IoT (Internet of Things) devices are popping up in more and more homes, and with them the ability to transform your house into a “smart home.” Using a mixture of WiFi networks for handling farther distances in your home and Bluetooth technology for more localized devices, it’s now possible to connect your phone to a variety of appliances and functions in your home. Best of all, it’s possible to purchase the equipment necessary to perform these tasks for as little as $200 to $300, so you no longer need to think of smart appliances as something reserved only for luxury homes. Here are a few ways to turn your house from a regular home into a smart home.
Purchase a voice assistant
The first step in making your house a smart home is to get an Amazon Alexa or Google Home to control the other smart devices you’re going to buy. Beyond serving as a hub to control your home’s functions, voice assistants have other benefits, too. Most voice assistants come with speakers so that you can listen to your favorite podcasts and music throughout your house while you’re cleaning or when you just want to change the mood. A voice assistant is also a handy tool to look things up when you’re seeking information but don’t want to perform an in-depth web search.
Get some smart lights
After you’ve purchased a voice assistant, you’ll want to purchase some smart lights. Putting smart light bulbs in your lamps and other fixtures makes it easily to control them without a switch. Even better, you can program your lights to automatically turn off when you leave or turn on when you come home. Being able to control them with your phone also adds some convenience if you’re hoping to lower your energy costs and need to make sure your lights are off when you’re at work. When you purchase your smart lights, make sure the package comes with a hub, because that device is necessary if you want to be able to communicate with your new bulbs.
Turn your TV into a photo frame
One new device for photo-lovers that is worth considering with your smart home upgrade is ibi. You can learn much more on the website at meetibi.com, but in a nutshell, it offers users a way for organizing, sharing, and accessing photos from wherever you are. This functionality allows you and your loved ones to see photos from across the globe in a snap, turning your TV into a photo frame to display your memories on the big screen.
Get a smart plug
A smart plug may not be the fanciest item on this list, because it can only turn things on and off. But you’ll be amazed at the use you’ll get from such a simple device. Smart plugs can control air conditioners, televisions, and other devices that you’re likely to need to control from other areas in your house or even from work. For example, you can turn on an air conditioner in your bedroom a few hours before you plan to go to sleep to ensure that your room is cool, and, in the process, save on your energy bill by not needing to run the unit all day. Because smart plugs can’t control things, you’ll want to make sure that the settings on your AC are set ahead of time. A smart plug will return any appliance to its prior state before it was turned off.
This is just the beginning of the possibilities at your fingertips when you start to make your home a smart home. From apps that can use rules to turn on air conditioners based on the weather outside to opportunities to monitor your home security from afar, once you create a smart home, you’ll be astounded at just how many different options you have to personalize the way you live.
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