Nowadays, anything in a house can be linked to the internet from thermostats lights and air conditioners to large garage doors. It's also possible to remotely control such home appliances with smart speakers and mobile devices. To make your house a smart home, you will have to choose between plentiful accessories that are available in the market. You will have to be vigilant while shopping however since, there are some devices that are compatible only with specific products and have varying performance levels compared to the competition.
A smart home can be basically changed or be heavily integrated with technology. A basic smart household could be complete with relatively simple products like smart lighting, home security systems, and thermostats while a highly 'smart’ home would have deeper levels of control within the house’s larger functions.
Benefits of smart home automation
- Provides easy mobile and voice control
- Can save money and energy
- Increases safety and mental peace
- Provides comfort and convenience
Tips to choose smart devices for your house
- You first need to concentrate on the essentials. areas/systems that you need to replace because they’ve gotten old or have stopped functioning properly. For instance, if a thermostat begins consuming a lot of energy or isn’t performing efficiently, consider upgrading it to a smart system. This way you can ensure more comfort in your house and a reduction in both energy and power consumption.
- Functionality is vital. Ensure that the smart device which you are considering purchasing is serving a good purpose before buying it. The only thing worse than having no system is having a useless one.
- Consider the design of your house before choosing smart devices for your home. If you don’t place the smart smoke detector in smoke prone places (like a kitchen), it’s functionality will be limited.
However, before you choose the best smart gadgets for your house, you must select an assistant and buy its corresponding hardware. Here’s what you need to know:
Choosing your assistant
You’ll need to choose among virtual voice-control assistants like Google’s Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa, and Apple’s Siri.
These are the 3 main voice assistants on the market, and they each have pros and cons:
Google’s Assistant
| Pros | Cons |
| Google"s smartphone and home speaker which runs on the new android version, has assistant by default. | Very few smart products support Google"s Assistant compared to Alexa. |
| Google"s Assistant is less costly than Amazon’s Echo. The former is available at $130 which is $50 less than the latter. | Google Assistant"s audio quality is mediocre, and it faces problems in answering questions correctly. Also, the privacy policy in terms of data can be off-putting. |
| Google"s Assistant is more powerful than Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa in terms of Artificial Intelligence. | |
Amazon’s Alexa
| Pros | Cons |
| Amazon"s Alexa allows you to set up a smart home system very quickly compared to the others. | The application used for setting up smart devices via Alexa can be burdensome. |
| It"s easy to configure Amazon’s Echo and plug it in anywhere you want to use Alexa. | Occasionally, Alexa experiences issues in responding to orders. |
| Echo Dot"s smallest speaker is available at $50, making it the cheapest smart remote-control device in the market. | The speaker quality of Amazon"s Alexa is mediocre. |
| Amazon"s Alexa supports over 10,000 skills, which makes it the most generally compatible smart home platform. | ou can"t activate Alexa by talking on the smartphone. You instead need to directly talk to the speaker. |
| Mobile applications for configuring the Echo device are common on android and Apple devices. | Amazon takes no responsibility for any third-party products that works with Alexa. If you have an issue with 3rd party Alexa hardware, it will be difficult to get help. |
Apple’s Siri
| Pros | Cons |
| Apple works directly with the manufacturers of the smart devices. This will ensure that the data shared between the Apple gadgets and home accessories is encrypted and secure. | Only a few smart home accessories are available in the market which supports Apple"s Siri. |
| It"s easy to configure Apple’s Siri with home gadgets with the assimilation of Apple’s HomeKit. | Siri experiences problems in understanding what you are trying to communicate to her. |
| | Siri is only compatible with Apple gadgets. |
Selecting the hardware
Now is the time to choose a hardware piece which will work as the remote control for your smart home device.
- Google’s Assistant- Any modern Android Smartphone or Google Home.
- Amazon’s Alexa- Echo, Echo Show and Echo Dot.
- Apple’s Siri- I-Pads, I-Phones and Apple Watches.
Let’s check out the best smart home products for beginners interested in setting up a smart home:
Smart Speaker
To create a smart home, you will need to buy a smart speaker that will act as its brain. Here’s what you need to know about it:
- A voice assistant comes with a smart speaker that will assist you in regulating other smart gadgets in your house. Coffee machines and light bulbs can be controlled with this voice assistant along with many more things.
- You can use a smart speaker to set up reminders or alarms, listen to music or play audiobooks and directly ask questions without having to browse online.
- You can synchronize the smart speaker with your calendar and ask your virtual assistant for help regarding your schedule for the day.
- Smart speakers are mostly limited to home use because they require a power outlet and aren’t portable.
Smart Lights
A smart light is another useful smart product for your smart home. Here’s what you need to know about it:
- You can easily pair smart light bulbs with your smart home system. .
- You simply need to connect the smart light to the home network, and you will be able to control the device without sacrificing your comfort.
- With a lot of smart light bulbs, you can download a companion app which will make it possible to control the bulbs even if you haven’t yet purchased a smart speaker.
Smart Plug
Creating a smart home doesn’t mean you need to purchase costly smart home gadgets. You can buy a smart plug which can easily serve your purposes.
Here are some notable features of smart plugs:
- A smart plug is a type of power strip or outlet which is compatible with mobile apps and can be linked to your home network.
- It can turn brainless lights and fans into smart devices.
- You can create a smart network by connecting the smart plug with home gadgets and controlling them with your smart phone.
- You can create a schedule for lights, fans, and other gadgets to turn on and off at certain times.
- Most importantly, smart plugs work with common voice assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa, so you won’t have to search for your smartphone every time if you want to issue a command.
Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat is a game changer when it comes to heating and cooling your house. Here are a few features of a smart thermostat:
- Smart thermostats are app-driven, you can operate them from anywhere with the assistance of a cellular service or Wi-Fi.
- With a smart thermostat, you can control the heating system in your house regardless of whether you are in an office, on holiday, or are sitting on your couch and relaxing.
- The best part is you can regulate any model of a heating system with your voice by using Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant.
Smart TV
- A smart tv supports a broad range of applications like any common smartphone. Moreover, you can link a smart tv to the internet and access all the latest entertainment.
- You can watch Netflix and YouTube on a smart tv, play games, and access social media applications right from the tv.
- There are many smart tv models which have voice control features. Simply connect the tv to a smart speaker and use your voice to find programs and change channels.
Smart security camera
Purchasing a security camera is almost always a beneficial investment. However, if you are looking for a home security system in the 21st century, it would be a good idea to buy a smart security camera.
Here’s what you need to know:
- You can make use of a home Wi-Fi connection to share live video and footage to your cloud storage or smartphone.
- A smart security system will update you on various activities taking place in your home in real time and share the alerts with you.
- A smart security camera offers additional security features like geo-fencing, face tagging and dual communication.
Video doorbell
If you dislike strangers and unwanted guests at your door, a smart video doorbell will be very helpful.
Here’s what you need to know about a smart video doorbell:
- A smart video doorbell has a camera and microphone attached to it. With the help of a wi-fi connection, you can share live video from the front door of your house to the doorbell app on your smartphone.
- With this smart device, you can see as well as communicate with the person at your door. Moreover, this smart device will capture the footage of the guests who come to your door while you aren’t at home.
Smoke detector
Installing a smart smoke detector in your house is also a great idea. This device will send you a fire warning, regardless of whether you are at home or outside.
This article isn’t a definitive list of the smart devices necessary for a smart home to follow. They are simply the most basic smart products which you should have in a smart home. There is a whole world of smart devices with special functions, and that world is growing every day. But before you explore that world, it would be a good idea to establish your budget first and accordingly decide which smart devices you should buy for your home.