What if you could automate many aspects of your home to make it work for you? With smart devices, you can make your home life easier and automate some of the aspects of your day to day living. There are many new technologies on the market that can help to make your house into a smart home which will be explained in this article. So here are just a few examples of fantastic smart home improvements!
What is a Smart Home?
Fancy a home that does the thinking for you? That’s what a smart home is all about! Imagine waking up to the smell of coffee brewing and your favourite tunes playing, all thanks to a simple voice command. Or coming home to a cosy house with the heating on and the oven pre-heated – now that’s smart living!
With a smart home, you can control everything from your phone or even just by asking. It’s all about making life easier, saving energy, and creating a home that truly works for you.
Benefits of a Smart Home
- Safety and Security: Smart home technology provides a significant boost to home security. With features like smart cameras, motion sensors, and automated locks, you can monitor your property remotely and receive instant alerts of any suspicious activity. This enhanced security provides peace of mind whether you’re at home or away.
- Add Value to Your Home: Smart home technology is highly sought after by today’s buyers. Homes equipped with smart features, such as voice control, automated lighting, and smart thermostats, often command a higher resale value. These features enhance convenience, improve energy efficiency, and appeal to a wider range of buyers.
- Energy Savings: Smart home technology can significantly reduce your energy consumption. Smart thermostats, automated lighting, and other energy-efficient devices help you save money on your energy bills while minimising your environmental impact.
- Convenience: One of the biggest perks of smart home technology is its flexibility. Easily adjust schedules for your appliances to match your changing routine. Need to leave the house later than expected? No problem! Simply adjust your lighting and heating schedules with a few taps on your phone.
How Do I Convert My Normal Home to a Smart Home?
Smart Ecosystem Hub and Personal Assistant
Your smart home’s foundation is its ‘ecosystem’ – the network that connects all your smart devices. Think of it like a team: devices designed to work within the same ecosystem. Personal digital assistants and hubs are all the rage and are a staple piece of a smart home. Whether you opt for Amazon’s Echo systems or a Google Home, these devices are a lifesaver for hands-free home automation. Most of these systems work alone as a speaker, where you can use voice activation to play music, but they also have many more functions.
While each ecosystem offers similar features, the best choice often comes down to personal preference. However, keep in mind that most smart devices are designed for a specific ecosystem. Using devices from different ecosystems can sometimes be challenging or even impossible.
Smart Speakers
Next up? A smart speaker! This is your command centre for your smart home.
- Choose your camp: Go with Alexa (Amazon), Google Assistant (Google Nest), or Siri (Apple HomePod) – stick to one that matches your personal assistant for the smoothest experience.
- Voice control is king: Turn lights on and off, adjust the thermostat, and even play music with just your voice.
- Create custom routines: Set up “routines” – like saying “Good morning” to start the coffee brewing and play your favorite radio station.
A smart speaker makes controlling your smart home a breeze!”
Hook up Smart Lights and Devices to a Personal Assistant
If you purchase smart lights such as Philips Hue bulbs, you can use your hub to create systems where you can voice activate your lights or even program them to turn on at a certain time of day. Some smart light bulbs allow you to set the colours so that they can change to suit the time of day. You can even set your lights to a warm colour on a gloomy day to make the room feel a little bit brighter.
You can just as easily get a smart plug which can turn any regular appliance into a smart appliance and connect it straight to your assistant.
Install Automated Air-Conditioning to Control Temperature
One of the things that can be easily automated in the home is temperature. Air conditioning companies such as Christy Cooling provide air conditioning units that can hook up to a thermostat to automatically regulate the temperature to your needs. It is as easy as programming the thermostat to a certain temperature and the units will do the rest. You may never have to think about manually turning on radiators or fans again as these units are super effective at regulating temperature!
Use a Smart Video Doorbell and Security Cameras
If you are frequently out of the house or expect packages often then a smart video doorbell such as the Ring doorbell is a fantastic addition to your smart home. These can hook up to the aforementioned hubs and allow you to be notified when someone is at your door, even if you are not at home yourself. You can choose to answer the doorbell with your voice and directly communicate with the person at the door. The doorbells are also a nifty home security item as you can see if anyone has tried to come into your house or use your door – particularly helpful for catching package thieves!
How Much Does it Cost to Convert to a Smart Home?
Investing in a smart home in the UK can be a significant undertaking. Costs can range from £2,000 for basic setups to over £20,000 for advanced systems. Factors influencing the price include the number of devices, the complexity of installation, and the level of desired automation.
Overall, the technology surrounding home automation and turning your house into a smart home is amazing and ever-evolving. Many of these items are easy to set up and use and are not reserved for wealthy households only. Even installing a simple air-conditioning unit or taking advantage of smart hubs can make you feel like you are making a start towards a fantastic smart home!
