Smart Home Ideas to Upgrade Your Space
Smart home ideas to simplify your life.
There is no doubt that smart home technology is an ever-growing and ever-changing industry that can be a little overwhelming to dive into at first. Simply put, smart devices are designed to make your life a little easier and safer by making your household more automated. Take a look at a few of our favorite smart home ideas to help you find the tech best suited to helping you reach your smart home goals.
What is Smart Home Technology?
Smart home products are designed to help save you time and money, and to make your life a little easier. They connect to Wi-Fi, so you can control your smart home gadgets right from an app on your phone, no matter where you are. Although these upgrades may seem futuristic or tricky to set up, it is not difficult to install most smart home technology yourself. Whether you select appliances to turn on and off remotely, lights to control from your phone, or security options to keep you safer – there are a myriad of smart home ideas to choose from. It is just up to you to choose the ones that will work best for you.
Smart Home Lighting
If you have ever left your home unsure if you remembered to shut off the lights, you may want lights with smart home technology. Smart lights allow you to control your lights from wherever you are – as long as you have the correct app on your mobile device, you will be able to control your smart devices no matter your geographical location! Even if you only want to cut down on energy bills or have the ability to control your lights from your phone, using these smart home gadgets is as easy as screwing a light bulb.
Smart Bulbs:Smart bulbs are not only designed to use less electricity and last longer, but they also offer a number of customizable options through Wi-Fi, such as dimming, light color selection, and the ability to switch the light on and off from your phone. Better still, they allow you to manage your lighting away from home – the perfect solution when you are on vacation. With a smart bulb, you can turn your lights on and off from any location (even out of state), so you won't have to leave your home lights on all day to give the illusion you are home. This easy upgrade to your lighting with this simple smart home technology can help make your life a little more efficient.
Smart Plugs: Give yourself the opportunity to turn your old lights into smart lights by installing smart plugs. These Wi-Fi plugs fit over your existing outlets and turn your older devices into smart home products. Installation varies, but some are simple enough to perform yourself. With the use of apps, you will be able to turn the power on and off remotely or even automatically at different scheduled times. This will allow you to save money by cutting down on energy consumption when devices aren't in use, and in turn, extend their life.
Outdoor Lights: Keeping your home exterior lit can be a chore when relying only on manual switches. Smart-enabled bulbs can be timed to turn on and off at specific times so you don't have to remember to do so. Smart-enabled stair and deck lights are an effective way to brighten up your outdoors. Use landscape lighting to create atmosphere or illuminate pathways and pools, or timers to help you easily navigate around your yard at night. You can even program your smart lights to turn on at dusk and off at dawn to ensure your space is always illuminated.
If you are looking for smart home ideas that will make you more comfortable while saving you money, cooling and heating might be the way to go. Using smart home technology, you can control the temperature without getting up from your seat.
Smart Thermostats:To make your home more energy-efficient, consider installing a smart thermostat. Using the necessary app, you can control your thermostat from the comfort of your couch, bed, and even when you're away from home. This is the best smart home technology to help you save on cooling and heating bills, as it allows your heat or air conditioning to only run them when necessary. Many smart thermostats can be programmed to automatically shut off according to the weather outside to prevent unnecessary usage, and others have the ability to learn your temperature preferences over time. They can even track temperature changes and allow you to document the temperature fluctuations in your home as the seasons change.
Smart Air Conditioner: Much like the app-controlled thermostats, Wi-Fi-controlled air conditioners allow you to customize your cooling from your phone. You can choose to cool down your room at night without getting out of bed, change the temperature while cooking in the kitchen, or adjust the climate in your office without moving from your desk. Some of these smart devices even allow you to schedule temperature changes – helping you save energy and maintain the ideal conditions whether you're at home or away.
When it comes to home automation, you may want to focus on your security. You can install smart home tech to add easy-to-use security devices such as locks and cameras.
Smart Door Locks: For a fairly straightforward home security update, choose a smart door lock. Say goodbye to keys and hello to your personalized pin to enter your home with one of these smart home sets. Smart door lock apps allow you to lock and unlock the door via a keypad that is installed on your door. Using the app, you also have the ability to lock or unlock your door from your phone, so you can set your mind at ease when you forget to lock the door or need to unlock it for a visitor when you aren't there. Read our guide Keyless Entry Installation for Beginners to learn how to install yours.
Security & Flood Lights:Additional smart devices for home safety are security and flood lights. They usually come with LED bulbs that switch on when there is movement in your yard. For more advanced smart tech, you can choose a security light with a built-in camera. These often offer live video, 360-degree panoramic bird-eye viewing, and can even provide clear viewing in the dark. Many also have a mic and speaker to allow you to communicate with visitors remotely.
Anyone with a busy schedule will know all too well just how stressful it can be to make sure your home stays up to par with everything else you have going on. Smart home technology is all about creating a seamless experience, which is why using smart home appliances can help save you time and offer more convenience.
Refrigerator: A Wi-Fi-enabled fridge can do more than just keep your food cool. Forget leaving notes on the fridge door, because these fridges offer a range of additional functions like a digital calendar to coordinate your family schedule, internet connection to get recipes, a speaker to play music, and even a camera to see what is inside your refrigerator. Some of these smart devices also have to ability to monitor temperature fluctuations to maintain an optimal interior temperature.
Washer & Dryer: Make laundry day less of a chore with Wi-Fi-connected washers and dryers. Using an app, you can run a washing cycle to have your clothes ready to tumble dry once you get home. Alternatively, you could set up a notification when cycles are finished, so you don't have to wait around for them to be done. You won't need to worry about forgetting to start your washer or dryer with these smart home products. To learn more about buying a washer and dryer, read our guide The Best Washers & Dryers for Literally Everyone.
Smart Oven: Cut your cooking time down with a Wi-Fi-connected range. Use your phone to preheat the oven on your way home, receive cooking notifications, and even switch the oven on and off. Some of these smart devices offer the ability to change between cooking functions like bake, roast, or broil.
Robot Vacuum: Take the dirty work out of cleaning and let your smart robot vacuum do it for you. These smart home gadgets can be set to run while you are away, at work, or even sleeping. Their navigation systems help them learn the layout of your home, their low profile allows them to get to places you normally can't, and they can easily travel from between carpet and hardwood alike.
Use this guide to smart home ideas to determine which tech will work best for you, so you can create the smart home you've been dreaming of.
