If you’ve always been jealous of the kinds of technology you see in the houses of the rich and elite on film and television, you might be surprised to realize that that kind of lifestyle isn’t that far out of reach. Smart home technology is becoming much more affordable and accessible for consumers of all stripes, meaning that for a modest investment you can easily transform your home.
Whether you’re just after convenience, want to entertain in style, or are interested in securing your home better, there’s a wide variety of technology to consider. Ultimately, what you decide to do and buy will come down to your own taste and needs. Here are five areas to focus on when you’re interested in converting your house into a smart home.
Buy a smart speaker.
The first thing you’ll want to do before you actually start upgrading any of your hardware is to select a smart speaker to control all of your incoming devices. Google Home and Amazon Alexa are two top of the line options to consider, as they offer you a variety of speaker options and privacy controls. Another major benefit of these devices is the fact that you can also download an app to use on your smartphone. Being able to control your home with your voice or a tap on your phone makes everything easier and more futuristic.
Upgrade your lighting.
One of the first places people look to upgrade when it comes to transforming their house into a smart home is the lighting. Switching to smart LED light bulbs serves two purposes: It helps save you money on your energy bill and also gives you color control and dimmers to change your vibe instantaneously.
Simply switching out your existing bulbs is also the kind of project that can be completed in just one day, helping to kickstart your smart home renovation. That being said, if you really want to have the best in light controls and shading, it’s hard to go wrong investing in lighting solutions from Lutron. Talk to a Lutron certified installer to see how they can take your lighting needs to the next level with some Lutron products.
Focus on security.
As you upgrade technology in your home, you might want to boost up your security system. Installing a few cameras that you can access using your smartphone while you’re away can give you a lot of peace of mind as a homeowner. You can even purchase a surveillance system that automatically records when motion or sound is detected, alerting you to any trouble.
Another aspect of security to upload that’s a little less flashy but nonetheless important is your garage door. Having a faulty garage door system can really spell disaster for your family if you’re out of your and your door can be brute-forced or remotely opened by a bad actor.
Switching to a door by RW Garage Doors can make a major difference in your safety and security, while still offering you the style and design you expect from a door opener. With a lifetime parts guarantee, you won’t need to worry about something breaking down and putting your family or their belongings at risk.
Make entertainment an integral part of your home.
Of course, what fun is having a smart home if you can’t show it off when company is over? Investing in smart technology for entertainment is just as important as energy-saving tech, especially when you consider that you’ll watch TV or listen to music far more often than you will fret about your energy bill. Having smart speakers around your home can keep the music playing wherever you are and wherever you want it.
Invest in a smart thermostat.
Smart thermostats are another innovation you’ll definitely want in your home. They can automatically adjust the temperature based on your heating and cooling preferences and whether or not someone is physically home or not. This is another way to save a lot of money on your energy bill, especially if you live in the south or midwest where you really rely on your HVAC system each year.