What is A Smart Home — How To Build Your Own
By: Kenneth Hall
Tags: Internet of Things, Home Security, IoT, Smart Home

You may have seen some really cool smart homes that comes with many smart devices. The homeowner can control the lights or the thermostat just by speaking to a control hub. So what is a smart home exactly and how do you build your own?

A smart home is made possible by linking devices that are part of the Internet of Things (IoT). These devices include our household appliances such as refrigerators, TVs, home security systems and even lighting. These devices are usually linked to a central location such as a control hub or even your smartphone. You can then control each linked device remotely at your own convenience.

Reasons For A Smart Home

If you are still contemplating on whether you should go for a smart home, here are some of the common reasons why people adopt smart home technology:

Control Your Home Remotely

You can control lighting, temperature, and entertainment remotely. When you get back home tired after a long day, it is really convenient to perform tasks from your couch. It feels amazing to be able to control systems with a few simple taps on your smartphone.

Improve Your Home Security

Installing a smart home security system in your property will boost the safety of your home. Security cameras and sensors act as a potential deterrent to prowling burglars.

Customize Your Home According To Your Preferences

You can set up your household appliances to behave in a specific manner. You may program your electronics in a way that they can play music or regulate the brightness of your lighting, whether indoors or outdoors.

Reduce Your Utility Bills

With ever increasing living costs, it is a good idea to save on your utility bills. In many cases, lights remain on during odd hours because someone is lazy to turn them off. Smart devices will help you switch off lights and water systems immediately after use.

What Is In A Smart Home?

The best part about building a smart home is in its flexibility. You may either go for a complete smart home system or go slow. If you choose to go slow, start by acquiring one or two smart products and automate them. Below are some gadgets for smart home that you can start with:

Smart Lighting

The smart bulbs let you enjoy a wide range of features that allow you to regulate the lights by turning them on and off. You can also control their brightness from your phone or tablet. With some bulbs, you can program the system to control the lights individually or collectively as per your preference. You can also change the lighting color for some bulbs such that it changes the theme whenever you wish.

Smart Speakers

A smart speaker allows you to assess the temperatures, put kitchen timers, manage other home devices, and play your preferred songs. They come in a variety of sizes, specifications, shapes, and prices. When you set your mind to acquire one, you should research the price range and its features before making the final decision.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats are excellent when you want to control your air conditioning system based on your availability or prevailing temperatures. Some of them have several sensors that allow you to monitor temperatures in each room. These kind of thermostats notify you when temperatures become abnormally hot or cold.

Smart Hubs

This is a hardware or software program connecting several gadgets to a centralized system. It manages communication among the interconnected devices. This system gives you control over your home units, which you do from a central point using your tablet, laptop, or smartphone.

Home Security

Cameras are one of the most important components of home safety and security. If you want to go beyond the cameras, you can acquire full systems with door and window sensors and also alarms to monitor your home. Some smart security systems offer high-end options like in-built motion detection and recording features, allowing you to record and store large videos.

Ready to Start Building Your Own?

As you begin your journey to building a smart home, you will probably want to explore various options from different companies. Although you will find established brands in the market, you may want to consider the relatively new options if they have advanced features. However, you should ensure that you get a service warranty. Keep your receipts safe in case you will want to get back to your dealers for any assistance.

Also, not every home appliance is likely to connect to every smart device you purchase. Where applicable, check out the compatibility of the smart devices with the architectural design of your home. It is advisable to buy your smart gadgets from a reputable, authorized, and insured brand that can quickly sort you in case of incompatibility issues.

Smart devices are designed to make your life easier and delightful. As such, you should not get preoccupied with trying to set up a system that will last a lifetime. Smart home technology evolves rapidly, and the best you can do is to embrace these changes.