Smart homes are becoming the mainstay of the future, and our houses are evolving from being mere structures into our intelligent companions. With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), these connected devices are revolutionizing the world by providing flexibility, protection, and productivity. But with a proliferation of devices seeking a place in your home, where do you start? This guide explores some essential smart home devices that will elevate your living experience:
Lights, Camera, Action (and Automation)
- Smart Lighting: For instance, picture being able to turn on the lights in a house as you get home from work, or picture the lights slowly turning off at night. Smart lighting systems such as Philips Hue or LIFX provide the user with several options, including control through smartphone applications, setting of the lighting schedule, as well as mimicking natural lighting patterns according to the circadian rhythm. This can enhance your sleep quality and make your home more welcoming and comfortable at the same time.
- Smart Security Cameras: Make sure your home is secure and under observation even if you are far away from it. Wise security cameras such as Nest Cam or Arlo allow you to watch the videos in real-time, send notifications regarding movements directly to your phone, and include two-way talk. So, you can answer the “door” remotely using a smart display like the Google Nest Hub Max or Amazon Echo Show and let a delivery person in or scare off a potential intruder using the power of speech. Enhance security to the next level with doorbells such as the Ring Video Doorbell, to monitor whoever is at the door when you are not at home or even converse with the person.
- Smart Hubs: Consider these the brains of your smart home. Zigbee devices can be controlled by either SmartThings Hub or Amazon Echo, while Non-Zigbee devices can be managed by SmartThings Hub. It also means that everything can be integrated and run by voice – you can say ‘goodnight’ and all the lights will turn off, the temperature in the house will reduce as the doors lock.
Comfort and Convenience at Your Fingertips
- Smart Thermostats: Avoid shivering or sweating in your own home; obtain optimal indoor climate as a year-round reality. For example, Nest Learning Thermostat or Ecobee Smart Thermostat notice your habits and preferences and manage heating or cooling on their own, thus, reducing energy costs. This is not about fiddling with the thermostat physically anymore – in fact, you can use your phone to regulate it or even allow it to learn your schedule so that it can adjust the temperature to be perfect when you are at home and normal when you are not.
- Smart Appliances: From smart coffee makers that respond to voice commands to fridges that do their own diagnostics, simple tasks are becoming things of the past. Think about being able to turn on the oven when you are on your way home, by just using a voice assistant on your Samsung Family Hub refrigerator, or your LG InstaView ThinQ refrigerator ordering groceries all by itself when it notices that supplies have run low. Smart appliances can also inform you when they require servicing or when filters need replacement, ensuring that your kitchen stays efficient. Discover new cooking possibilities with smart ovens such as the June Oven that can heat up, cook, and even identify your ingredients perfectly.
- Voice Assistants: These virtual butlers are changing the ways we communicate with our homes. With your voice to the Google Assistant on Nest Audio or Alexa on Echo devices, you can turn on and off lights and thermostats as well as play music from services like Spotify or Apple Music. You can even get weather updates, set reminders, or check security cameras – all without lifting a finger.
Smart home technology is still relatively young with a growing number of new and creative products appearing on the market. Even with these basic gadgets, you are already on the path to a more comfortable, safer, and connected life. Therefore, it is time to start and build a smart home for the future awaits!
Depending on the advancement in technology, smart homes can be complemented by robots such as the iRobot Roomba that clean the floor on their own. Products like smart plugs from TP-Link Kasa enable you to switch on or off anything from the lamp to holiday lights through your phone, set a desired mood or lighting for the house, or set timers for the festive lights.
The options are virtually limitless. Picture walking into a bedroom illuminated by smart lights that mimic sunrise, preparing a cup of coffee just by asking a smart speaker, and even getting the day’s forecast as you get dressed – all within the comfort of your own bed. The change in the home revolution has finally come to make your life easier, convenient and yes, magical.