How to Set Up the Perfect Smart Home
by Alex Haslam
The smart home promised to us by science fiction is finally within reach. Tech-savvy homeowners are uniting their smart home products under a single hub, allowing total control over every routine. These whole-home systems offer voice activation, home automation, and cutting-edge features that will help you build the perfect smart home.
Living in the Internet of Things
Smart home technology takes advantage of a concept called the internet of things (IoT). Everyday appliances and electronics are increasingly gaining Wi-Fi connectivity and smartphone integration, which can turn your entire home into an IoT ecosystem. The smart home market is also growing fast; conservative estimates put the number of web-connected devices at 20.4 billion by 2020.
The popularity of smart home technologies may be attributed to their convenience or to their stylish and modern capabilities. Smart home tech can also be a lot of fun to configure, and many homeowners enjoy the challenge of integrating their entire home into a single, unified system.
The Perfect Smart Home
In order to build the perfect smart home, you’ll need to do your homework. Making educated decisions about the products and features that match your lifestyle requires thinking holistically about what benefits you need and want most. Taking some time to plan up front will help you invest more wisely and avoid any incompatibilities.
Smart home integration requires pre-planning for the following aspects:
- Interface: Smart home devices can be controlled through voice activation, a smart hub, a smartphone app, or a combination of all three. Decide how you’d like to control the devices in your smart home ecosystem, and choose a hub that supports your preferred interface.
- Smart Hub: Many homeowners use a smart hub to connect multiple devices. Amazon Echo and Google Home are a few examples of central hubs that can control multiple compatible devices all in one place.
- Smart Home Devices: Once you pick out your hub and interface, you’re ready to design your perfect smart home. Many smart home devices are compatible with multiple smart hubs, but not all devices work on all platforms. Check the compatibility of each item before you make your final purchases.
Smart Hubs and IFTTT
A smart hub is the “brain” of a smart home network. Smart hubs coordinate multiple devices using a single interface, which allows for complex programming, automation, and simplified controls. A smart hub can program your lights to respond to your security system or turn on your favorite radio station when your smart door locks open.
Between the Google Home to Amazon Echo, there are multiple products within both lines that support an array of smart home products and growing. You just have to choose between the Google Assistant or the Alexa ecosystem.
Many smart hubs use an interface called IFTTT (“if this, then that”) to program multiple routines across a network of devices. This situation can seem daunting for new smart home enthusiasts, but the possibilities for an IFTTT system are virtually endless. If you’re looking for a completely customized system, IFTTT capabilities are a must-have.
Smart Home Devices
Once you’re settled on your smart home’s central nervous system, it’s time to build out the home tech of your dreams. Depending on your smart hub, you should have an assortment of devices to choose from for every room in your home.
Smart thermostats are a popular smart home innovation and add convenience and remote control to home temperature monitoring. These handy devices automate your home’s climate control using a suite of sensors and some AI-driven programming that learns your habits over time. For example, thermostats like those offered by Nest and Ecobee learn your behaviors to help save money and anticipate your desired temperatures. Smart thermostats are energy efficient and easy to use, making them a great first upgrade for new smart homeowners.
Smart home security systems utilize smart tech to secure your home. These systems use devices like smart locks, smart security cameras, and smart sensors for fire, flooding, and possible intruders to keep your family safe under any circumstance. With voice control, you can arm your system with a simple command as you walk out the door.
Longtime providers like ADT have continued to add smart features to their security systems, while companies like Vivint provide opportunities for integrated home automation. Especially when it comes to home security systems, research is key, with many different providers offering varying feature lineups for different household situations. For a more hands-on approach, you have options like the Nest Cam, Nest Hello Doorbell, and the Ring Video Doorbell to name a few that won’t require or offer a more affordable monthly subscription.
Smart TVs and other entertainment devices can level up your streaming game. These setups integrate the most popular media from cable, streaming services, and popular web content on a single platform, giving you the greatest possible selection for your next movie night (or Netflix binge). LG and Samsung are among many electronics companies offering TVs with built-in smart capabilities.
Smart bulbs give you control over your home’s lighting with a smartphone app, a simple voice command, or a preprogrammed trigger. With IFTTT systems, you can sync your home’s lighting to your home security system, scaring off intruders and mimicking your daily routine when you’re away on vacation. You can also use them to set the mood and change the vibe of your home, with bulbs like some of those in the Philips Hue line offering color-changing options.
If your dream home requires total smart home integration, these devices are just the beginning. You can get started with simply a Google Home Mini and smart lights. Everything from ceiling fans to coffee makers can be synced with a smart home system either via Wi-Fi or smart plugs.
Each year brings new technologies and new possibilities for a more seamless smart home experience. For those of you with a smart home setup already, how did you get started? And what does your dream system look like?
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