Gone are the days when people were satisfied with owning a house, the future is all about the smart upgrade! Interestingly, a decade back, the idea of controlling your home’s lights and security systems via your phone would have seemed right out of a sci-fi movie, but as technology reaches newer heights each day, there are more and more innovations in the home automation field.
Your home deserves a smart upgrade and if you are wondering where to begin, we are here to sort you out. Here are a few must-have devices for your smart abode:
Voice Assistant
The most important gadget for you smart homes is a trusty voice assistant and you have some excellent choices in this department – Google Home – Alexa’s latest Amazon Echo.
While Alexa’s new flagship product is better than the first one and it even costs a lot less than its predecessor, Google Home is evolving faster for people who like to chat. One of the reasons this gadget should be on your smart home shopping list is because it responds to short commands that make life easier and much more fun. You can easily command it to Google search, set alarms, and even order pizza from your nearby store, just by a voice command.
While the Google Home Mini has the Google Assistant built into it, Amazon Echo connects to Alexa to play music, make calls, set music alarms and timers etc.
Security Camera
Home innovation is incomplete without a robust security assurance! Invest in smart home security cameras that will allow you to see what is happening in and around your home, remotely via your Smartphone, and send alerts in order keep your abode safe when you are away.
You can either opt for Nest’s Hello doorbell, which has Google Home speakers integrated or Netgear’s Arlo Pro, that works indoor and outdoor, to make your house smartly secure.
Light Bulbs
Almost everyone has energy-efficient light bulbs in your home, but installing smart bulbs is the next logical step to take. If you are still switching on the lights in the old fashioned way (walking and switching on) you might as well play it smart and opt for Philips Hue bulbs.
This personal wireless bulb lets you control your light from anywhere via an app and create the right ambience for every moment. Although, if you want to keep your budget down, go with LIFX bulbs for your entry into the smart home market.
Smart lock
If you are tired of fumbling through keys in the dark or worried about losing a pair, a smart lock is the way to go. The best smart locks that securely allow you to unlock your door at the touch of a button and give a classy touch to your front door.
The best one in the market is the August Smart Lock, which senses whether you’re at home or how far away you are to determine whether to keep the door closed or start opening it.
If you are a fan of Nest products, you can give the Nest X Yale lock a try. The touchscreen deadbolt allows users to lock and unlock a door from just about anywhere, a perfect addition to your smart home.
Remote controlled shades
Taking a nap during the day comes with challenges, with the sun peeking in through your window, and you have to walk up to close them! Well not anymore. Upgrade your home with smart shades, with lot many features and flexibility.
For starters, Lutron’s Serena Shades is the best one. Although it may punch a hole in your pocket, the features are definitely enticing and the fact that you can control them remotely via an app, schedule it to your commands, and even use Siri to open or close them, only sweetens the deal.
Upgrade away!
