The Smart Home Starter Pack – Gadgets to Automate Your Life
Getting started with smart home technology can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! With just a few key gadgets, you can start automating parts of your home to make life a little bit easier. Here is the ultimate smart home starter pack – five must-have gadgets to help kickstart your connected home. You will appreciate the convenience that comes your way with all these smart home gadgets.
Smart Speaker
A smart speaker like the Amazon Echo or Google Home is the backbone of any smart home system. Smart speakers allow for hands-free voice control, act as a hub for other smart devices, play music, provide information via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant, and much more. Start off by putting a smart speaker in a high-traffic area like the kitchen or living room.
Smart Light Bulbs
Smart light bulbs such as Philips Hue or LIFX allow you to control your lights from your phone or via voice commands. Set schedules to have them turn on automatically in the morning or off at night. Switch them on/off when away from home to make it look like someone’s home. And set lighting scenes like dimming the lights for movie night. Smart bulbs are an easy way to add automation without replacing fixtures. At the time of purchasing smart light bulbs, you need to make sure that they are energy efficient. This will help you to save a considerable amount of energy in the long run.
Smart Plug
Smart plugs like the Amazon Smart Plug or TP-Link Kasa plug are another relatively inexpensive way to start automating. Plug lamps, fans, coffee makers, and other electronics into the smart plugs to control them remotely. Turn devices off that are prone to vampiric draw when not in use to save energy. Set schedules to have fans or lamps turn on/off automatically at set times each day. Smart plugs are one of the most versatile smart home gadgets that you can buy as well. That’s because you will be able to convert any non-smart device into a smart device with the help of a smart plug. Related article: iPhone Accessories
Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat like the Nest or Ecobee allows you to control your home HVAC system remotely via phone or voice control. Set home and away modes that will adjust temperature settings automatically when you leave or come home to reduce energy usage. View HVAC usage data to better understand your heating/cooling needs. And create schedules so you don’t have to think about adjusting the temperature manually each day. Purchasing the right smart thermostat will help you with saving a considerable amount of energy in the long run.
Smart Security Camera
Lastly, a smart security camera like the Blink or Ring camera allows you to monitor your home from anywhere. View live footage via phone to check on kids or pets when you’re stuck at the office. Get notifications if motion is detected so you know if a package was delivered, or an unwanted visitor stopped by. And the cameras act as a deterrent against theft/vandalism. Place indoor cameras in common areas and outdoor cameras covering entryways.
This starter pack offers devices to automate your lights, electronics, thermostats, security cameras, and more. All are controllable from your smartphone or via voice commands. Expand to other devices like smart locks, garage door openers, sensors, and more over time. But this kit provides the foundation to kickstart connecting your home and simplify your life through automation. Plus, everything here is relatively affordable, easy to set up yourself, and provides great value. Welcome to the world of smart homes!