Doing household chores is old news. Now, you can empower your home to do everything for you. Imagine a home that cleans cooks, maintains the temperature, stays weatherproof, and is secure on its own.
I know this seems like an exaggeration, but smart homes across the globe are fully automated. These homes are well connected, making sure their owners receive notification about every new intervention. Moreover, the homeowner has full access to every appliance and gets to control them remotely. Everything within the home is connected with the help of the internet.
You just need to pick some good smart appliances, and get them connected to your residential internet and Voila! You have your smart home ready.
If you have reached here, we expect that you already have a decent internet connection. However, if you are still struggling, just search for good internet near you and get a plan that suits your needs.
Now, I know most people think this is an expensive renovation project that requires Elon Musk level of money.
Honestly, if you turn back time to at least a few years, home automation was indeed an expensive venture. However, the boom in the smart home industry, the growing popularity of AI products, and advancements in technology have made it a fun, affordable project.
If you are thinking of starting a home automation project, here is every smart home device that you will need. Furthermore, this write-up will also look at some of the ways smart devices can improve your lifestyle and living experience.
7 Signs You Need Home Automation
Home automation is an ambitious project that most people never get to complete. In most cases, people get excited and buy a lot of smart devices but within a few days, they give up. Eventually, this half-hearted project ends up costing them a lot of time, effort, and money.
If you want to avoid this issue, it is better to look at signs before kick-starting a home automation project. Here are some of the sure-shot signs that it is time to automate your home:
- Always on a Busy Schedule: You are always rushing things, have a full-time job, juggling multiple tasks at the same time, and on most days, you sleep late because of work. If this sounds like you, smart home is the only solution for you.
- You Live Alone: If you have a home where you do everything on your own, live alone, and do not want anyone to interrupt your alone time, this is the sign to enjoy your alone time without getting tired by automating your home.
- Your Power Bill Is High: Power bills get outrageous when you forget to turn off unnecessary appliances. This issue is quite common and, in most cases, it results in the form of a constant hike in bills. If you have also noticed a significant increase in the electricity bill, this is also a sign that you need to shift to smart appliances.
- You Have Security Concerns: Home is another name for safety. However, when you have a pet at home and are afraid of invaders, or you do not feel safe, a home loses its purpose. If you also feel that your home can use more security, it is a sign for you to opt for a smart security system for your home.
- You Want Seamless Entertainment: If you enjoy music while cooking, taking a shower, or cleaning your home, and want to set the mood right away, you need to upgrade to smart home entertainment. With this, you will get to switch on music, enjoy your favorite movie, get notified about the next episode of your favorite show, and more.
- You Like Comfort and Convenience: Who doesn’t love the idea of cozy spaces? If you like mood lighting, slow music, and a cozy living room, this is another sign that it is time to start your smart home project.
- You Are Too Lazy for House Chores: Daily house chores after a long day at work can be exhausting. While most people like to hire someone, others find it as an invasion of privacy. If you also want to enjoy some leisure time while your home cleans itself, it is a sign that you have to automate your home right away.
8 Questions To Ask Before Starting a Home Automation Project
Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you start your home automation journey.
What Is My Ultimate Objective or Goal?
This is a very important question that most homeowners neglect. As you start your smart home journey, you need to set a goal. This can be to save money and effort or just to enjoy convenience. Your ultimate objective for a smart home will help you shortlist the smart devices that can complement your home and goal.
Do You Have a Compatible Infrastructure?
Compatible infrastructure is one of the biggest hurdles that stand between you and your smart home. Most people start their smart home project only to realize that their homes were built in the 90s and have old infrastructure. Therefore, it is recommended to explore your home infrastructure in advance and look for alternatives.
What Kind of Functionality Is Your Priority?
Every smart home appliance has its unique functionality and benefits. For instance, smart lights come with different features and fitting styles. You can either choose a smart light that can be installed directly in the socket and controlled with a phone or something that needs to be installed in the bulb receptor or light fitting. Both these styles serve different purposes, styles, and benefits.
Do I Have a Tight Timeline?
For any home project, setting a timeline is very important. You need to know if you have enough time. Moreover, setting a time will help you analyze if you need external help or manpower.
Am I Tech-Savvy Enough for This Project?
For any tech project, you are expected to be at least a little tech-savvy. However, if you have no idea about tech at all, most appliances come with manuals or you can also watch online tutorials. However, if you are not into DIYs or you can’t fix anything to save a life, maybe you can hire someone.
Will I Need Help From Someone Else?
This is a very important question that will directly affect the timeline and budget of your project. If you are not tech-savvy or you can’t fix things on your own, your project will take much longer. So, it is better to evaluate your skill level and then hire someone.
Do I Have Budget Issues?
Budget is a big concern for most homeowners. There is no doubt that more advanced and sophisticated smart home devices are expensive. However, if you have a limited budget, you can easily find a good alternative at a reasonable price.
What Is My Priority Throughout the Project?
The quality and budget debate is one of the oldest when it comes to any tech project. Setting priorities for your project will help you know if you want to go for quality products that can be expensive or if you want affordable tech products.
Top Smart Devices Every Home Automation Must Include
After answering all these questions, it is time to shortlist the smart appliances. Keep in mind that while there are a plethora of tech gadgets and smart home appliances, only a few are useful. Your goal should be to pick practical appliances that can elevate your lifestyle and smart home experience.
Here are some of the simple, easy, and affordable smart devices that you can invest in:
Smart Lighting
As a beginner, you need to start your automated home project, with a good smart lighting setup. A good setup is not just affordable, it will instantly elevate your lifestyle.
The best thing is that smart lighting comes in various shapes, sizes, and quality. You can pick something that can be inserted into a socket, controlled via phone or remote. For this setup, there is no effort required for installation. On the contrary, advanced smart lighting options need proper installation and cannot be removed once installed.
While picking your lighting setup, prioritize your budget, ease of installation, range of features, and overall control.
Home Security System
The second most important thing that you will need in your smart home is a good home security system.
Now, most people instantly think that home security is just about locks and theft-proofing. However, in reality, home security ensures that not only your home is safe but you get to monitor everything as well.
Small alarm-based locks, smoke alarms, remote control locks, surveillance cameras, pet cams, window locks, motion sensors, wireless security systems, and power locks are all part of the home security system.
Automated Thermostat
The world of going through the worst power shortage issues.
Most of the countries going through political turmoil were once power suppliers, which is creating an extreme hike in the price of electricity. Automated thermostats are one of the most sought-after and highly effective solutions for power shortages and price hike issues.
With the help of an automated thermostat, your home will retain a comfortable temperature without wasting power when you are away. Automated thermostats also offer remote access so you can switch off your air conditioner when you are away.
Smart Home Assistant
Remote access is fun. I mean who wouldn’t like to control appliances, sitting comfortably on their couch but imagine living the ultimate lazy life?
You wake up and tell your home assistant to read your latest news. As they read the news, you ask the assistant to turn on morning lights, get hot water ready for a shower, open drapes, and sip freshly brewed coffee.
All these things are now possible thanks to smart home assistance. The best part is that smart home assistants are available in multiple shapes, sizes, and designs.
You can connect it directly to the smart home gadgets and enjoy a connective home experience in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you need a smart home?
A smart home aims to offer convenience, energy efficiency, security, and comfort to the resident.
Do I need internet for my smart home?
Yes, a smart home needs the internet to function properly.
Are smart homes safe?
In most cases, smart homes are quite safe and secure. However, poor execution or no data maintenance might make a home vulnerable to external cyber-attacks.
