

More homeowners than ever are looking for ways to create a healthier, more peaceful environment—a refuge from the world. One standout in this arena is natural light.

When natural light streams through a home’s windows, it's common to lower the shades to protect the interior. The problem is that in most homes, shades stay closed, preventing you from enjoying the health benefits and beauty of natural light.

Motorized shades manage natural light for you, rising and lowering as the sun moves across the sky, letting in diffuse sunlight while blocking harmful UV rays. In the morning, the shades automatically rise. At night, they lower for privacy.

Automated Living

It’s difficult to appreciate the convenience of an automated smart home until you experience it. No more adjusting the shades, lighting, climate, security system, and door locks when you wake and when you retire. No more fumbling for remotes when you want to watch a movie with the family.

Instead, every connected device in your home is managed via touchscreens, keypads, a universal remote, or through voice commands. Scenes enable you to press a button to control multiple devices simultaneously. Automated routines create the ideal setting from when you wake until you retire. And when you’re away, a smartphone app lets you monitor and manage your home from anywhere.

Elevated Outdoor Living

While it may seem a little early in the year to consider creating an outdoor oasis, now is the perfect time to plan. In 2026, outdoor spaces will remain a primary target for home entertainment systems.

From outdoor audio that brings high-performance music to every corner of your property to the latest outdoor TVs that deliver bright, vibrant images even on the sunniest day, this AV technology delivers outdoor home entertainment that rivals the best brands and systems found indoors. The difference? There’s nothing quite like the big game on the patio or movie night under the stars.

Starting the New Year Right

Are you ready to transform the everyday into an exceptional experience? Applause Custom Sight & Sound is here to help. To learn more about the many ways to modernize your home in 2026 or for a free consultation, please contact us at (913) 498-1183, use the live chat box below, or fill out our contact form.