Smart home technology doesn’t have to be complicated. There are many DIY home automation components that can enhance your current smart home system or act as the gateway to a fully automated home. We’ve rounded up five easy ways you can up your smart home game:
Cool Home Automation Ideas For:
- Heating and cooling
- Lighting and small appliances
- Water
- Security
- Convenience
1. Heating and cooling
While a programmable thermostat will save money on energy bills, a smart thermostat will use intuitive technology to learn your behavior and adjust its settings automatically. From knowing your preferred temperature when you walk into a room to automatically adjusting based on time of day or routine, a learning thermostat, such as Vivint Smart Thermostat, will ensure it’s always optimized. It also has the capability to pair with a broader smart home setup, which provides security and comfort to all corners of your home.
2. Lighting and small appliances
If you’ve ever installed a motion detector light or used a lamp-timer while on vacation, you’ve already incorporated a DIY home automation solution. What truly makes automation smart, however, is the capability for remote access and control.
Vivint’s small appliance and lighting control module installs in a snap, and it can be remotely controlled via the Sky App, ensuring you never have to worry about leaving the iron plugged in again. It also allows for variances in control, resulting in more natural lighting control when you’re away from home.
3. Water
For busy home chefs, a smart faucet is a great way to make food prep a little easier and is simple to install with a little bit of plumbing knowledge. From automatic temperature settings to hands-free operation, a smart faucet can help you live better and conserve water — a win-win situation for everyone.
4. Security
The best home security systems are reliable, adaptable and easily changed to meet the changing needs of your family. Fortunately, many home security components — such as garage door controllers, cameras and sensors — can be installed by yourself for an effortless addition to your home.
Security cameras can be a particularly flexible option that doesn’t just focus on security, but helps you keep an eye on the kids, package deliveries and the state of your home while you’re away. The best part is even cameras connected to a whole-home system can easily be moved when your needs change.
5. Convenience
The best part of home automation is all the cool things that exist simply to make your life easier. From floor cleaners that work while you sleep to a refrigerator that can tell you if you’re out of milk, smart homes play a major role in making things easy.
One of the best DIY options on the market is Amazon Echo, the voice-controlled smart hub that can lock the front door, play your favorite music and more — just through the sound of your voice. While it may not be able to cook you dinner, it can save you from cold feet when you get to bed on a cold winter’s night and realize you forgot to shut off the light.
