How to make a smart home: 12 ideas to get you started

Smart home devices have slowly but surely taken over our lives and if you haven’t given in to the robot overlords yet, then what are you waiting for? 

Ok, it’s not that bad. Smart home tech has actually been a great investment for a lot of people – helping to save time, money, and stress. Overall, it just makes life a little easier. 

These days you can control and monitor pretty much everything using wifi and a smartphone. So, whether it’s to help you manage your lighting and heating, or even tend to your pets and plants, here are a few smart home ideas you might want to try. 

1. Smart Plugs

If you’re fairly new to the world of smart home appliances (or maybe a little sceptical), smart plugs are a great way to ease yourself in. They’re cheap, easy to set up, and can transform any electronic or gadget into a smart device. 

Simply plug in a compatible device and instantly you’ll be able to control it remotely from a mobile app or using a voice assistant.  

2. Smart Light Bulbs 

Another easy way to start making your home smarter is with smart light bulbs. You can buy the odd one or two, control your lights separately, or buy bulk and control the whole house. That means no more checking every room before you leave or go to bed.  

Some smart bulbs even have dimmer or colour options, so you can change the mood in any room with a single command. 

 3. Smart Thermostats

Whilst smart thermostats are great for warming the place up before you arrive home, or for letting you adjust the temperature without having to get off the sofa, they’re also pretty good at saving you money.  

With most smart thermostats, you’ll get monthly reports which allow you to track your energy usage and spending. Once it’s been up and running for a while, it will start to pick up on your patterns and adjust automatically – helping you save money and the environment. Some will go as far as to factor in the weather conditions outside! 

4. Smart CO and Smoke Detectors

This is one of the best smart home appliances for peace of mind. Not only do they regularly self-test, but because they’re connected to your mobile, you can be notified of a fire or gas leak wherever you are.  

You’ll also be able to check if that late-night beeping is an immediate problem or just a low battery alert and turn it off instantly from your phone without having to get out of bed. Sounds like a dream, right? 

5. Smart Locks

If you’re looking for the ultimate security set up, then one smart home idea you may want to check out is the smart lock. Although these can be pricey, they come with a lot of benefits:  

• Not sure if you locked the door on your way out? You can simply check and lock it from your phone.  

• Forgot your key? Who needs a key anymore when you can open the door with voice recognition?  

They also come with tamper alarms and activity logs so you can see who has entered your home and when. 

6. Smart Doorbells

One smart home device that’s really taken off is the smart doorbell. If you haven’t already seen the viral videos floating around the internet, then here are the basics you need to know. They detect any motion at your door (day or night) and will send an alert straight to your phone. From there you’ll be able to see who it is and talk to them through the speaker. They’re super handy for when you’re not at home, plus if you pair it with a smart lock, you can let people you know inside.  

7. Smart Pet Cameras

These smart devices offer genius ways to interact with your pet when you’re away from home. Not only can you watch what they’re up to, but most cameras also allow you to talk to them and some even dispense treats or toys. They can be expensive, but they’re perfect if you have an anxious pet or just tend to be away for long periods of time.   

8. Smart Plant Assistants

Can’t keep your houseplants alive for longer than a few months? This smart home idea will change your life. Smart plant devices come in the form of sensors that measure light, temperature, water, and fertiliser levels. If one of those is off balance, it will send an update to your phone, so you’ll know exactly what your plant needs and when it needs it. Some smart plant devices also self-water, meaning you can go off on holiday and not worry about coming home to another plant massacre! 

9. Smart Fridges

If you’re willing to put down some serious money, then a smart fridge is one of the COOLER smart home appliances to have in your home. With its internal cameras and a display screen on the door, you can see what you have in your fridge without having to open it. Plus, once you’ve done your checks, you can use the screen to shop online and order a restock, right on the spot! 

And if that wasn’t cool enough for you, the screen can pretty much become whatever you want – watch videos, display your music or make it an interactive memo board. 

10. Smart Tracking Devices

Always losing things around the house? A simple tracking device will save you a lot of time and stress. They’re quite cheap and usually come in the form of a keyring or sticker which you can attach to anything: wallets, remotes, keys, even pets.  

If you’ve misplaced something nearby, the tracker will ring so that you can find it. If it’s something you’ve lost outside of your home, simply check the tracker’s app and see the location. 

11. Smart Speakers

There are lots of smart speakers on the market right now that all pretty much cover the same bases. You can play music, set timers, ask questions and control your other smart home appliances.  

But there are a few things to consider when choosing the right one for you. For example, you’ll need to check the sound quality, whether it’s compatible with your other smart devices, and if you want pure voice activation or a display screen that you can view information on and interact with. 

12. Smart Home Controllers

Now that you know how to make a smart home, you’ll need something to keep all your smart tech in check. Smart home controllers can either be a physical hub, or just one motherboard app that has everything in one place. That way you don’t have to constantly jump between several apps and can simply sit back and enjoy your smart home. 

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