We are quickly entering the era of smart homes and tech-boosted lifestyles. Technology has played an important role in our lives in recent years, so it is not surprising that the next logical step is to have a smarter home. What does it mean to create a smart home? How do you get started? We are going to find out in this article.
A smart home today is more than just a well-connected house. Adding a strong Wi-Fi network that covers the entire house is not nearly enough. There are smart appliances and new gadgets you can also integrate to make the house even smarter than before.
However, the best way to start is by understanding what you really need. Do you want to be able to control the lights and thermostat while you’re away? Do you want to enjoy streaming TV and on-demand services? What are the features you already have?
More importantly, it is a great idea to start as early as possible. When I was looking at Avana homes for sale, for example, I also considered how easy the property could be converted into a smart home. Does it have access panels for network cables and other amenities? Does the layout lend itself to good networking possibilities?
Once you take these things into consideration, you’ll be able to list the gadgets you need to achieve the smart home you want. That brings us to the next point, which is….
Every major brand and OEM now has their own Internet of Things devices and smart-home platforms. What you need to do is choose one that suits your requirements best. Amazon has Alexa, which helps integrate Amazon features into your home. Google now has the new Google Home and a set of routers.
Other devices such as a smart thermostat, an Android-powered refrigerator and wireless-connected lights can be added to these platforms too. Not all of them are compatible with each other, so choosing the right platform as the foundation of your smart home is very important.
Lastly, plan how you can integrate different smart-home features. Some gadgets are very easy to install, while others require you to configure them properly.
The last thing to do is to take energy efficiency into consideration. Smart home appliances work really well with energy efficiency. Most of them have high Energy Star ratings, which means adding them to the house allows you to save more on energy bills.
You can even branch out and add more solutions to the house. Solar roofing is very popular – and is getting more affordable – these days. Fiber optic, high-speed internet connections are also easy to find and will help bring your smart home to a whole new level.
Follow these tips and you’ll be able to get started with converting your property into a smart home in no time. For more info on the right gadgets to add and various platform updates you can use, stay tuned right here on Little Modernist.
