Abstract Recent advancements in digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and information and communication technologies (ICT), are transforming homes into interconnected ecosystem of services. Yet, discourse on home technologies remains fragmented due to inconsistent terminologies. This paper addresses the lack of a framework, studying distinctions between smart and non-smart homes and forecasting connectivity and automation growth. Experts (21) participated in online surveys and interviews in 2021, exploring language, structure, and technical/social aspects of basic and smarter homes. Quantitative survey data and qualitative interview analyses yield insights on defining smarter homes, barriers to adoption, and framework improvements to establish universal definitions. This study underscores the urgency of harmonizing language and concepts in the domain of smart homes, revealing user understanding gaps and usability issues as barriers. This bridges gaps for consumer engagement and tech adoption.