I get the appeal of a physical switch—especially when your hands are full or messy—but I’ve seen clients get surprisingly comfortable with voice and panels once they’re set up right.
I’ve noticed the same thing—once people get used to a well-placed panel, they rarely go back. Still, I think there’s something about muscle memory with physical switches that’s hard to beat, especially for guests or kids. Voice is great when it works, but background noise or accents can throw it off. Panels are a solid middle ground if you design them thoughtfully. I’ve put one right by the pantry in my last build and it’s become the go-to spot for everything from lights to music.
Panels are a solid middle ground if you design them thoughtfully. I’ve put one right by the pantry in my last build and it’s become the go-to spot for everything from lights to music.
Funny, I did almost the same thing in my kitchen reno—mounted a panel just inside the mudroom. At first, my family grumbled about “another screen,” but now everyone uses it, even my dad who’s never trusted voice assistants. Physical switches are still around for backup, but honestly, that panel gets way more action than I expected. Voice is cool until you’re blending a smoothie and yelling at Alexa...
Panels Vs Voice Assistants: Which Actually Gets Used?
I hear you on the “another screen” complaints—my spouse rolled their eyes when I put a panel by the wine fridge. But now it’s the command center for everything from climate to Sonos zones. Voice is great when your hands are free, but try setting the house to ‘movie mode’ while wrangling a casserole... not happening. I still keep tactile switches for guests, but honestly, touch panels just work every time. No misheard commands, no awkward phrasing—just tap and done.