SPECIAL SECTION: Spring Home Renovation Guide
Smart House Home Improvement
Advances in smart home technology
make it easy to transform any house into
a smart home.
With the aid of modern technology, it’s now possible to convert
virtually any ordinary house into a smart home filled with features
that make daily tasks more convenient. These technologies allow for
greener living, customization of your living space to personal tastes and
the peace of mind that you can control key home systems with your
smartphone.
Converting to a smart home may seem like an intimidating task at
first, but if you break the process into manageable steps you’ll find it’s
not so hard to choose and install the best smart devices for your home
and lifestyle. You can begin turning your house into a smart home by
following these three simple steps:
1. Set a budget.
All of the technology and gadgetry that comprise today’s smart
homes were once viewed as luxury, reserved for the rich and famous
and those whose lives played out on the big screen. What once seemed
impractical for the average homeowner is now quite attainable. When
you consider that some smart devices such as light bulbs have a life
span of up to 25 years, you may end up saving money, too. How much
money you’ll ultimately spend to create your smart home depends
on numerous factors—the size of your home, number of systems
and appliances you wish to automate, and the level of integration you
desire.
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Assuming your home is already wired for a high-performance
broadband connection, you can get into the smart home game for
under $100 with a thermostat that you can manage remotely. On the
other hand, adding smart-home technology throughout the whole
house will likely cost in the thousands.
Pay attention to the levels of integration various products offer.
Purchasing products from brands that partner with many other smart-
home device makers will help ensure the products you add in the
future will work with those you install now. Selecting highly integrated
products will save you time during the installation process, help you
avoid unnecessary expenses down the road and improve your overall
smart-home experience.
2. Brainstorm ideas for each room.
Once you’re past the nuts and bolts of practical considerations, it’s
time to start imagining. The key about designing the perfect smart
home is to remember that the very essence of smart devices is their
ability to make your life more convenient. Choosing the products and
how you connect them is all about your lifestyle—there’s more than
just one way to build your smart home.
Go room to room and think about the activities that occur in each
space. Consider which of these can become easier or more enjoyable
with the support of smart technology. The living room, where you
most likely have entertainment and audio equipment, offers plenty of
obvious benefits, but also look at the kitchen, for example. Did you
forget to start the dishwasher on your way out the door? Initiating a
wash cycle remotely will let you come home to clean dishes.