Is virtual reality the future of interior design?

If you're a technologically-minded Kiwi, you might be keeping up with all the latest and greatest gadgets cropping up in the news of late. One of the most exciting is the recent renaissance of virtual reality. While a version of this advanced technology has been around or in development for quite a while now, it has usually been relegated to niche markets or quirky entertainment channels.

However, it looks like that is all about to change, with virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive are revolutionising how we spend our time in the cyber world. These are possibly the most popular and well-known devices and are primarily used for entertainment purposes, but it isn't all just about having fun. A recent piece of gadgetry known as the Iris VR could be changing how we plan out our homes and interior design forever.

The next great leap forward

If you're looking to update your home or spruce up your latest property investment, you will have architects and interior designers trying to communicate to you how they want to change your real estate. They can do this in a variety of ways, from mock ups to plans, but often it never feels quite real. If you're about to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a major renovation, you want to know you are going to get exactly what you asked for!

What Iris VR aims to do is make this possible, enabling a designer to show you exactly what they are planning to do with your home through the power of virtual reality. Rather than relying on 2D plans and 3D models and programmes, this would allow you to literally put yourself into your newly redesigned home.

Not just for architects

However, this kind of technology would not only be limited to architects and professionals. One of the main benefits of designing software is that it allows you to quickly chop and change out what you don't like. For a homeowner, this kind of technology would give you the chance to see exactly what, say, a new potted plant or a fresh paint colour would do to your room. It doesn't necessarily have to be a massive renovation to warrant a preview, after all.

This kind of technology could change how we renovate our properties forever, making it that much easier for first home buyers and investors alike to plan out their design. Is virtual reality just a fad, or has it experienced a real renaissance? We can't wait to see what the rest of 2016 has in store!

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