Silicon Valley Tech Titans Embrace 'Dumb Bedrooms' to Disconnect

High-end designers are creating tech-free sanctuaries for their clients, using methods like WiFi-blocking paint to minimize digital distractions.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A growing trend among luxury homeowners, especially in Silicon Valley, is the creation of 'dumb bedrooms' - spaces engineered to be as low-tech as possible. Designers are using methods like installing copper mesh behind drywall, coating walls with EMF-shielding paint, and hiding charging stations in custom nightstands to block WiFi signals and minimize digital distractions. This reverses the previous trend of tricked-out smart home systems that could control everything from the bedroom. Experts say the 'dumb bedroom' trend is driven by a desire to disconnect and improve sleep and focus.

Why it matters

The rise of 'dumb bedrooms' highlights a broader pullback from constant connectivity, as people seek to create tech-free sanctuaries in their homes. This trend reflects concerns about the negative impacts of screen time and digital distractions on sleep, attention spans, and overall well-being. It also points to an irony - the very people who engineer our digital infrastructure are now seeking ways to insulate themselves from it.

The details

High-end design firms like Together Home Design Studio in Silicon Valley are seeing a surge in requests from clients, many of whom work in tech, for bedrooms engineered to be as low-tech as possible. This includes installing copper mesh behind drywall, coating walls with specialized EMF-shielding paint, and hiding charging stations in custom nightstand drawers - all to block WiFi signals and make it difficult to access digital devices. While not foolproof, these methods aim to 'minimize and make it as frustrating as possible' to stay connected, according to designer Lissette Fernandez.

  • The 'dumb bedroom' trend started gaining momentum nearly 10 years ago, as luxury homeowners grew frustrated with the complexity of their smart home systems.
  • Research on the negative impacts of evening screen use on sleep has been published in journals like Sleep Health over the past several years.

The players

Together Home Design Studio

A Silicon Valley design firm that has seen a surge in requests from tech-industry clients for low-tech, 'dumb' bedrooms.

Lissette Fernandez

A designer at Together Home Design Studio who says clients are using high-tech methods to create the most analog bedroom spaces possible.

Tommy Zung

The principal of Studio Zung in Los Angeles, who has seen a shift away from luxury smart home systems toward simpler, more analog bedroom designs.

Clive Lonstein

A New York-based designer who creates 'sophisticated barriers' to digital distractions, such as custom nightstands with hidden power outlets.

Emily Cherkin

The author of 'The Bored and Brilliant Challenge' who is concerned about the collective loss of sustained attention and focus in our 'phone-based culture.'

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

“People really are craving a complete disconnect.”

— Lissette Fernandez, designer

“I think technology is meant to perhaps simplify, but in many cases it has complicated some very busy people's lives.”

— Tommy Zung, principal of Studio Zung

“The record player becomes a conversation piece. It becomes something as important as a period painting or side table.”

— Tommy Zung, principal of Studio Zung

What’s next

Designers and experts predict the 'dumb bedroom' trend will continue to grow as more people seek to create tech-free sanctuaries in their homes.

The takeaway

The rise of 'dumb bedrooms' reflects a broader societal shift away from constant connectivity, as people seek to minimize digital distractions and reconnect with more analog experiences. This trend highlights the irony that the very people who engineer our digital infrastructure are now taking steps to insulate themselves from it, underscoring the need for balance and boundaries when it comes to technology in our lives.