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All About Smart Homes: 7 Solutions To Help You Live A More Connected Life

The right smart home technology doesn’t just make your home smarter; it makes it safer, more comfortable, more convenient, and more energy-efficient. But with so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which device is best for you and your family’s unique needs. In this blog, we break down seven solutions to help you live a more connected life.

All About Smart Homes: 7 Solutions To Help You Live A More Connected Life

Humans are more reliant on technology than ever before. We work from our computers; we shop from our phones; we connect with friends via video chat. And if 2020 proved anything, it’s that our homes are a safe space, a respite from external dangers and a haven of comfort for our family members – a haven that can become even more protected with the help of technology. Interconnected devices and home appliances that save money, time, and energy have been on the rise for decades, and the popularity of devices that improve our lives shows no signs of slowing down. According to Statista.com, the global smart home market revenue was forecast to reach a value of more than 141 billion U.S. dollars by 2023.

 

By relying on modern technology to improve the comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency of our living spaces, we are creating a next-gen expectation of what makes a house a home. However, the true definition of a “smart home” can vary from person to person. For one family, simply having an Alexa-enabled smart speaker is enough. For others, they may require a multi-device security system that sends an alert for every passerby. There are literally hundreds of devices on the market and many industry-leading brands to compare across the board. In this blog, we explore seven solutions that make every version of a “smart house” possible, and explain how they can collectively help you live a more connected life.

 

1)    Smart Video Doorbells/Locks

 

On their own, smart locks and video doorbells are both great home security options, but when you combine them into one do-it-all device, you can have ultimate peace of mind knowing who’s coming and going in and around your home’s vicinity. Smart video doorbells and locks like the Nest x Yale Lock let you check on mail deliveries when you’re away from home, and they also allow you to create specific access PINs for your close friends and family members so they can enter your home without a key. And if you’re ever unsure of whether or not you locked up before you left for work or a weekend getaway, all you have to do is open your smart video doorbell/lock app and make sure your home is safely secured against outside intruders. Many smart video doorbells and locks also have a two-way audio system, so you can talk to visitors when they’re on your porch or near your home.

 

2)    Smart Home Video Cameras

 

Home video cameras aren’t a new invention, per say, but they have never been as smart, convenient, or easy-to-use as they are today. By connecting to your home’s WiFi network, smart home video cameras like the Google Nest Cam Outdoor can provide continuous, 24/7 self-monitoring and remote control of your living space and surrounding areas. All you need to do is download the smartphone app, and you can get instant access to a live video feed of your home. You can also upload the video footage to the Cloud for storage, which frees up valuable space in your phone for other fun stuff. Many smart home video cameras are also equipped with motion detection technology and two-way audio systems, so you can get an alert if somebody is on your property who shouldn’t be, and you can say something to them via the built-in microphone/speaker combo – even if you’re thousands of miles away on a tropical vacation.

 

3)    Smart Thermostat Control

 

A smart thermostat, also known as a connected thermostat, allows you to better manage the temperature inside your home, which can also have a big impact on your energy bills every month. Another big advantage of smart thermostats like the Nest Learning Thermostat is that they can “learn” your family’s habits over time – when you go to bed, when you go to work, when you’re home for the weekend, etc. – and adjust their heating and cooling patterns to align with occupant needs. When you first install a smart thermostat in your home, it will operate much like its traditional counterpart. But over the next few days, as you begin to adjust its settings according to your daily routine, it will slowly “learn” your preferences and then regulate all on its own. What’s more, a smart thermostat control system can monitor external weather conditions and better predict how to make your home warm and cozy in the winter, or cool and comfortable during hot summer months.

 

4)    Smart Lighting Solutions

 

If you’re interested in transforming your house into a smart home, smart lighting is a good place to begin. Not only are smart lighting solutions often easy to install and understand, but they are also affordable compared to some ultra-high-tech smart home options, and they can improve the ambiance of your living space in a big way. Essentially, smart lighting solutions require some type of smart light bulbs (there are many brands to choose from), which connect directly to your home’s WiFi network and can be controlled with your phone, tablet, voice, or other smart home devices. Not only can you adjust the brightness and/or color of your light bulbs when you’re home to enjoy their atmospheric effects, but you can also check to make sure your lights are off when you’re away, which can help you save on electricity costs in the long-run.

 

5)    Smart Entertainment Devices

 

What’s life without a little entertainment, right? And with a smart entertainment device in your home, life can become a lot more fun, indeed. “Smart entertainment devices” is an umbrella term for a variety of audio and visual technology that can fill every room in your house with your favorite music and/or video content with a simple tap or easy voice command, and it’s all controllable on a single device. For example, with a smart music system, you can automatically sync your iPhone to your device and blast your favorite Spotify playlist while you whip up a weeknight dinner. Or, with a smart TV, you can connect to your home’s WiFi network and have a YouTube watch party with your best friends. Smart entertainment technology is designed to make your life more pleasant without cluttering your living space with redundant device and unsightly wires, or worrying about broken internet connections.

 

6)    Smart Home Appliances

 

Home appliances like refrigerators, coffee makers, and laundry machines are already amazing, no doubt, but their connected versions are even better. Smart home appliances are all the rage in smart homes today, with major tech giants like Samsung and LG leading the way with high-tech fridges, ovens, faucets, dishwashers, vacuums, and even blenders. With smart home appliances, you can literally look into your fridge while you’re at the grocery store to see if you need to buy more milk; you can check to see how much time is left on your Thanksgiving roast when you’re watching football with a glass of wine in hand; you can perfectly fill up your 20 oz. water bottle without spilling a drop; you can clean all your area rugs while you’re busy at the office and finally, you can pre-program your blender to perfectly pulse your favorite smoothie based on ingredient consistency. Yes, the future is now.

 

7)    Smart Health & Fitness Devices

 

Forget leaving home and driving to the gym to get in a good workout. With smart health and fitness devices, you can break a sweat in the comfort of your own home, no 80s-era VCR tapes required. For example, the Peloton Bike+ features an “Auto Follow resistance system” that automatically adjusts your bike settings to match your instructor’s during live-stream classes, so you can stay fully immersed in your workout without fiddling with controls or dials. Smart health and fitness devices also can pair seamlessly with fitness trackers to chart your heart rate and activity levels and help you stay on top of your health and wellness goals. Aside from fitness devices, there are also a number of health-related technologies on the market that can check your blood pressure, track glucose levels, analyze tooth brushing habits, and even track changes in your temperature while you’re fighting a virus.

Make Your House A Smart Home With Products From OneStep

 

It’s estimated that the number of smart homes will grow and surpass the 300 million mark by 2023, with segments like security and control systems and energy and lighting blazing the trail. If you haven’t implemented some type of smart home technology in your house, you’re already behind the trend. If you’re interested in transforming your house into a smart home but don’t know where to begin, OneStep can help. We carry a wide variety of smart products that are ready to be delivered directly to your door, and a professional installation job comes included with every purchase. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing your smart home solutions will do exactly what they’re supposed to. If you’re ready to get started with a free consultation, contact OneStep today: 877-346-2279.