In today’s age, it’s all about using smart technologies. We have smart phones, smart watches, and also a slew of products to build smart homes. So, if you want to convert your home into a more advanced and smarter home, then you can use the following tools and products:
1. Voice-Controlled Smart Speaker
Smart speakers have become pretty popular lately. You must have heard about Amazon’s Echo and Google Home by now. These are essentially smart assistants that can help you with a variety of things. For instance, you can have them play music, set reminders, make calls, update calendar, etc. All you have to do is activate them with appropriate voice commands and then order whatever you want.
Having a smart speaker in your home can be quite advantageous. It can help you deal with day-to-day mundane tasks with ease and also make multitasking possible. What’s more, smart assistants can also help you keep your home more organized as you can ask them tips for kitchen storage management, home décor, moving and packing, etc.
2. Smart Plugs
Smart plugs are nifty devices that allow you to make your “dumb” regular appliances smarter. They are basically adapters that use your home WiFi to connect the devices attached to them with your smartphone. This way, you can easily control the devices with a mobile app.
If you want to use smart plugs and are using Google Assistant or Alexa in your home, then WeMo from Belkin is a recommended option. On the other hand, if you prefer Siri, then you can go with iDevices.
3. Smart Appliances
Smart plugs are fine for basic operations. However, if you want a full-fledged smart appliance experience with a ton of features, then you need to replace your current appliances with their smarter counterparts. For instance, there are smart refrigerators that offer flexible and user-controlled cooling options, internal cameras with smartphone support for interaction without actually opening the door.
In the same way, we have smart washing machines that offer features like a remote control with smartphone and features like instant starting or pausing wash, finishing alerts, etc.
4. Smart Lighting
There are many benefits of smart bulbs. For instance, you can save energy, double your ordinary lights into dimmers, and control the switch remotely. Besides, it’s become easier than ever to install these modern lighting fixtures, so much that you can do it yourself.
Ideally, you should buy a small hub that can be plugged into the wall and then connected to the home router with Ethernet. Installation takes no more than a few minutes, and you can use up to 40-50 bulbs at a time. You can find smart bulbs at all the major stores that sell electrical products. However, you should pick the product carefully.
For instance, some smart bulbs can connect to speakers directly while others require a separate hub. So, that’s something that you need to check before you make a purchase. Also, you have to ensure that the bulbs you buy are compatible with the smart assistant that you are using in your home.
Things to Keep in Mind
- If you need to make major hardware changes in your home, then you may need to update your home insurance provider first. Otherwise, your policy may lapse and rob you of the benefits that you can otherwise enjoy. If you don’t have insurance in the first place, then you can easily get it online on platforms like Lemonade.
- Be sure to compare the options in the market. For instance, you can find smart bulbs starting from $7 to $40-50. Also, check the difference in the features of different bulbs to find one that meets your requirements aptly.
- There are many cheap smart products in the market. However, it’s better to pay a premium price for a premium product instead if you value your privacy (low-grade products may misuse the personal information they collect from you) and look for long-lasting benefits.
As you can see, converting a conventional home into a smart home is both simple and easy. Depending on your budget, you can make all kinds of improvements to your home and enjoy more comfort. So, have fun, and good luck!