This home security system deep-dive is one of nine features in AD PRO’s 2026 Interior Design Forecast, our survey of the decorative trends and industry shifts shaping luxury interiors today. Access the full AD PRO Trend Report here.
More than two weeks since 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home, recovered footage from her Google Nest video doorbell may be the mysterious case’s smoking gun. Although Guthrie did not have a subscription to save her camera’s recordings, investigators were able to gather residual data from the system’s backend, revealing the presence of an armed person of interest at her door before the system was disconnected. Sadly, the mother of “Today” show cohost Savannah Guthrie is still missing, but as the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department follow the case’s leads, it may prove just how valuable a home security system can be.
Regardless, the headlines certainly have even well-secured homeowners looking twice at their doors and windows—and potentially renewing their own home security camera systems’ data storage plans. The upside is that residential security has quietly caught up to the paranoia. “Security continues to be one of the strongest growth areas in the connected home market,” says Daryl Friedman, the global president and CEO of CEDIA, the Association for Smart Home Professionals.
Today’s systems are more discreet and easier to install than ever—and don’t have to make a home look like the inside of a bank. For much of this, we can credit advances in AI, says contractor Jonathan Scott, one half of HGTV’s Property Brothers. “Features like AI-powered facial recognition and smart zone detection that used to only be available for stadiums and commercial buildings, can now be enjoyed at home,” he adds. For designers and architects, security is no longer an afterthought. It’s another layer of the project’s design.
Level 1: Basic Sensors
The non-negotiables are simple: motion detectors and glass-break sensors on doors and windows, especially anything on a ground floor, says Scott. “These can be wireless and are very easy to install.”
The devices have also become far more design-friendly. “Motion sensors and glass-break detectors are smaller, cleaner looking, and much easier to integrate without disrupting the architecture,” says Matt Jackson, principal and studio director of AD100 design studio Marmol Radziner’s New York office. “Whenever possible, we locate sensors on the ceiling rather than the wall to keep them from becoming visual distractions.”
One easy-to-install option for entry-level sensors is the Abode Security Kit, which includes a sensor, key fob, and smart hub with built-in siren. A subscription is not required to set it up and the system can be later expanded with additional multiple sensors, cameras, and even 24/7 human monitoring, as needs evolve.
Level 2: Security Cameras, Video Doorbells, and Smart Locks
If Level 1 is “Know when something opens,” Level 2 is “See who did it.” High-definition cameras and video doorbells are both deterrents and evidence gatherers, and can often link directly to mobile apps for live viewing or playback. “For most residential projects, I prioritize smart locks, video doorbells, and exterior floodlights,” says Thornhill, Ontario–based designer Wendy Lau, who recommends products from Ring as well as Yale’s Assure Lock 2. For her, these pieces are “foundational,” adding both security and convenience without disrupting the look of the home.
In a home’s vestibules, contemporary smart locks are as visually seamless as their manual counterparts, but more advantageous; many can be controlled remotely from a cell phone. Lau describes the technology as a “game changer,” particularly for those who travel often or lead busy lives. “It provides extra reassurance that your front door will remain secure, even if you forgot to lock it on your way out,” she adds.
