What is a smart home? – Benefits of Smart Home in Modern Era

“Home security, efficiency and peace of mind are the prime reasons behind upgrading your home from just home to smart-home!”

From the past couple of decades, technology has undergone a major dramatic shift. From cordless phones to the desktop computers, technology and communication has grown leaps and bounds to affordable smartphones and now smart homes. Be it a partial or whole home automation, people are falling in love with this modern smart technology. Home automation empowers you to stay connected and protect your homes, properties and most importantly, your loved ones.

As these smart home solutions are increasingly becoming more affordable to pocket, giving a high-tech makeover to your home has become much easier. Keep reading to understand what is a smart home and why you need it?

However one may not like to change from sweet TO smart. So we could just use : upgrading your home to a home-smart-home!”

What is a smart home?

A smart home refers to a residential unit where most of the appliances and devices are connected and controlled with an internet-powered device such as a smartphone. The devices are called smart devices and can be operated with voice commands, applications, Artificial Intelligence or other automation mechanisms.

Living in a smart home allows you to tap the high-tech functionality of these devices and add convenience and comfort to your lifestyle. All the smart devices are interconnected via the internet and can be operated remotely. From alarm systems and security camera to thermostats and lighting, home automation allows the user to control functions using a networked device from anywhere across the globe. Smart home users control the appliances by using their smartphones, laptops, tablets or any device offering a smart home OS.

What all devices can be used in a smart home?

Smart homes can be built using wireless or hardwired systems. Linking devices such as thermostats, cameras, speakers, bulbs and lights, home security systems, home theatre and more would make your life easy and more enjoyable. The simplest way for DIY home automation is by using a connected smart speaker. For a fully functional smart home, you need the best smart home devices gearing towards a sophisticated yet luxury-driven lifestyle.

How do Smart Homes work?

All the smart devices of an automated home are interconnected via the internet and can be accessed through the devices like smartphone, laptop etc. These devices act as a universal remote control and enables the homeowners to operate, control and manage the devices even from remote locations as well. The user can even create time schedules for their operation.

These smart home automation devices have inbuilt self-learning skills that enable them to resonate with the homeowner’s schedules and behaviours. Powered by Artificial intelligence, these devices make necessary adjustments automatically helping the customer to save huge on the utility bills. For example, smart bulbs and smart lighting kits come with lighting control systems that significantly cut your energy bills. Smart home security systems alert the homeowner in case any suspicious activity or motion is detected when they’re away.

All these smart systems are a part of IoT (Internet of Things), a technology that makes a normal electronic device work like a ‘smart device’.  Home security, convenience and efficiency are the prime reasons for people opting for smart homes.

Smart home installation is a one-time investment and is inevitably a smart approach to huge financial savings. Smart homes not only make your life easy but in fact, dramatically shoot up the resale value of your property as well.

Why should I have a smart home?

Imagine, if all your thermostats, lighting, home security system, bells, television etc could be controlled just by voice command or a click from your smartphone? This is all that a smart home empowers you!

You can easily control the temperature of your thermostat, talk to guest at the door, switch on/off lights with just a command. Isn’t that a blessing!

Have a look at how a home automation system act as a Transform in your daily life.

1.       Energy and Money Savings

Indeed, smart homes are a nifty way to stay updated with the latest technology or something you can show off to your guests. These smart and intelligent home assistants help you save huge on your electricity bills. Auto-sensors in thermostats and smart light bulbs use less energy and power down automatically when not in use. These eco-friendly devices save energy and drastically reduce the carbon footprint.

2.      Increased home security

By incorporating smart home security devices in your home surveillance, you can maximize the security of not only your property but your loved ones as well. These smart home automation systems are connected to your mobile phone and can be activated with just a click. Now, the power of controlling smart devices such as security cameras, motion sensors, door lock and even doorbells lie in your hand.

Smart home solutions allow you to receive all suspicious or other home security alerts and notifications in real-time. This way you can stay rest assured about your home security whether you are in the house or sitting in a cafe or office.

3.       Keep an eye on kids, elderly and pets

One of the biggest advantages of using the best smart home devices is their ability to perform video monitoring. With the help of a smart security camera and smart speakers, you can easily track your mid-schooler when he/she is alone at home. You can also give voice commands to your pets to get down from your couch through the speakers.  By using a smart lighting kit, you can keep a check on the elderly and eliminate the hassles of turning the lights on/off every time.

4.       Answer the guest at door from anywhere

Smart door lock and doorbells send an alert or notification signal on your controlling device when someone is at your door. This smart doorbell system embedded in the entire home network allows you to speak to your guest at door using your smartphone itself.

So, in case you are at your workplace or in the market for shopping or gone for a much-awaited vacation halfway across the globe, your virtual presence gets assured. These highly secure and smart home assistants essentially give you peace of mind by ensuring your ‘virtual’ presence whenever the doorbell rings.

5.       Impress your guests

When we talk about the benefits of home automation, how can we miss that these smart devices add the much-needed X-factor to the home? Either through voice or commands or by controlling our movements, the home automation system has indeed added comfort and convenience to our lifestyles. The cherry on the top is the intuitiveness of smart technology.

These AI-driven smart home solutions can anticipate and react by understanding the preferences and patterns of the homeowners.  The best part is these smart home systems are affordable and not going to make a dent in your pocket. You don’t have to make a huge investment in one go rather you can incorporate in bits and bytes.

Analyze your objectives and home requirements and then connect with the best smart home companies or smart home installation experts near you for the right approach. After all, this small investment is going to reap huge benefits in future as it improves your safety, security, energy-efficiency of appliances and adds ‘awesomeness’ to your home.

6.       Better home management

A smart home equips you with the ability to tap insights and analytics of the smart devices. You can easily monitor the watched duration of television or home theatre along with the types of programs/movies played. If you are getting late from the office, you can send a quick command to your smart thermostat to heat the home. So, that by the time you reach home you find your room cosy and warm. With a smart plug powering your smart light bulbs, you can easily switch off them in case you have left them switched on while rushing to your office.

7.       Universal remote for all operations

The convenience offered by these smart home devices is enormous. As all the devices are interconnected and are controlled via the internet, you don’t have to carry multiple remotes for each device. Your smartphone/ tablet acts as a universal remote for controlling all the smart devices.  This non-tech-savvy approach and user-friendly interface of mobile applications make it easier for anyone to operate, control and manage the smart home easily.

8.       More family times

As smart home devices significantly speed up your day-to-day household works, you can easily save your time and spend it with your family. Now, no more hassles of connecting your phones to speakers or carry them in every room. Just one command and your multi-room audio system will allow you to listen and dance to the tunes anywhere in the home. This assistive smart technology would help you spend quality time with your family and kids, which they actually need.

How to make your home a smart home?

For your smart home installation, there are many DIY products that you can begin with such as smart speaker, smart light bulbs, smart thermostat, smart plug, smart door lock and a smart doorbell. But, for a centralized smart home, you might need to upgrade your Wi-Fi.

This new world of smart homes is exciting and brings endless possibilities to make your life easy, simple and peaceful. Identify your needs and requirements and consult the leading smart home companies in the UK for incredible home automation and installation systems today!